A stoppage time winner from Jack Renew gave Basildon United a huge three points, taking them into second spot on goal difference, after they defeated a battling Southend Manor at Southchurch Park.
The hosts had the perfect start though, netting inside twenty seconds, as from the kick off they attacked down the left and saw Evison cross to Cottrill whose header found the net, and the Bees were immediately on the back foot.
The visitors tried to respond immediately and saw a long throw into the hosts box cause some issues, however the visitors then almost conceded again when Fatt got down the right and crossed and initially it looked as though Wheatley in the Basildon goal had dealt with it, but it then almost squirmed from his grasp but he managed to recover the situation before Cottrill could pounce.
Fatt then sent a volley straight at Wheatley, before the Bees thought they had leveled when a cross to the near post saw Cumming head millimeters over, but midway through the half the Bees did find the net when Bowers picked up the ball, cut inside before driving a shot across goal and into the far corner.
This saw Basildon raise the tempo slightly for a time thereafter and Putt saw a header drop just the wrong side of the post, before Manor then caused a few worries from a free kick as they tried to wrestle the initiative back.
Bowers then almost got onto a through ball for the Bees but Manor keeper Makayago managed to come out and clear the danger, before Skeels struck a decent effort from range just past the Manor goal.
And then the hosts created a couple of openings, firstly another Evison cross found Fatt who could only head wide, and then a ball through to Kargbo looked like it had sent him clear, however Wheatley closed the angle and the ball ran away from the attacker.
The Bees then went close just before the break when a Phillips volley was well blocked by Makayabo, before down the other end a decent cross from Webb flew away for a goal kick. It meant this highly competitive derby was all square at the break.
Half Time Southend Manor 1 Basildon United 1
Manor so nearly grabbed the lead back after the break when Delf saw his header cleared off the line as they looked to restore the lead in this one, before the same man volleyed over from a good position however chances in this half were pretty rare as the game became a rather scrappy affair.
Was the three games in five days now affecting the visitors, who were struggling to create anything meaningful, although it has to be said Manor were playing well and making things more than difficult for their promotion chasing local rivals.
With three minutes remaining Delf headed over a corner for the hosts, whilst down the other end Putt hooked over at the near post from a corner of their own, and then the Bees went so close to finding what would have probably been the winner when Bowers saw a goal bound effort blocked.
Manor then saw a header deflect wide as the game entered stoppage time, but it looked as though the game would end all square and the Bees would miss out on taking second spot.
But in the 93rd minute The Bees netted a dramatic late winner as after the ball had fallen to Putt on the edge of the area, his goal bound effort was diverted in by Renew at the back post and cued wild scenes among st the Bees players and management, it was a huge goal and it sent them above Redbridge into second spot on goal difference.
For Manor this will be a hard one to swallow, they battled gamely in this one and just could not see it out, and this defeat means they still probably need another win to be safe. Tough on the hosts but The Bees march on and promotion is now a real possibility.
Full Time Southend Manor 1 Basildon United 2
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