Goalkeeper Mel Capleton was both the hero and villain of Southend United's 2-1 Third Division victory at Hartlepool United on Saturday.

The Shrimpers custodian allowed a tame free-kick from Hartlepool winger Paul Stephenson to squirm through his grasp 60 seconds into the second-half to give the hosts the lead at a sun drenched Victoria Park.

However, Blues battled back to equalise through skipper Simon Coleman - before Capleton made up for his earlier blunder by saving home striker Chris Freestone's penalty - leaving Southend forward Neil Tolson to wrap-up three away points with another spot-kick three minutes from time.

"I'm just relieved that we came back from a goal down to win the game," said a delighted Capleton, after Southend had sealed their first away triumph of the season.

"We had dominated the first-half against Hartlepool without getting our noses in front, so it was disappointing for all the lads to let in a soft goal straight after the break.

"But I was even more gutted because it wasn't a well struck drive and usually I would have hoped to have saved such a shot.

"Their player hit the free-kick goalward, but it took a deflection off our wall, which wrongfooted me, and the ball had crossed the line as I tried to scoop it out."

However, Capleton was given the perfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean when Lancashire referee Michael Ryan awarded a penalty against the Southend custodian for upending Hartlepool's substitute attacker Kevin Henderson ten minutes from time.

"I didn't think it was a penalty, I took the ball cleanly and looked at the linesman for support after the referee made his decision - but I never got any," added the Seasiders' shot-stopper.

"It was like de ja vu, because we did the same thing at Swansea City last Saturday when we conceded a late penalty and lost the match, but I was determined not to let it cost us again.

"I saved the penalty and then the referee gave us a spot-kick at the end of the game which won us three points, because I think he realised he may have been a bit harsh on me and evened things up."

Southend manager Alan Little, who ended his playing days with Hartlepool and is a native of the area, complimented his men, but admitted they made hard work of their triumph.

"We shot ourselves in the foot again against Hartlepool because we went a goal down straight after the break, when we should have been one or two in front ourselves at half-time," he said.

"But football is all about breaks and I think we took ours against Hartlepool.

"We felt were hard done by at Swansea last week when we lost 3-1, but these things have a habit of levelling themselves out and I think that's what has happened here.

"Despite missing a lot of chances we fell behind to a very poor goal, but showed great character to bounce back and equalise, save their penalty and score one of our own

"It's great to be off the mark away from Roots Hall at long last, but we battled strongly and showed enough quality on the ball - especially in midfield - to gain the reward we deserved."

The last word went to right wing-back Mark Beard who said: "I know it's early days yet, but this result keeps us among the chasing pack at the top-of-the-table and that's were all the lads intend to stay."

Bitter sweet memories - for Blues' goalkeeper Melvin Capleton

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