Wycombe Wanderers gave themselves a huge boost in their quest for League One survival when they grabbed a titanic 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Southend United at Roots Hall.

Adebayo Akinfenwa was the hero with a second half brace, his first goals since January as Wanderers won their first match in 13 games.

Akinfenwa got the ball rolling on 69 minutes with a devastating finish on 69 minutes, smashing the ball into the corner after a wonderful, low cross by Scott Kashket.

Three minutes later, the big striker scored a brilliant header, looping the ball into the far corner from Jason McCarthy's raking cross.

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Wycombe made a bright start at Roots Hall when the ball found Dominic Gape on the edge of the box after a minute but he scuffed his volley off target.

Seconds later, Kashket’s free kick was blocked out to Gape who saw his goalbound rocket deflected out for a corner.

The Chairboys began the game well on top and Nick Freeman had a half-chance on six minutes but skewed his effort wide from McCarthy’s corner.

Wanderers’ quick start petered out somewhat with few chances being created amongst either side approaching the quarter-hour mark.

Southend came up with their best move so far on 16 minutes when Simon Cox’s cross was headed clear by McCarthy after excellent flowing passing from Sam Mantom and Stephen Humphrys.

Wanderers had a decent opportunity on 24 minutes when McCarthy’s excellent corner found Akinfenwa but his header lacked power and Nathan Bishop caught it with ease.

The Shrimpers came back with a chance of their own on 26 minutes when Timothee Dieng met Michael Kightly’s free kick but his header sailed over.

Wycombe had a huge chance to take the lead on 39 minutes when McCarthy’s searching free kick found Akinfenwa, who saw his header smothered by Bishop.

Seconds later, Mantom burst into the box but saw his low shot well held by Ryan Allsop.

The game was opening up a touch and Kashket looked to conjure up a magical goal when he beat three Southend defenders but smashed his shot well over on 41 minutes.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side were finishing the half well and Kashket hooked the ball just over in first half injury time after great work by Akinfenwa and Nick Freeman.

A huge talking point happened just two minutes into the second half when the lively Kashket appeared to be fouled in the box by Harry Lennon but the referee David Coote booked the forward for diving, much to the amazement of Ainsworth.

Both sides looked to be going for it at the beginning of the second half with the tempo being upped.

It was very tense with the game going scrappy around the hour mark with neither side producing anything clear-cut.

The tireless Alex Samuel had a glimpse of goal on 64 minutes when Adam El-Abd hooked the ball back in after McCarthy’s corner wasn’t cleared but the Welsh striker’s overhead kick ballooned over.

Then, with Wanderers in the ascendency, the brilliant Kashket got in behind the Shrimpers defence on 69 minutes and laid the ball across to Akinfenwa, who rifled the ball into the top corner.

Two minutes later, the Beast was at it again with a superb looping header which went over Bishop and into the far corner of the net to send the Chairboys fans delirious.

Southend were rocked by that and were looking for quick route back into the game.

The Blues were holding firm with El-Abd in particular, an absolute rock in defence.

Freeman had a chance on 83 minutes when he burst down the left but lashed his shot into the side netting.

At the other end, an almighty scramble ensued before a relieved Allsop fell on the ball.

Wanderers were willing the clock down and were working their socks off at the back.

Simon Cox had an opportunity on 88 minutes but his shot was deflected safely into the arms of Allsop.

The Chairboys had to deal with six minutes of injury time which buoyed the Southend fans to will their side to find their way back into the contest.

Kevin Bond's side had a great chance in injury time when Michael Harriman hacked the ball off the line after Lennon met Sam Hart's corner with a bullet header.

The final whistle then blew to send the Wanderers supporters into raptures as the Blues now face Rochdale on Friday at Spotland.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Allsop, McCarthy, Jombati, El-Abd, Harriman, Gape, Thompson, Freeman, Kashket, Akinfenwa (sub: Cowan-Hall, 81), Samuel. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Stewart, Jacobson, Bean, Bloomfield, Owens.

SOUTHEND UNITED: Bishop, Demetriou (sub: Bwomono, 31), White, Lennon, Hart, Mantom, Dieng, Kiernan, Kightly (sub: McLaughlin, 60), Cox, Humphrys (sub: Acquah, 67). Subs: Oxley, Turner, Yearwood, Bunn.

REFEREE: David Coote