Cheltenham Town's last win on the opening day of the season was way back in 1996 - a 2-0 win over Sittingbourne in the Dr Martens League.
That unwanted record was rarely under threat against Southend, who played the better football and appeared to master the oppresive heat with greater comfort than a Cheltenham side who worked hard but struggled to threaten the home goal.
Weather conditions were such that referee Kevin Wright even stopped the game mid-way through each half to allow the players to take a drink of water.
Bobby Gould opted for Steve Book in goal with Antony Griffin at right-back and Jamie Victory in his accustomed position of left-back with the two Duff brothers in the centre.
Martin Devaney and Grant McCann filled the wide midfield positions with Mark Yates and John Finnigan in the middle. Paul Brayson was named in attack alongside Kayode Odejayi, who was making both his Cheltenham Town debut and full Football League debut.
Seven of the team who played in the final game of last season were named in the starting line-up. The four who were not involved were David Bird and Shane Higgs, who were on the bench, and departed duo Neil Howarth and Tony Naylor.
Southend named a starting team in which eight players were making their club debuts after a summer of intense wheeling and dealing by manager Steve Wignall.
Cheltenham made a good start to the game on a baking hot day with John Finnigan and Paul Brayson exchanging passes on the edge of the area. Martin Devaney made a darting run into the box and his cross was slapped away by goalkeeper Carl Emberson, the ball landing just short of the arriving Odejayi.
The game had started at a brisk pace despite the oppressive heat and the lively movement of Southend striker Michael Husbands, a former Aston Villa trainee, caught the Robins defence out on more than one occasion.
He almost latched onto a back-header from Jamie Victory in the ninth minute, Steve Book having to rush out of his area to chest the ball clear, and it was Victory again who lost out to the willing front-runner moments later. Husbands got to the byline but Victory was able to chase back and put in a saving tackle.
Former Kidderminster striker Drewe Broughton went close with a shot from the edge of the area but Grant McCann went even closer when a long ball from Michael Duff was touched back to him by Odejayi.
McCann hit it first time with his left foot but the ball drifted about a foot wide.
As the first half wore on Southend began to enjoy more and more of the possession with the Cheltenham strikers forced to live off scraps when the pressure could be eased.
Southend midfielder James Corbett headed over the bar from a cross by Duncan Jupp and the home side put together a well-worked move to open the scoring in the 33rd minute.
Again Husbands was involved, his pacy run into the box stretching the Cheltenham defence out. He laid it back for Corbett, whose crossfield ball found Mark Gower, a midfielder signed from Barnet for £25,000 in the summer. Gower had made an intelligent run in from the right touchline and collected the ball in space before rattling an 18-yard shot in off Book's left-hand post.
Southend thought they had added a second when Broughton headed in a free-kick from Kevin Maher, the referee ruling it out for offside, and there was further goalmouth incident at the Cheltenham end in the minutes leading up to half-time.
Book was forced to redeem himself after failing to gather a corner kick. He dived to block a Leon Cort shot with his legs then flew to his left to palm away a shot from Mark Warren.
Corbett then sent a shot just wide from the edge of the box and with the momentum clearly in Southend's favour, the Robins would have been quite thankful for the half-time whistle and a chance not only to re-group but also to take on much-needed water.
Cheltenham had the first chance of the second half when Paul Brayson cut in from the left and fired a long-range shot over the bar, and there was a chance for Michael Duff shortly afterwards when Emberson failed to hold a McCann corner. Duff smashed a shot at goal but it was blocked by one of many defensive shirts on the line.
After this early flourish from the Robins the home side settled into the same pattern they had displayed towards the end of the first half.
Wide men James Corbett and Mark Gower were impressive for the Shrimpers and it was Corbett who went close after a pass from Devaney to Michael Duff had fallen short. McCann got in to block the shot and Shane Duff was forced to perform a similar duty mid-way through the second half.
In so doing Duff picked up an injury which forced him to be carried off on a stretcher and replaced by John Brough.
Broughton and Corbett both shot over the bar and Book had to save well from Gower before yet more misfortune befell the Robins in the 85th minute. Having used all three substitutes they found themselves down to 10 men after John Finnigan became the second player to leave the field with the help of the St John's Ambulance Brigade. Finnigan had taken a knock in trying a shot at goal and with the Robins a man short the way was clear for Southend to plough forward.
Book made a good save from Gower then watched as a shot from Corbett came back off the post. The Cheltenham goalkeeper was forced to make an amazing double save when he palmed away a shot from Broughton and then blocked the rebound from Corbett. Broughton should have scored from the rebound but blasted his shot over.
A second goal had seemed likely and it duly arrived three minutes into added time when Corbett went on a driving run into the box and was hauled down from behind. Gower made light work of the of the penalty kick to sink the Robins on the opening day once again.
SOUTHEND UNITED: Emberson; Jupp, Cort, Warren, McSweeney ; Gower, Maher, Odunsi, Corbett; Broughton, Husbands (Bramble 85). Other subs: Clark, Robinson, Williams, Kightly
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book; Griffin, M.Duff, S.Duff (Brough 68), Victory; Devaney (Cleverley 76), Yates, Finnigan, McCann (Spencer 76); Odejayi, Brayson. Other subs: Higgs, Bird
REFEREE: K.K. Wright (Cambridgeshire)
ATTENDANCE: 4,403