SOUTHEND United cruised to a second successive 3-0 victory tonight as they comfortably brushed Maidstone aside at Gallagher Park.
First half goals from Callum Powell and Jack Bridge put the Shrimpers - who saw off Scunthorpe on Saturday - firmly in control before Chris Wreh completed the scoring after the break with a well-taken effort.
Despite the final score-line, it was Maidstone who came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening two minutes with Jack Barham charging down an attempted clearance from Ollie Kensdale before seeing a low shot smartly saved by the legs of Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.
The Shrimpers hit back and had strong shouts for a penalty waved away after Jack Bridge went down in the area following a challenge from Gavin Hoyte.
But the visitors were not to be denied and Kevin Maher's side opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, with Powell on target for the fifth time this season as he sent a low, excellent effort into the left hand side of the net from 20 minutes.
The Shrimpers remained on top and soon came close to making it 2-0 when Wreh – who replaced Jake Hyde in attack – saw a long range shot pushed onto the outside of the right post by Maidstone goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin.
After surviving the scare, Maidstone soon replied with Roarie Deacon delivering a fine right wing cross Barham could only head straight at Andeng Ndi from eight yards.
But Southend immediately hit back and doubled their lead in stunning style, with Bridge scoring for the first time this season.
The Shrimpers wing back saw a left wing corner played back into his path before he cut inside and slammed a brilliant right footed shot high into the right hand side of the goal.
Cav Miley then saw a low, left footed shot tipped wide of the right post by Mersin before Blues also started the second half on the front foot with the visitors again having penalty appeals waved away after Gus Scott-Morriss went to ground while under pressure from Galvin.
But, with 52 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers wasted a glaring chance to make it 3-0 as Powell raced clean through on goal.
The forward rounded the advancing Mersin but somehow sent his shot over the crossbar with the goal gaping.
A relieved Maidstone immediately came close to getting back into the game with Reiss Greenidge heading Sam Corne’s right wing corner against the top of the right post before an unmarked Bargham headed wide of the left post from eight yards.
Blues responded with a double change in the 61st minute as Harry Taylor replaced Fonguck in the centre of the park and Aaron Cosgrave came on for Powell up top.
After the changes, Miley played a corner low into the path of Wreh who turned brilliantly before shooting wide of the left post.
But Wreh was not to be denied for long and he extended the Shrimpers’ lead in the 71st minute as he showed good strength before sending a right footed shot into the left hand side of the net to complete the scoring.
Southend United: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Hobson, Lopata, Kensdale, Bridge, Miley, Fonguck (Taylor 61), Husin (Demetriou 78), Wreh, Powell (Cosgrave 61).
Subs not used: Lomas & Murphy.
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