SOUTHEND United momentarily brushed aside their off-field issues to beat Bishop’s Stortford 4-1 in a pre-season friendly this afternoon.

The cash-strapped Shrimpers are still fighting to kick off the National League campaign due to the financial problems they are facing.

And some Blues’ fans opted to miss Kevin Maher’s side’s first public warm up match of the summer to protest outside of the house of under-fire club chairman Ron Martin.

However, those in attendance saw a slick display from the Shrimpers who came from a goal down to win 4-1, thanks to a hat-trick from the impressive Jack Wood.

Despite the final score-line, Bishop’s Stortford opened the scoring after just two minutes when Jack Morrell fired Ollie Peters’ right wing cross into the path of Darren Foxley who tapped the ball home at the far post.

But Blues were back level within two minutes as Wes Fonguck teed up Callum Powell to tap home from close range.

Shortly after the equaliser, Jack Bridge saw a low shot smothered by Bishop’s Stortford goalkeeper Jack Giddens before the shot-stopper did superbly well to parry away a powerful shot from Gus Scott-Morriss.

Blues were not to be denied for long though and took the lead in the 20th minute when Powell teed up Wood to score with an impressively taken right footed shot from just inside the penalty area.

The Shrimpers stayed on top but suffered a worrying injury blow just before the break when Bridge limped off and was replaced down the left hand side by Tom Clifford.

But immediately after the change and, just seconds before the break, Blues made it 3-1 with Wood sending a low right footed shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net for his second goal of the game.

The Shrimpers made another change at the break with Oli Coker replacing Powell in a move which saw Wood feature further forward.

And the youngster – who starred while out on loan with Tonbridge Angels last term – soon completed his hat-trick with an accurate low right foot shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Blues made a third change in the 71st minute with Jacob Bland replacing Noor Husin in the centre of the park before a double changed followed seven minutes later with youngsters George Pulham and Ronnie Blake both entering the action.

Pulham was immediately involved as his well-struck shot was parried away by Giddens before the Shrimpers made two changes late on with Jake Huet and Zak Hammond both coming on.

Southend United: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss (Blake 78), Taylor, Kensdale (Huet 86), Ralph, Bridge (Clifford 44), Miley (Pulham 78), Fonguck (Hammond 86), Husin (Bland 71), Wood, Powell (Coker 46)