SOUTHEND United kicked off their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 5-0 win at Great Wakering Rovers this afternoon.

First half goals from Jack Wood and Harry Cardwell put Blues in control before second half strikes from Piers Hatcliff, Joe Poxon and Gus Scott-Morriss sealed victory for Kevin Maher’s side.

But the Shrimpers suffered an injury concern just before the break with key defender Harry Taylor having to leave the field after appearing to suffer a cut on his forehead.

Blues were on top for the majority of the match and, with eight minutes on the clock, Mikey Faulkner curled a 20 yard shot inches over the crossbar before trialist right wing-back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo delivered a dangerous right wing cross across the face of goal.

The Shrimpers – who also included trialist goalkeeper Sam Hornby in their starting line-up – continued to push forward with summer signing Josh Walker firing over the crossbar after Wakering goalkeeper Dev Bhamra parried out a long range shot from Wood.

Wood then fired wide of the left post from 20 yards before Faulkner sent a shot over the crossbar from a similar distance after beating his man down the left hand side.

However, Blues were not to be denied for long and opened the scoring in the 29th minute, with Wood on target.

A fine pass forward from Beau MacDonald found Walker who immediately sent Wood clean through on goal before he fired past Bhamra with a neatly taken left footed finish.

The Shrimpers remained on top and doubled their lead in the 36th minute with last season’s top scorer Cardwell working his way onto the score-sheet.

A fine move down the right hand side saw Otseh-Taiwo swapping passes with Wood before delivering a pin-point cross Cardwell headed home from six yards.

However, the half ended on a bad note for Blues as Taylor suffered a cut to the face while making a fine sliding challenge and left the pitch holding a towel onto his forehead.

The Shrimpers made a further five changes at the break and threatened a third goal when Scott-Morriss volleyed a right wing cross from MacDonald well wide of the left post.

Moments later, Nathan Ralph saw a 25 yard shot saved low down to right by Rovers goalkeeper George Martin before Scott-Morriss curled a well-taken free-kick against the underside of the crossbar.

But the Shrimpers eventually made it 3-0 in the 79th minute, with Hatcliff scoring from the penalty spot.

The youngster was brought down in the box before he confidently fired the resulting spot-kick into the left hand side of the net.

Wakering replied with Tony Martin having a close range header smartly saved by Charlie Brown but Blues immediately responded by making it 4-0 as Poxon volleyed home an accurate right-wing cross from Scott-Morriss.

The Shrimpers then sealed the win late on with Scott-Morriss brilliantly firing home a deep left wing cross from Ralph.

Southend United (first-half): Hornby, Otseh-Taiwo, Taylor (Crowther 40), Kensdale, Shobowale, Faulkner, MacDonald, Coker, Wood, Walker, Cardwell.

Second half: Hornby (Brown 62), Scott-Morriss, Crowther, Gubbins, Ralph, Otseh-Taiwo (Hatcliff 62), Miley, MacDonald (Shobowale 80), Blake, Faulkner, Wood (Poxon 62).