EARLY goals from Bim Pepple and Oli Coker saw Southend United secure a comfortable 2-0 win against Tamworth at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Blues had been beaten in their last three home games.

But Kevin Maher’s side were never troubled by their newly promoted hosts as their unbeaten run stretched to a fourth match in succession.

The Shrimpers started brightly and broke the deadlock in just the 11th minute when Pepple showed good speed and strength to sprint clean through on goal before scoring with a well-taken right footed shot.

The goal was Pepple’s first at Roots Hall since signing on loan from Luton Town and the striker was soon involved in helping to double Blues’ lead.

The forward again outmuscled his defender in the left hand side of the penalty area before delivering a dangerous low crossCoker immediately despatched into the left hand side of the North Bank net from 10 yards.

Pepple then saw a powerful long range shot pushed wide of the right post by Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh before Noor Husin fired over the crossbar from 25 yards.

With Blues remaining on top, Gus Scott-Morriss headed a deep left wing cross from Nathan Ralph over the crossbar before the hosts wasted a huge chance to make it 3-0 when the recalled Macauley Bonne somehow fired over the crossbar from inside the six yard box after being teed up by Scott-Morriss.

After the break, Tamworth’s Beck-Ray Enoru sent a left footed shot over the crossbar before the Shrimpers made their first change of the afternoon in the 64th minute with James Walker taking the place of the impressive Pepple.

After the change, Bonne scuffed two close range shots in succession before the hosts made a second substitution with Keenan Appiah-Forson taking the place of Coker in midfield.

Moments later, the Shrimpers threatened with Bonne having a well-struck shot held by Singh before a third change, eight minutes from time, saw the return of Cav Miley from a back injury.

Miley had been sidelined since the end of August and replaced Noor Husin in a central midfield role before Joe Gubbins and George Wind also entered the action late on as Blues comfortably saw out the closing stages.