SOUTHEND & Benfleet got back to winning ways thanks to a fine second half performance at Wapping III in the Essex Premier division.

The S&B defence were put under pressure from the outset by the hosts with only some great defending from Jodie Linge keeping the score goalless.

As the visitors found their feet they started to offer more on the counter attack but neither side could break their opponents down in the first period.

That was all to change after the re-start.

S&B started by changing formation, with Ellen Taylor coming on to make her debut to bolster the midfield.

The four-string midfield made the difference and it wasn’t long before Sarah Conway smashed home form a short corner to give the visitors the lead.

They doubled their advantage soon after when another short corner saw Ashlie Colman get on to the scoresheet.

Nicola Bryant then scored a third for the visitors, again from a short corner, to leave Wapping shell-shocked.

Taylor then marked an impressive debut with a fourth goal for S&B as she converted from yet another short corner.

Before full time, a powerful strike from a Wapping attacker gave the home side a consolation goal but that was all it was.

The player of the match was skipper Rachel Jeffery.

* Southend & Benfleet’s second team feared they may have a frustrating day at Basildon as the home keeper gave an inspired performance, denying wave after wave of S&B attacks.

Deep into the second half, both teams had to go down to 10 players because of injury and it looked as though the game would end goalless. But Hannah Daish finally managed to find a breakthrough for the visitors and with Basildon’s spirit broken, Claire King doubled the tally soon after to give them a 2-0 win.

The player of the match vote was split between midfielders Louise Marsack and Alison Riley.

* The third team did not have a game.