GOALS from Adam Barrett and Noel Hunt helped Southend United secure their first victory of the season this afternoon as they saw off Peterborough United 2-1 at Roots Hall.

Barrett fired the Shrimpers in front during the first half before Hunt doubled the home-side’s lead 20 minutes from time.

And, despite a last minute consolation from Marcus Maddison, Phil Brown’s side bagged a morale boosting victory.

But, despite the final score-line, it was Posh who threatened first with Maddison’s right wing free-kick being headed inches over his own crossbar by Barrett.

Moments later, the Shrimpers were left screaming for a penalty when Ricardo Almeida-Santos appeared to rugby tackle David Mooney in the box but referee Simon Hooper opted to wave play on.

Having survived the scare, Peterborough hit back and almost took the lead when Jon Taylor’s corner from the left hand side was missed by Blues’ goalkeeper Daniel Bentley before being headed away, at the far post, by Michael Timlin.

However, with play soon switching back to the other end of the field, the Shrimpers wasted a fine chance to open the scoring following a fine free-flowing move which began with Ryan Leonard firing an excellent cross-field pass into the path of John White.

The Southend skipper delivered a deep right wing cross to the path where Mooney headed over from close range.

Mooney soon went close again when his left foot shot from a narrow angle was blocked by the legs of Peterborough goalkeeper Ben Alnwick and, in the 24th minute, the former Leyton Orient forward, headed another right wing cross from White over the top of the North Bank net.

Having survived the scares, the visitors replied with Taylor firing into the side-netting from a narrow angle.

But, with 32 minutes on the clock, Blues broke the deadlock, with Barrrett on the target for the first time since returning to Roots Hall in January.

The centre-back reacted sharply when Noel Hunt’s close range shot from Ben Coker’s left wing cross had been parried out by Alnwick and poked the ball home from close range.

With the Shrimpers remaining on top, Mooney soon saw another effort parried to safety by Alnwick before Peterborough threatened on the stroke of half-time with Maddison having a curling 20 yard shot parried to safety by Bentley.

Eight minutes after the break, Posh came even closer to equalising when Michael Bostwick unleashed a well struck 25 yard shot which deflected off Barrett before crashing against the crossbar.

However, Southend immediately replied and, with 56 minutes on the clock, the home-side wasted a golden chance to extend their lead when a fine pass from Mooney sent Hunt clean through on goal.

But, with just Alnwick left to beat, Hunt’s low shot was blocked by the outstretched boot of the Peterborough goalkeeper.

The miss soon almost increased in significance when Peterborough immediately came close to equalising when substitute Jack Collison saw his curling effort headed off the goal-line by his close friend Coker.

Southend replied with Hunt having a close range header from Ryan Leonard’s long throw blocked by the legs of Alnwick but the Irishman was not to be denied for long as he doubled the Shrimpers’ lead in the 70th minute.

The summer signing was picked out by a fine right wing free-kick from Coker and made no mistake with a firm header into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

With the Shrimpers remaining on top, Mooney then wasted another glorious chance to score as he headed another cross from Coker over the bar from 10 yards.

Five minutes from time, Blues boss Brown made his first change of the afternoon with Joe Pigott replacing Hunt before Stephen McLaughlin came on for Worrall.

But, the new faces were unable to stop Peterborough scoring, as Maddison bundled home a scrappy effort in the last minute of normal time.

That set up a nervy ending for the Shrimpers but they stood firm to secure a well deserved win.