SOUTHEND United advanced to the second round of the FA Cup tonight with a 2-0 triumph over AFC Telford at Roots Hall.

But the victory was far from straight forward against the Blue Square North visitors.

The Shrimpers were not at their best and were grateful to some fantastic goalkeeping from Steve Mildenhalll.

He made two fine saves when the game was still goalless and Southend eventually went on to triumph thanks to two goals in five second half minutes from Simon Francis and James Walker.

Despite that, it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match as Liam Blakeman carved open the Southend defence with a pass into the path of Andy Brown.

But, with just Mildenhall to beat, the striker saw his low shot from the left hand side of the penalty area palmed out by the Shrimpers shot-stopper.

In reply, Simon Francis curled a tame 25 yard free-kick over the crossbar but chances were proving to be few and far between during the opening exchanges.

A right-wing corner from James Meredith soon fizzed across the face of goal in the 28th minute before Adam Barrett flicked a header wide of the left post from another Francis free-kick at the other end of the pitch.

Brown then curled a 20 yard shot wide of the target after a misplaced pass from Alan McCormack Southend finally managed their first shot of the evening on target in the 36th minute when Francis curled a 25 yard free-kick straight at Ryan Young after Anthony Grant had been brought down by former Canvey Island centre-back Gavin Cowan.

Shortly after, Damian Scannell also forced the keeper into action with a low, left foot shot from long range but the visitors wasted another good opening in the 42nd minute when Martyn Naylor sliced an 18 yard shot wide of the right post when he should have done better.

Jon Adams, who scored twice for AFC Telford in the first meeting between the two teams, then fired over from a similar distance on the stroke of half-time but at the start of the second half it was Southend's turn to waste a good chance.

Grant played the ball into James Walker who chested it down to Kevin Betsy but, despite it opening up in front of him, the former Bristol City man tamely fired wide of the right post from 15 yards.

Moments later, Telford were back attacking and only a stunning save from Mildenhall stopped them taking the lead as the keeper somehow diverted a low drive from Lee Moore around the left post.

And, in the 56th minute, Mildenhall was at it again as he brilliantly tipped an eight yard shot from Brown over the crossbar.

Having survived the scares, Southend replied with a grounded Peter Clarke volleying a header from his defensive partner Adam Barrett wide of the left post.

In a bid to improve his side, Blues boss Steve Tilson switched to a 4-4-2 formation in the 68th minute as he brought on Charles Ademeno in place of Scannell and pushed Betsy up front with Walker.

And it almost made an immediate difference as Betsy's right wing came was sliced towards his own goal by Stuart Whitehead whose blushes were spared by Young as he tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Southend were now beginning to get on top and, in the 74th minute, they made the breakthrough with Betsy again the provider.

His left wing corner found the head of Jean-Francois Christophe who outjumped the keeper and teed up Francis who diverted the ball into the top left hand corner of the net from six yards.

Five minutes later, the Shrimpers doubled their lead as Walker came in off the left flank and curled a fantastic 25 yard shot into the right hand side of the South Stand goal.

That enabled Tilson to bring on youngsters Stuart O'Keefe and Justin Hazell in the closing stages as his side set up a second round clash with Luton Town who won at Altrincham on penalties.