ELLIS Brown and Barry Corr both bagged braces to fire Southend United to a comfortable 7-0 win at Canvey Island this evening.

The two strikers both scored twice and were joined on the score-sheet by Luke Prosser, Kevan Hurst and Shaq Coulthirst, who also missed a penalty.

Blues took just five minutes to open the scoring at the Prospects Stadium when Canvey keeper Tim Brown misjudged Gary Deegan’s through ball and that allowed Coulthirst to power a well struck shot in to a gaping goal from 16 yards.

Moments later, Coulthirst caused the hosts more problems as he raced on to a fine through ball from Hurst before sending a low shot against the foot of the left post.

Corr’s effort from the rebound was scrambled off the line by defender Josh Banton, who is on loan at the Gulls from Southend.

But the Shrimpers were not to be denied for long as Brown doubled their lead in the 14th minute.

The young striker, who is currently on a youth loan at East Thurrock United, was picked out by Coulthirst before stroking a low, left footed shot across the keeper and in to the botttom right hand corner of the net.

The Shrimpers wasted a golden chance to make it 3-0 in the 31st minute when referee Lloyd Wood pointed to the penalty spot after Canvey keeper Brown hauled down Brown inside the area.

However, Coulthirst was unable to convert the spot-kick as his low effort was tipped wide of the right post by Brown.

Blues continue to attack and Corr soon went close with a curling 20 yard shot which smacked against the top of the crossbar.

But, with 41 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers made it 3-0 when Corr was picked out by a low right wing cross from Hurst before firing home with his left foot from eight yards.

Southend then extended their advantage even further when Brown bagged his second goal of the evening.

The striker broke the offside trap and rounded his namesake in the Canvey goal before having his initial effort blocked on the line by Banton.

However, Brown stayed alert to the situation and impressively drove the rebound in to the back of the net from a narrow angle.

The Shrimpers made one change at the break with Nico Cotton replacing American exchange player Tristan Heath.

And they made it 5-0 six minutes in to the second half when Hurst curled an excellent 20 yard free-kick in to the top right hand corner of the net after Coulthirst had been fouled.

In reply, Canvey then almost got on to the score-sheet when Dan King’s right wing cross picked out Mike Jones who slammed a 14 yard shot against the crossbar.

But, after surviving the scare, Southend were soon back on top with Corr heading a right wing cross from Coulthirst inches wide of the right post.

Corr was soon back on target through as he won and converted a penalty.

The Irishman was brought down by Banton in the box before confidently stroking a spot-kick in to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Blues immediately made a double change with Jason Williams replacing Brown and Kane Farrell coming on Myles Weston.

Williams fired home with his first touch, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside before Corr went close to completing a hat-trick with a curling 20 yard shot was superbly tipped to safety by Canvey’s substitute goalkeeper Flo Gislette.

But Gislette was soon picking the ball out of the back of the net when Prosser beat him to a left wing cross to head home from six yards to complete the scoring.

Southend United: P Smith (Bexon 78), Bolger (Jordan Williams 78), Barrett, Prosser (Matsuzaka 78), Hurst (Scott 78), Heath (Cotton 46), Deegan, Coulthirst (Adeyeye 78), Weston (Farrell 67), Corr, Brown (Jason Williams 67)