A STRONG Southend United side trounced Gillingham 8-0 in a behind closed doors clash at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Stephen McLaughlin and Michael Timlin both bagged braces while Jason Williams, Kevan Hurst, Jack Bridge and Harry Norman were also on target during a one sided encounter.

The Shrimpers opened the scoring after just nine minutes with an excellent effort from McLaughlin.

Echo:

Gary Deegan goes for the ball

The Irishman cut in off the the right flank and curled a fine, left footed shot into the top left hand corner of the net from 25 yards.

Three minutes later, Blues doubled their lead with the fit again Timlin on target.

The midfielder latched onto a loose ball and netted with a calm, left footed finish from 10 yards.

Moments later, McLaughlin dragged another effort wide of the right post before Luke Prosser failed to nod home Hurst’s fine right wing cross from close range.

But, with 32 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers did make it 3-0 as Hurst’s left wing corner was headed home by Williams.

And, just eight minutes later, Blues bagged their fourth of the afternoon with McLaughlin powering home a rising left footed shot from 10 yards.

After the break, Timlin made it 5-0 with an excellent effort from long range before Hurst also worked his way onto the score-sheet as he rifled a left footed shot into the right hand side of the North Bank from 25 yards.

Echo:

Jack Bridge makes it 7-0 with a fine finish

With the Shrimpers remaining on top, Jack Bridge soon added a seventh from close range before Blues began to ease in the closing stages after making a number of substitutions.

However, one of the new faces – Norman – completed the scoring with a low, left footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Southend United: T Smith, O'Neill (Jordan Williams 60), Bolger (Matsuzaka 75), Prosser, Kyprianou, Hurst (Norman 75), Deegan, Timlin (Cotton 60), McLaughlin (Gard 75), Bridge, Jason Williams