SIMON Cox bagged a brace as Southend United secured a 4-0 win at Bishop’s Stortford tonight.

The experienced striker scored in either half and was joined on the score-sheet by Michael Kightly and Nico Cotton as Phil Brown’s side recorded a commanding victory.

Blues had Ryan Leonard back in their starting line-up despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.

However, it was Bishop’s Stortford who threatened first with Darren Foxley sending a well struck left foot shot wide of the right post from 20 yards.

But, after surviving the scare, the Shrimpers hit back and broke the deadlock in fine fashion in the 12th minute of the match, with Cox on target for the second game in succession.

Echo:

Firing home - Simon Cox

The striker was picked out by Jermaine McGlashan’s right wing cross and thundered home a right footed volley via the underside of the crossbar from 14 yards.

Moments later, Theo Robinson came close to making it 2-0 when he beat goalkeeper Harry Voss to Kightly’s through ball but Ricky Spriggs was on hand to clear the danger.

However, the Shrimpers were not to be denied a second goal for long and they doubled their lead in the 24th minute when a fine pass from McGlashan enabled Dru Yearwood to tee up Kightly who beat his man in the left hand side of the penalty area before sending a low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Echo:

On target - Michael Kightly

With Blues remaining on top, Yearwood’s low shot from McGlashan’s right wing cross was impressively saved by Voss who then also did well to deny Cox and Kightly in quick succession.

Kightly then fired inches over from 20 yards before Bishop’s Stortford threatened at the start of the second half with George Casey having a free-kick tipped onto the left post by Ted Smith.

However, the Shrimpers were then also denied by the woodwork as Kightly teed up Stephen Hendrie whose shot struck the outside of the left upright.

The visitors then made a number of substitutions with John White, Dan Matsuzaka, Michael Timlin and Stephen McLaughlin all entering the action.

And the new look Blues side extended their lead in the 69th minute, with Cox again on target.

The striker was picked out by another fine right wing cross from McGlashan and made no mistake with a firm finish from close range.

Four more substitutions soon followed with Cotton, Jack Bridge, Harry Kyprianou and Michael Klass all being introduced.

And it was Cotton who completed the scoring in the 82nd minute as he drilled a low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

Southend: Smith, Demetriou (White 57), Ferdinand (Matsuzaka 60), Turner (Kyprianou 78), Hendrie, McGlashan (Klass 78), Yearwood (Cotton 78), Leonard (Timlin 60), Kightly (McLaughlin 60), Cox (Bridge 78), Robinson (Fortune 76)