SOUTHEND United bagged a quartet of first half goals to cruise to a comfortable 4-0 win against Gillingham at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Michael Turner, Theo Robinson, Michael Kightly and Stephen McLaughlin all netted in quick succession as the Shrimpers bounced back from Friday’s 4-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.

Gills – who had not beaten by Blues in the previous nine meetings between the two teams – also had skipper Lee Martin sent off on the stroke of half-time.

But, by then Southend’s success had already been secured – thanks to their stunning start to the game.

Blues opened the scoring after just eight minutes when a left wing corner from McLaughlin picked out Turner whose header somehow evaded a number of players before nestling in the left hand side of the net.

Three minutes later the Shrimpers doubled their lead when a fine move down the left hand side resulted in Ben Coker having a shot parried out by Gills goalkeeper Tomas Holy, enabling the recalled Robinson to fire home a well-taken volley.

The strike was Robinson’s first in the League in just over a year and the forward was soon involved again when he fired over from 20 yards with an unmarked Jason Demetriou unmarked in the penalty area to his right hand side.

But Blues were not to regret the missed opportunity as the home-side made it 3-0 in the 18th minute, with Kightly on target for the fifth time this season.

The recalled winger reacted sharply after a screaming shot from McLaughlin had bounced back off the crossbar and nodded the ball into the back of a gaping goal.

In a bid to stop the Shrimpers, Gillingham made a substitution after just 25 minutes with Conor Wilkinson replacing Connor Ogilvie.

But Blues remained on top and came close to making it 4-0 when Max Ehmer’s poor defensive header from 20 yards gad to be tipped over by Holy before Simon Cox scuffed a shot having being teed up by Robinson.

Moments later, Cox’s effort was tipped wide of the right post by Holy after a great run down the right hand side from Jason Demetriou but Blues were celebrating again in the 39th minute with McLaughlin scoring for the fifth game in succession against the Gills.

The Irishman was picked out by Kightly’s right wing corner and netted with a firm header which flew into the left hand side of the net.

In reply, Tom Eaves had a powerful header ruled out for offside.

But things were soon to get even worse for the shell-shocked Gills who were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when skipper Lee Martin was sent off for a poor challenge on Robinson.

After the break, the lively McLaughlin had a long range effort parried to safety by Holy before the Gills shot-stopper also pushed away a well-struck effort from Dru Yearwood.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Eaves then had another header ruled out for offside before Blues replied with Cox firing wide from the half-way line after a poor clearance Holy left the goal open.

Powell then opted to make a second change with Freddie Ladapo replacing Robinson in attack before Josh Wright also entered the action in place of Dru Yearwood.

And the new look Shrimpers almost made it 5-0 right at the death with Cox firing just wide of the left post.