SOUTHEND United were literally spot on as they surged to the top of the League Two table with a 3-0 triumph over Shrewsbury Town at Roots Hall tonight.

Liam Dickinson and Neil Harris both clinically converted penalties either side of a scrambled effort from Mark Phillips.

And that secured a fourth successive victory, as well as pole position for Paul Sturrock’s side.

Roared on by their biggest home crowd of the season, Southend dominated the first half and, with 13 minutes on the clock, they created their first chance of their evening as a fine half volleyed cross from Jean-Paul Kalala picked out Dickinson at the back post.

But the Southend striker’s diving header was well saved low to his right hand side by Shrewsbury goalkeeper Ben Smith.

Moments later, Phillips headed over a right wing centre from Sean Clohessy over the crossbar from 12 yards following a neatly worked free-kick involving Michael Timlin and Neil Harris.

Blues then wasted an even clearer opportunity to open the scoring in the 21st minute when Sharp spilt a deflected low drive from Ryan Leonard before the keeper somehow also diverted Dickinson’s follow up effort around the right post from six yards.

However, Dickinson made amends just six minutes later when he opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

The striker was given the opportunity to score after Harris was barged inside the area by Jermaine Grandison and he confidently slotted the ball to the right hand side of the goal with Smith diving in the opposite direction.

It was Dickinson’s fifth goal of the season and the in-form forward soon threatened again when he collected a fine through ball from Leonard before forcing Smith in to action with a skimming low shot from 25 yards.

But, at the start of the second half, it was Shrewsbury pushing forward as a well struck 25 yard shot from James Collins was smartly smothered by Blues goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

A similar effort from Dickinson at the other end of the field was then easily saved by Smith and, in the 55th minute, Harris headed over a left wing free-kick from Timlin.

Harris then had an excellent chance to turn provider for Leonard but the experienced striker over-hit his pass to the on-rushing midfielder who could only stab a sliding volley up into the air.

Shrewsbury immediately replied with Sean McAllister having a low shot fumbled around the left post by Morris but, having survived the scare, Southend hit back and came close to doubling their advantage in the 67th minute.

Timlin was the initial instigator of the move as his right wing cross teed up Dickinson whose shot blocked by Grandison.

But the rebound rolled in to the path of Kane Ferdinand, only for the midfielder to fire wide of the right post with his left foot from eight yards.

Kalala then fired well wide of the left post from long range before Blues were left screaming for a second penalty when Harris again seemed to be brought down by Grandison.

This time, referee Gavin Ward opted to wave away the protests before Blues made their first change of the evening in the 77th minute with Anthony Grant replacing Ferdinand.

However, Shrewsbury were still looking threatening and they almost equalised when Grandison smashed a six yard shot against the underside of the crossbar.

In reply, Grant then fired wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area before Blues made sure of the win with two goals in stoppage time.

First Phillips bundled home a right wing free-kick from substitute Ryan Hall which Smith had failed to collect and, in the dying seconds, Harris blasted a penalty in to the roof of the net after Hall had been brought down by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.