SOUTHEND United started their New Year Eve celebrations early by returning to winning ways with a thumping 4-1 triumph at AFC Wimbledon this afternoon.

Ryan Hall, Mark Phillips and Neil Harris were all on target for Blues, while AFC Wimbledon defender Jamie Stuart also netted an own goal against his former side.

But Southend had to overcome a shaky start to end their run of six matches without a win.

They missed an early penalty when Neil Harris saw his spot kick saved by Seb Brown before the Dons opened the scoring through Jack Midson.

However, the hosts were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when Christian Jolley was dismissed for a late lunge on Michael Timlin.

And that enabled Paul Sturrock's side to boss the second period.

Things could have been far more straight forward had Blues taken the lead after just two minutes when referee Trevor Kettle awarded them a penalty after adjudging Sammy Hatton to have brought down Timlin inside the area.

But Harris, who took over spot kick responsibilities from the suspended Liam Dickinson, was unable to make the most of the opportunity as his drilled effort down the centre of the goal was blocked by the legs of Brown.

Harris’ miss was soon to increase in significance too as the Wombles opened the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock as Midson netted against his old team.

The striker, who was on loan at Roots Hall last season, reacted quickest when Phillips made a mess of trying to clear Luke Moore’s right wing cross and drilled a powerful 16 yard shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Moments later, Jolley headed Hatton’s right wing cross just past the left post before Blues hit back with Ryan Leonard shooting straight at Brown from 25 yards.

Wimbledon immediately replied with Jolley having a near post shot blocked by the legs of Daniels and, with 18 minutes on the clock, Blues’ on loan goalkeeper rushed off his line to deny Ricky Wellard from close range.

That kept Southend in the game and the visitors hit back to equalise on the half hour mark, following an excellent run down the right hand side from Sean Clohessy.

He sped past a number of defenders before delivering a deflected cross which Brown could only parry out in to the path of Hall who volleyed the ball in to the back of the net from close range for his 10th goal of the season.

Blues then had a further boost on the stroke of half-time when Jolley was sent off for a mistimed, two footed lunge on Timlin.

Southend took just six minutes to capatilise on their extra man and took the lead following a fine run in to the box by Timlin.

His attempted pass bobbled up inside the area and appeared to be placed past his own goalkeeper by former Blues defender Stuart.

However, Hall claimed the ball struck him before speeding past Brown in the Dons goal and the winger was again causing problems just moments later when he cut in off the right flank and shot just wide of the left post from 20 yards.

But Blues did not have to wait long for a third goal as they extended their lead in the 64th minute when Phillips rose superbly to head a right wing cross from Clohessy in to the bottom right hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Southend then completed the scoring in the 79th minute when Harris lobbed home from 14 yards after Stuart and Mat Mitchel-King had failed to deal with a routine long ball forward.

Wimbledon, who brought on former Blues youngster Charles Ademeno late on, replied with Midson having a low, left footed shot well saved by Daniels before Brett Johnson had a header scrambled to safety.

However, by then Southend had already done enough to secure a successful end to 2011.