SOUTHEND United surged back to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph at Mansfield Town this afternoon.

The Shrimpers had gone five games without a win before facing the Stags.

But goals from Ryan Leonard and David Worrall handed Phil Brown’ side their first win since late September.

Blues were particularly impressive in the first half and, in the opening exchanges, Myles Weston burst in to the box before seeing his goalbound effort blocked by a sliding Mansfield defender, Martin Riley.

Moments later, Jerome Binnom-Williams headed David Worrall’s left wing corner straight at Stags shot-stopper Sascha Studer but Blues remained on top and opened the scoring from their next flag kick, in the 17th minute of the match.

The corner was taken from the right hand side by Michael Timlin and was dummied by John White on the edge of the penalty area which allowed Leonard to rush on to the ball.

The on-rushing midfielder then smashed a well struck shot against the underside of the crossbar before it struck Studer and rolled back in the net.

Southend continued to attack after going in front and Barry Corr soon wasted a great chance to make it 2-0 when he headed Worrall’s right wing cross over the crossbar from close range.

Corr then saw a half volley, from Worrall’s left wing corner, pushed to safety by Studer and, on the stroke of half-time, the Irishman again went close to scoring when his powerful shot from 20 yards was impressively pushed to safety by the keeper.

At the start of the second half, Southend created a decent chance with Timlin heading John White’s right wing cross wide of the right post.

But Blues were able to double their lead in the 69th minute, with Worrall grabbing his second goal in three games.

The winger was picked out by Corr’s downward header from a long ball forward and lashed home a powerfully struck half volley.

However, Mansfield momentarily hit back when a slight lapse from White let Rakish Bingham clean through on goal but his well struck shot was brilliantly blocked by Bentley.

But the Stags did get back in to the game in the 78th minute when an awful error from the returning Jakub Sokolik led to Oliver Palmer firing home.

There initially appeared to be little danger in front of goal but an air-kick from Sokolik presented Palmer with a simple opportunity he gleefully accepted.

The Stags then almost bagged an equaliser when Fergus Bell fired inches past the left post from 18 yards.

But Southend were able to see out the final few minutes to secure their first win at Field Mill since 1990.