SOUTHEND United started their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 7-0 win at Great Wakering Rovers this afternoon.

Ryan Leonard bagged a brace in the first half with Ronan Murray doing the same in the second.

David Mooney, Renei Batlokwa and Nico Cotton were also on target as the Shrimpers secured a convincing victory.

Blues came close to opening the scoring after seven minutes when tralist defender Gavin Gunning saw his powerful header from Ben Coker’s right wing corner nodded off the goal-line.

However, the Shrimpers did not have to wait much longer to take the lead as they broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Mooney rose well to head home a right wing cross from Jason Demetriou via the inside of the crossbar.

Blues doubled their advantage three minutes later when Demetriou’s right wing cross was headed down by Mooney, enabling Leonard to volley the ball home from close range.

Moments later, Demetriou sent a long range shot crashing against the left post with Nile Ranger sending the rebound over the crossbar.

But the Shrimpers remained on top and extended their lead in the 33rd minute when Demetriou’s impressive diagonal ball forward picked out Leonard who lobbed the advancing goalkeeper with a neat finish.

Blues boss Phil Brown made 11 changes at the break with trialists Tom Rosenthal and Murray among those entering the action.

The new look side came close to making it 4-0 when Jack Bridge had a powerful effort tipped over the crossbar before the Wakering shot-stopper parried away John White’s cross-shot.

However, the Shrimpers finally made it 4-0 in the 75th minute when a well worked move resulted in Murray heading home Will Atkinson’s right wing cross.

Southend continued to attack with Jack Bridge having an effort well saved by the goalkeeper before Jason Williams smashed a long range effort against the inside of the left post.

Ten minutes from time, Bridge came off with what appeared to be a rib injury and was replaced in midfield by Batlokwa before Blues made it 5-0 when Murray curled home an impressive 25 yard free-kick.

The Shrimpers extended their advantage even further with Batlokwa firing home a penalty he also won after being brought down in the area.

And Southend completed the scoring right at the death with Cotton scoring the goal of the game as he sent a stunning long range shot high into the top left hand corner of the net.

Southend United (first half): Smith, Demetriou, Thompson, Gunning, Coker, O’Neill, Leonard, Timlin, McGlashan, Mooney, Ranger Second half: Bexon, White, Williams, Barrett, Kyprianou, Bridge (Batlokwa 80), Atkinson, Rosenthal, Cotton, Murray, Williams