SOUTHEND United completed the group stage of the Checkatrade Trophy with a passionless 4-0 defeat at Stevenage tonight.

Blues’ place in the final 32 of the competition had been assured before their trip to Broadhall Way.

But Shrimpers boss Phil Brown will still have been left frustrated by how easily his team were brushed aside by their League Two hosts.

In a game played in front of just 559 fans, Stevenage pushed forward early on and came close to opening the scoring after just four minutes when a well struck 25 yard free-kick from Steve Schumacher was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Ted Smith.

The young shot-stopper was one of eight changes made to the starting line up by Shrimpers boss Phil Brown.

But the custodian was unable to keep out Schumacher’s next set piece as the midfielder curled a 20 yard free-kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Southend were immediately forced into making a change in attack as Jack Bridge replaced the injured Simon Cox but Stevenage remained on top and doubled their lead in the 18th minute, following another free-kick.

This time Schumacher caught out the Shrimpers defence with a quickly taken free-kick which sent Matt Godden through on goal and the striker netted with a low, left footed shot from 12 yards.

Moments later, Godden again raced in behind the Southend rear-guard but saw his effort blocked by a combination of Smith and John White before Harry Kyprianou did well to block a goalbound effort from former Billericay Town forward Rowan Liburd.

Blues finally hit back in the 38th minute with Michael Timlin having a low, 20 yard shot parried to safety by Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day.

Moments later, Luke O’Neill struck the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards in the closing action of the first half before the Shrimpers made a second change at the break with Jakub Sokolik replacing Adam Thompson at the heart of the defence.

However, Stevenage stayed on top with Godden having a powerful effort impressively tipped over by Smith before Blues made their final substitution of the night, in the 61st minute, with Anthony Wordsworth coming on for Timlin.

Stevenage still looked the far hungrier of the sides though and soon made it 3-0 in the 64th minute as Liburd netted with a low, left footed shot which went in via the inside of the right post before he completed the scoring with a close range header in stoppage time.