SOUTHEND & Benfleet’s superb form continued as they travelled down the road to thrash local rivals Old Southendian 7-0 and go top of the Essex Premier League table.

The hosts went into the game searching for their first win of the season, but S&B were in no mood to show mercy.

The visitors came out of the gates swinging and it wasn’t long before Kirsty Edmunds’ reverse stick flick wrong-footed the goalie to give S&B the lead.

Edmunds was on fire and assisted Caitlin Meredith who smashed the ball into the back of the Old Southendian goal to bag the second goal of the game.

At the other end captain Rachel Jeffery and Jodie Linge snuffed out all the Old Southendian attacks and it wasn’t long before the visitors had a third, with Sarah Conway getting on the scoresheet.

Meredith then grabbed her second and Edmunds finished off the half as she started, taking on the keeper and rolling the ball home.

The goals dried up at the start of the second period as Old Southendians did well to hold their visitors at bay.

But it was only a matter of time before the sixth goal arrived.

Edmunds claimed a further assist as she found Nicola Bryant on the far post, who knocked it expertly into the back of the goal.

Jodie Linge, who was named player of the match, then pushed forward from defence and provided an assist for Ashlie Colman who wrapped up the scoring for S&B.

The win saw S&B overtake Havering in the league table on goal difference, with the two sides set to go head to head on Saturday.

l Southend & Benfleet’s second team were also celebrating victory over Old Southendians.

They beat their second team with Hannah Daish grabbing a brace and Anna Winfield also on target.

S&B keeper Lisa Hawkins was called into action early on and defenders Rebecca Utton and Anne Johnson had to be on top of their game.

Daish eventually broke the deadlock before the break after an assist by player-of-the-match Anna Winfield.

The second half was more of the same, with S& B starting to get frustrated.

Eventually they made the game safe when another short corner sawJo Hall find Daish who fired home.

The spirited Old Southendians never gave up and stopped several more attacks, but five minutes from time another short corner resulted in another goal for Daish, sealing the victory 3-0.

l Southend & Benfleet III played Chelmsford VI in a friendly and won 2-1.