NORMAN Wabo fired home a hat-trick to help Southend United’s under 23 team start their league season with a 5-2 win against Peterborough United.

Wabo scored a trio of well-taken goals and was joined on the score-sheet by Eren Kinali and Zak Pianim at Boots & Laces this afternoon. 

And coach Kevin Maher was pleased to kick off the campaign with a victory.

“It was an entertaining game,” said the former Shrimpers midfielder.

“To be fair Peterborough were quite young but it’s pleasing to have won the game.

“We have things to work on and it’s disappointing to have conceded a couple of goals

“But to score five is good and we have to happy with that.

“Norman took his goals well and Isaac (Hutchinson) did well too so there were a lot of good performances including Lewis Gard.

“His work rate and application was brilliant.”

Despite the final score-line it was Peterborough who opened the scoring with a well-taken goal from Matthew Stevens in the 22nd minute.

But, just three minutes later, Blues hit back when Hutchinson’s cross was well controlled by Wabo who teed up Kinali to score with an accurate left foot shot.

With 32 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers took the lead when Hutchinson’s run led to Tom Clifford delivering a fine, left wing cross which Wabo converted with an accurate first-team finish.

And, eight minutes later, Blues extended their lead when Gard’s header back into the box was only half cleared and Pianim took full advantage with an accurate low finish into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Posh replied before the break with another well-taken effort from Stevens but Blues were back on top after the break with Wabo and Gard both being denied by the visiting goalkeeper.

Hutchinson then had an effort cleared off the line before Blues made it 4-2 in the 82nd minute when Kinali’s right wing cross was cleared into the path of Wabo who smashed home a left footed shot via the inside of the left post.

Wabo then completed the scoring and his hat-trick three minutes from time when he collected a pass from substitute Terrell Egbri and slammed a stunning effort from the right hand side of the penalty area into the top left hand corner of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Southend United: Bishop, Howard (Humphreys 85), Curran, Coutts, Clifford, Kinali (Egbri 85), Gard, Pianim (Acquah 70), Batlokwa, Hutchinson, Wabo