TWO SIMON Cox goals in the space of three second half minutes saw Southend United triumph 2-0 at Gillingham this afternoon.

The Shrimpers striker netted twice in quick succession as Chris Powell’s side recorded a third successive away win to extend their unbeaten run in League One to five games.

Blues were forced to work hard for the win with Gillingham slightly shading the first half.

As a result, Callum Reilly saw an early effort saved at his near post by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley before the visitors hit back with Elvis Bwomono having a goalbound effort blocked by Gills defender Barry Fuller following a fine counter-attack.

Shrimpers skipper Sam Mantom then sent a long range effort straight at Gillingham goalkeeper Tomas Holy before the hosts replied with top goalscorer Tom Eaves having a well-struck 25 yard shot tipped over by Oxley.

Moments later, Reilly fired inches wide of the right post from long range before Blues replied with Dru Yearwood teeing up Cox whose effort was easily held by Holy.

But, with the wind now behind them, the Shrimpers started the second half brightly and, in the 51st minute, Cox fired them in front.

The in-form striker composed himself after collecting a pass from Dru Yearwood and sent a deflected left footed shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Two minutes later, Cox was celebrating again as Yearwood charged through the centre of the park before rolling a pass into the path of the striker who sent a low, right footed shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net for his fifth goal in five games.

Moments later, Gills goalkeeper Holy diverted Theo Robinson’s left wing cross onto his captain Gabriel Zakuani before the ball rolled wide of the left post.

However, the hosts soon hit back with Mark Byrne having a header pushed wide of the right post by Oxley before the Shrimpers shot-stopper also did well to tip Bradley Stevenson’s low effort around the right post.

Eaves then also had a shot tipped wide by Oxley before Blues hit back and came close to extending their lead in the 87th minute when Ben Coker swapped passes with Timothee Dieng before sending an effort against the crossbar.

The Shrimpers – who had earlier brought on Shawn McCoulsky for Theo Robinson – made a second change in the 89th minute – with the fit-again Harry Lennon replacing Yearwood in the closing action of another pleasing encounter for Blues.