SOUTHEND United continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win against Hullbridge Sports at Boots & Laces this afternoon.

Miles Mitchell-Nelson and Brandon Goodship both netted in the first half before Stephen Humphrys completed the scoring having earlier missed a penalty.

Blues threatened early on with Tom Clifford sending an effort wide of the left post before Jason Demetriou saw a close range volley tipped wide of the right post by Hullbridge goalkeeper Lewis Greene. 

Moments later, Brandon Goodship saw a deflected effort pushed wide of the right upright before Sports hit back with Callum Fitzer's left wing cross hitting the bar and Kieran Bishop seeing his effort cleared off the line by Mitchell-Nelson.

Blues hit back with Matt Rush firing over from long range before the hosts broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Jack Bridge’s quickly taken corner led to Lewis Gard delivering a fine, right wing cross which Mitchell-Nelson headed into the bottom right hand corner of the net from eight yards.

The Shrimpers doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Bridge broke into the left hand side of the penalty area and delivered a cross which Goodship volleyed into the roof of the net from close range.

Emile Acquah replaced Matt Rush at half-time before Blues made 10 outfield changes on the hour mark and the new look hosts wasted a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 in the 76th minute with Humphrys being denied from the spot.

Referee Charles Breakspear awarded the penalty after new boy Jordan Green was brought down in the box but Humphrys’ weak effort was saved by Greene low down to the left hand side.

But Humphrys was not to be denied and, in the 80th minute, he raced clean through on goal before beating the advancing Greene with a low shot from 12 yards.

Humphrys came close to scoring again when he volleyed Elvis Bwomono’s right wing cross against the crossbar and, in the 88th minute, he fired Terrell Egbri’s cross wide of the post when unmarked in front in goal in the closing action of the game.

Southend United: Seaden, Howard, Mitchell-Nelson, Taylor, Clifford, Kinali, Demetriou, Gard, Bridge, Rush (Acquah 46) , Goodship.

Last 30 minutes: Seaden, Bwomono, White, Klass, Odimeh, Green, Phillips, Hutchinson, Egbri, Kelman, Humphrys.