SOUTHEND United kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win at Great Wakering Rovers tonight.

Jason Demetriou put the Shrimpers in front from the penalty spot in the first half before trialist QPR striker Hamzad Kargbo headed home after the break.

Blues used 21 players at Burroughs Park and went close to scoring early on with Shaun Hobson heading a right wing corner from Jack Bridge inches wide of the left post.

Moments later, trialist winger Matt Dennis sent a long low range effort straight at Wakering goalkeeper Tim Brown.

But the Shrimpers remained on top and broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with Demetriou on target from the penalty spot.

Referee Aaron Farmer pointed to the spot after Dennis was brought down by Perry Dunn and Demetriou made no mistake with an assured penalty into the left hand side of the net.

Blues made 10 outfield changes at the break with trialists Will Atkinson, Hamzad Kargbo and Yasin Ben El-Mhanni among those entering the action.

And just three minutes into the second half the new look Shrimpers doubled their lead with Kargbo – who is on trial from Queens Park Rangers – headed home after a goalmouth scramble which had seen Tommy Davis brilliantly denied by Brown.

Moments later, El-Mhanni’s sent an effort straight at the Wakering shot-stopper Brown after great work from Louis Walsh down the right hand side in what proved to be the closing action of the game.

Southend United first half: Seaden, Demetriou, Mitchell-Nelson, Hobson, Clifford, Egbri, Bridge, Dunne, Ogogo, Dennis, Moore Second half: Seaden, Howard, White, Davis, Sayers, Walsh, Ferguson, Atkinson, Phillips, El-Mhanni, Kargbo