GOALS from summer signings Rhys Murphy and Jack Bridge handed Southend United a 2-1 win against Norwich City's under 23 side at Roots Hall tonight.

All three goals came in the first half of the pre-season friendly.

But it was the Shrimpers who came out on top with Bridge scoring the winner on the stroke of half-time.

Blues threatened early on with Sam Dalby curling an effort over the crossbar before Phil Brown's side came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute of the match.

Midfielder James Dunne was initially denied by the legs of Norwich goalkeeper Joe Rose before Dalby rolled the rebound into the path of Murphy who sent his effort against the crossbar.

Dunne fired over the resulting rebound before the Shrimpers threatened again with Jack Bridge firing over from 20 yards.

Moments later, a close range header from Dalby deflected wide off Murphy before Blues went in front in the 26th minute, with Murphy on target from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded after Murphy was brought down in the box by Canaries goalkeeper Joe Rose and Murphy made no mistake with a confident low spot-kick into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Murphy soon came close to adding a second with a fine chipped shot which bounced back off the crossbar before Jason Demetriou sent a low effort wide of the left post.

With Blues remaining on top, Dalby soon headed Bridge’s left wing cross wide of the right post but, after surviving the scares, the visitors drew back level in the 45th minute with Abu Kamara striking home a low, left footed shot from 20 yards.

However, within a minute the Shrimpers were back in front with Bridge cutting in from the left hand side and scoring with a low shot which hit the back of the net via the inside of the right post.

Blues made their first change at the break with Harry Seaden replacing Steve Arnold before Harry Phillips took the place of Nathan Ferguson in the 54th minute.

Shortly after the chance, Murphy curled a shot over the crossbar from a promising position before he also wide of the left post from 20 yards.

Trialist Matt Dennis soon entered the action to take on his parent club before centre-back Josh Coulson also came on to make his first appearance of the pre-season campaign after recovering from a broken toe.

The defender was immediately involved as his firm header was impressively kept out by the legs of Rose but the second half was far less eventful and neither side threatened in the closing stages.

Southend United: Arnold (Seaden 46), Demetriou (Dennis 65), Hobson (Coulson 68), White, Ralph, Bridge, Ferguson (Phillips 54), Ogogo, Dunne, Dalby, Murphy.