A QUICKFIRE double strike saw Southend United continue their recent resurgence with a 2-0 win against promotion-pushing Bromley at a packed Roots Hall tonight.

In-form Matt Dennis put the Shrimpers in front at the start of the second half with his seventh goal in nine games.

And defender Shaun Hobson soon headed home a second for Blues who have now gone eight league game without defeat.

The latest success was watched by a crowd of 8,070, the Shrimpers’ biggest at home since hosting Ipswich Town in October 2019.

Those fans saw Dennis have an early effort deflected wide of the right post from 20 yards before defender Nathan Ralph fired over the crossbar from a similar distance But Ralph was then involved at the other end of the field when his weak backpass sent Bromley striker George Alexander clean through on goal.

However, Blues goalkeeper Steve Arnold rushed out of his penalty area to make a perfectly timed tackle.

In reply, Tom Clifford then sent a deflected 25 yard free-kick wide of the left post during a quiet opening half an hour between two in-form teams.

Moments later, Harry Cardwell’s flicked header from Sam Dalby’s right wing cross was easily held by visiting goalkeeper Mark Cousins in the closing action of the first half.

But the match exploded into the life at the start of the second half with the Shrimpers scoring twice in the space of three minutes.

Blues broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when Dalby impressively holding the ball up before turning to unleash a well-struck shot which cannoned back off the inside of the left post.

However, the on-rushing Dennis reacted sharply to the subsequent rebound and drilled the ball into the back of the South Stand net with a crisply taken effort from 12 yards.

The Shrimpers remained on top and doubled their lead in the 50th minute when a left wing corner from Clifford picked out Hobson who headed home his first goal of the season from close range.

Bromley replied with James Alabi firing wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area before Mason Bloomfield saw a weak header easily saved by Steve Arnold.

With the visitors looking to get back into the game, Billy Bingham then fired wide of the left post from 20 yards before Liam Trotter saw his back post volley diverted wide of the target by Arnold.

The Shrimpers responded by making their first change of the night in the 67th minute as Harrison Neal replaced Dennis but Bromley soon threatened again with Luke Coulson brilliantly being denied by the outstretched right foot of Arnold.

But, after that scare, Blues - who had Jason Demetriou making his 200th appearance for the club - comfortably saw out the closing stages to make it five home wins in succession.

Southend United: Arnold, Lopata, Hobson, Ralph, Demetriou (Davies 90), Husin, Atkinson, Clifford, Dennis (Neal 67), Dalby, Cardwell.

Subs: Kensdale, Dunne & Powell.