SOUTHEND United made it three away wins in the space of eight days with a 3-0 victory at Barnet tonight.

Kacper Lopata fired the Shrimpers in front from close range just before the break.

And second half goals from Callum Powell and Jack Bridge saw Blues record a comfortable win at the Hive where their following of 1,446 outnumbered the support of the home-side.

Despite the final score-line, it was Barnet who started on top with Rob Hall seeing an early effort deflected wide of the right post before Sam Woods volleyed over at the far post following a right wing corner from Hall.

Moments later, the Bees’ top scorer Nicke Kabamba saw a swerving 20 yard shot parried away by Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi before the visitors hit back with Wes Fonguck firing over from long range.

Fonguck replaced Noor Husin in the only change to the starting line-up from Saturday’s win at York City and the midfielder soon saw a cross-shot from the left hand side tipped over the crossbar by Barnet goalkeeper Laurie Walker.

Blues wing-back Gus Scott-Morriss then fired wide of the left post from 20 yards before play switched back to the other end of the field with Hall having an inswinging free-kick tipped over by Andeng Ndi.

After surviving the scare, Southend replied with Powell sending a dangerous left wing cross from Cav Miley over the crossbar before Scott-Morriss sent a left footed shot fizzing just over the goal from 25 yards.

Lopata then headed over a left wing corner from Bridge before Powell was denied by Walker following a good through ball from Chris Wreh.

But Blues made their pressure count in the 42nd minute, with Lopata scoring the first goal of his senior career.

The Polish defender acted sharply when Powell’s right wing cross was played onto the far post where he swept the ball home from close range.

The Shrimpers stayed on top and extended their lead seven minutes into the second half, with Powell scoring his sixth goal of the season.

The striker fought hard in the box after Scott-Morriss’ right wing throw was not properly cleared before he poked the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net from close range.

Powell made way for Aaron Cosgrave in the 70th minute as the Shrimpers made their first change of the night and, moments later, it was almost 3-0 as Wreh saw a 20 yard shot pushed just wide of the right post by Walker.

Barnet replied with Sean Shields having a well-struck shot pushed to safety by Andeng Ndi before Blues completed the scoring nine minutes from time with Bridge on target from the spot.

The left wing-back also won the penalty after being brought down in the box by Danny Collinge before Bridge confidently sent Walker the wrong way from the spot.

But the night ended on a sour note for the Shrimpers with substitute Rhys Murphy having to be helped off the pitch late on after suffering another injury setback.

Southend United: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Hobson, Lopata, Kensdale, Bridge, Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (Husin 77), Wreh (Murphy 84), Powell (Cosgrave 70).

Subs not used: Lomas & Demetriou.

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