SOUTHEND United surged back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory against Halifax Town at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers headed into the game with three defeats in their last four outings.

But a second half brace from Gus Scott-Morriss after an early effort from Henry Sandat saw Kevin Maher’s side start 2024 in fine style.

Blues started on the front foot and opened the scoring after just three minutes with Sandat on target for the first time since returning to Roots Hall.

The teenager was picked out by a long through ball from Nathan Ralph in the left hand side of the penalty area before scoring with a low, right footed shot which went through the legs of goalkeeper Sam Johnson on its way to hitting the back of the South Stand net.

Sandat then headed over a right wing cross from Scott-Morriss before Halifax hit back with Andrew Oluwabori sending a curling shot over the crossbar from 25 yards.

Halifax were on top at the start of the second half with Jamie Cooke having a well-struck left footed shot smartly saved by Collin Andeng Ndi who then got down well to his right hand side to also keep out a low shot from Oluwabori.

Blues replied with Scott-Morriss volleying a left wing cross from Nathan Ralph over the crossbar in acrobatic fashion before boss Kevin Maher made his first change of the afternoon in the 72nd minute with the fit-again Cav Miley replacing home debutant James Morton in the centre of the park.

Shortly after the alteration, the Shrimpers wasted a big chance to double their lead when a powerful 20 yard shot from Ollie Kensdale was deflected into the path of Brooklyn Kabongolo whose follow up effort from inside the six yard box was blocked on the line by James Stott.

But the Shrimpers were not to be denied a second goal for long and made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, with Ralph again the provider against the best defence in the division.

The Blues skipper advanced into the left hand side of the penalty area before delivering a low cross which Scott-Morriss side footed into the bottom right hand corner of the net from six yards.

However, Scott-Morriss was not finished and, five minutes from time, he completed the scoring with a well-taken header from an accurate left wing cross from Jack Bridge.