KANE Ferdinand’s double strike helped Southend United see off Dagenham and Redbridge 3-2 in an entertaining Essex derby at Victoria Road this afternoon.

It was far from a convincing triumph for table-topping Blues as struggling Daggers twice hit back to equalise.

But Ferdinand’s second effort, which came after the break, eventually ensured Paul Sturrock’s side secured a fifth successive league victory.

Early on, it appeared Blues would again be cruising to a straight-forward success as it took them just eight minutes to open the scoring, with Ferdinand bagging his first goal of the afternoon.

The move was started by Liam Dickinson who stroked the ball out to Ryan Hall on the left flank.

The winger then delivered an inviting low cross which was met a sliding Ferdinand and he side footed the ball in to the back of the net from close range.

However, Blues were ahead for just five minutes as Daggers soon drew back level, with the on loan West Ham United striker Cristian Montano scoring on his debut.

The striker cut back on to his left foot inside the penalty area and unleashed a scuffed 12 yard shot which somehow squirmed its way past an embarrassed Luke Daniels.

In reply, Bilel Mohnsi then fired wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area before Hall did the same with a well struck right footed shot which fizzed just past the upright.

With Southend remaining on top, Michael Timlin then almost put them back in front in the 18th minute but his powerful shot, which came after Dickinson had headed down a Hall corner, was brilliantly saved by Chris Lewington.

But Blues did regain the lead in the 33rd minute, with Mohsni the provider.

He collected the ball from Sean Clohessy in the right hand side of the penalty area before rolling a cross in to the path of Dickinson who fired a first time finish in to the bottom left corner of the net from six yards.

That handed the striker his seventh goal of the season and he came close to scoring again on the stroke of half-time when he just failed to connect with a right wing cross from Ferdinand.

Daggers then almost came close to scoring just before the break when Jon Nurse’s 20 yard shot was tipped around the right post by Daniels.

However, Southend’s let off was only temporary as four minutes after the interval, Dagenham did equalise for a second time.

Abu Ogogo ran through the centre of the pitch before unleashing a powerful 25 yard shot which flew in to the left hand side of the goal.

That led to a period of pressure from the home-side as they continued to pile forward.

But, in the 64th minute, it was Blues who bagged what proved to be the game’s decisive goal as Dickinson carved open the Dagenham defence with a fine through ball which enabled Ferdinand to charge clean through on goal.

The midfielder surged on to the pass and kept his composure to round the advancing Lewington before rolling the ball in to the back of the net with an assured finish.

Dagenham hit back with Michael Spillane heading Damien McCrory’s left wing free-kick wide of the right post and Phil Walsh having a header from another McCrory set-piece tipped over by Daniels.

Daggers continued to attack and, in the 85th minute, only a truly outstanding save from Daniels stopped Montano making it 3-3 as the keeper dived full length to his right to somehow keep out the striker’s header from six yards.

And that ensured it was Southend who triumphed in the first ever league meeting between the two teams.