Southend moved to the top of League Two with their ninth win in ten games - a 2-0 victory at Macclesfield.
Macclesfield, themselves on a five-match unbeaten run, might have been expected to have provided tougher opposition. But shorn of their regular forward line they hardly posed a threat.
Southend took advantage of their territorial domination in the 39th minute when Shaun Brisley could only loop a defensive header into the path of Ryan Hall, who blasted home a rising volley from 15 yards for his fourth of the season.
The home side upped the pace after the break with Colin Daniel hitting a rising drive over the bar in the 49th minute and Vinny Mukendi stinging the hands of Luke Daniels with a rising 30-yard drive.
Southend wrapped up the game on the hour when Macc failed to clear a corner and Kane Ferdinand turned to blast home his fourth of the season from six yards.
The hosts tried to launch a rearguard action, but their best chance to grab a goal back went begging when Nat Brown sent a header inches wide in the 76th minute.
The S24 Report: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Quotes from the lads: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Source: DSG
Source: DSG