Watched by a crowd of 778, including Tottenham Hotspur and Wales star Gareth Bale, (he played in the same Saints youth side as Blues trailist Jake Thompson), Southend kicked-off their pre-season schedule of friendlies with a 3-0 win at Conference South side Dartford with five players on trail in front of Blues boss Paul Sturrock.
After a goalless first half which saw a third minute free-kick from trialist Darren Currie saved by Darts keeper Andrew Young.
Followed by a couple of decent efforts by the home side, Ryan Hayes shot wide after good work by the son of Teddy Sheringham, young Charlie, and right-back Matt Jones brought the Shrimpers shot stopper Glenn Morris into the action.
Just before the break another trialist, striker Carlos Thomas, had the chance to impress Blues boss Paul Sturrock but he headed Sean Clohessy’scross wide from a few yards out when he really should have found the target.
All change for the second 45 as all three of Luggy's summer signings, Alassane N’Diaye, Jemal Johnson and Neil Harris made their debut allowing with Bomber the chance to captain the side.
And it was on the hour that at last the League Two side confirmed the difference in class, and gaining revenge for last season's 2-0 defeat at the same venue when Luggy was still struggling to get a side together, and it came from a traditional course.
Assist king winger Ryan Hall whipped over a corner from the left and tehre was centre-back Bilel Mohnsi to volley home from six yards off the underside of the bar. Great to see.
Dartford sub Lee Burns welcomed Shrimpers keeper replacement Daniel Bentley into the game with a neat strike from outside the box, while Hall remined every one he can do it for himself as well when he saw his 25 yarder pushed away to safety by Young.
But the away side was to ram the advantage home with a double strike in the last seven minutes.
First Neil Harris scored on his debut when he headed home eight yards out from Peter Gilbert’s fine cross from the left.
Then on 88 minutes the surprise trailist Ryan Leonard shocked everyone when his shot from a good 30-yards out screamed past Young and the entire Dartford defence to nearly break the back of the net!
A decent start, and certainly better than last year!
Southend United (first half): Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Prosser, Thomson, Parkinson, Sawyer, Currie, Crawford, Thomas. (Played 4-4-2)
Southend United (second half): Bentley, Leonard, Coughlan, Mohsni, Gilbert, Johnson, Grant, N'diaye, Hall, Harris, Asante. (Played 4-3-3)
Attendance - 778