Ryman One North side Needham Market were no match for a young Shrimpers side that included a trio of trialists; ex-Spurs trainee Andre Blackman at left-back, and two strikers in former Stoke man Vincent Pericard and Nambian-German, that's what it says on Wiki, Wilko Risser, and the latter two both ended up finding the net as the Essex boys hit five without reply.
It only took four minutes for Risser to break the Suffolk side's defence, round Needham keeper Andrew Plummer, and impress watching Blues boss Paul Sturrock by putting his side 1-0 up.
Pericard didn't do too well at first, shooting high on two occasions, before making a decent chance for Harry Crawford, who failed to take it.
A looping header from by Risser from right-back, and also still a trialist himself, Ryan Leonard’s cross was well saved by Plummer.
Then on 34 minutes it was two, a Crawford penalty, after Risser was brought down by the Market's right back Lewis Pemberton.
Needham did have a chance which saw Blackman in the action, clearing a header from the home side's Ollie Fenn off the goal-line having a header cleared off the goal-line by Blackman.
After the break any hope they could get back in the game was taken away from them in the 56th minute when Luke Prosser found the net after a corner from the busy Blackman.
Then it was the turn of the other striking trialist in Pericard to be found 12 minutes later loitering in the six-yard box by Leonard, 4-0.
Sub Smith was to make it a nap hand on 79 minutes when he combined well with Risser to score from 12 yards with a good strike.
With nine minutes remaining Luggy gave forgotten forward Matt Paterson a rare first team run out, and a chat this week to 'clear the air' we're told, but slicing a shot wide of the right post from 20 yards out probably means it will not be about a rise and taking Barry Corr's place for the Norwich friendly on Thursday at Roots Hall!
So it was to fall to youngster Kyle Asante, possibily ahead of both Paterson and Crawford in the striking stakes if Luggy can't find a forward replacement in time for Hereford at home on Saturday, August 6th, to give the Shrimpers their final chance when he smashed the ball against the crossbar with a cracking free-kick from 25 yards out!
Southend United: Bentley, Leonard, Coughlan, Prosser, Blackman (Nesbitt 83), Woodyard (Smith 76), James-Lewis (Currie 63), Sawyer (Artemi 76) , Pericard (Paterson 81), Crawford (Asante 63), Risser
Shrimpers Pre-Season Schedule
Monday, July 11th - Dartford 0 Southend United 3
Tuesday, July 12th - Great Wakering Rovers 0 Southend United 5
Saturday, July 16th - Dundee 2 Southend United 0
Sunday, July 17th - Raith Rovers 0 Southend United 0
Wednesday, July 20th - Braintree Town 1 Southend United X1 1
Friday, July 22nd - Southend United 1 Ipswich Town 1
Monday, July 25th - Needham Market 0 Southend United 5
Thursday, July, 28th - NORWICH CITY (HOME), 19.45
Saturday, July 30th - Canvey Island (away), 15.00. (SUFC X1)