Southend ended Eastbourne Borough's pre-season 100% record Saturday
Another friendly, another bunch of trailists for Blues boss Paul Sturrock to take a look at, even after announcing the double centre-back signing of centre-backs Mark Phillips and Luke Prosser.
This time around it was former Plymouth left-back Chris Barker and Peterborough United striker Rene Howe who were given the chance to impress just a week before the league season starts against Stockport County at Roots Hall.
Anyway, back to the game, and good for Southend to register their first victory of these pre-season friendlies at Conference National side Eastbourne, when defender Belel Mohsni rected quickly to a Louis Soares corner to head home the winner in the first half.
Rhys Evans seems to be edging ahead in the race to start as the Shrimpers No.1 shot stopper as he played the whole game here, then again Glenn Morris may be given the nod for the final friendly against West Ham on Tuesday, we'll have to see.
However, he didn't start too well, as he dropped a cross warly on which fell to the feet of Borough striker Ross Treleaven, but he shot over the bar when it looked easier to score.
Then the away side started to take some control, Scott Spencer going close with a free-kick he himself had earned, and Mohsni getting involved before his goal with a diving header.
Then, on 26 minutes, delight for the travelling Blues faithful who had made the trip down to leafy East Sussex; Spencer winning the corner, Soures crossed, and Mohsni rose above them all to power home the ball with his head past Borough keeper Ricky Banks, and give the Shrimpers another pre-season scorer not called Paterson!
After the break in a half of few chances, it was the Blues back four who impressed, they remained together throughout the game as Sturrock kept the new signings on the bench, while Evans made a good save from Eastbourne's Richard Pacquette.
One of a round of changes made by Luggy up front, Matt Paterson, who had scored both of Southend's goals in the previous friendlies, should have made it a personal third and confirm the Essex side's win, when with six minutes left he went round Banks, but shot the ball wide.
And that was that, a win at last, and now bring on the Hammers at Roots Hall on Tuesday.
Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Barker, Grant, Coughlan, Mohsni, Soares (Paterson 68), Easton, Howe (Crawford 64), Simpson, Spencer (Corr 64).
Subs not used: Morris, Herd, Ohillips, Prosser, Zils.
Attendance: 503
Updated Pre-Season Schedule
Friday, July 16th - Dartford 2 Southend United 0
Monday, July 19th - Southend United 1 Derby County 1
Friday, July 23rd - Salisbury City 1 Southend United 1
Wednesday, July 28th - Rushden & Diamonds 0 Southend United 0
Saturday, July 31st - Eastbourne Borough 0 Southend United 1
Tuesday, August 3rd - WEST HAM UNITED (Home); kick-off 19.45.
Please accept S24's sincerest apologies for the downtime on Saturday which led to several articles not being posted, including this one, this was caused by a technical failure.