Blues started brightly in a game that Rob Newman's men completely dominated, and in only the second minute Rio Alderton flicked the ball into the path of Tesfaye Bramble who poked the ball just wide with Ramblers goalkeeper Danny Bench approaching.
It only took a further 60 seconds for United to take the lead, Frome Town trialist Mark Salter beautifully heading home a Danny Maye cross, following a good left wing run by Damon Searle, from close range.
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As United continued to bombarde the home sides goal, both Maye and Bramble saw chances go begging before Mark Beard doubled the advantage on the half hour. Maher started thr move off, slipping a perfectly timed ball into the path of Alderton who in turn knocked the ball to Beard who really couldn't miss from close range.
Paul Docherty hacked a Clark cross off the goal line and Bench did well to push out an angled Salter drive before Burnham's only real chance of the match. 17-year old midfielder Sean Hull found himself through on goal, but the terrific pace of Daniel Lunan saw the United defender get the better of his opponent and Southend were eventually awarded a free kick after Lunan was blatantly impeded.
As half time approached, Searle fired well over the crossbar following a Clark cross and an Alderton dummy and Maher brought the half to a climax as he tamely rolled a shot straight at Bench following good work by both Maye and Searle.
As is often the case in pre-season matches, United fielded a completely different side in the second half, but second time around it only took two minutes for the scoring to commence, Mark Rawle's low right wing cross picking out Tony Richards who drilled home a fierce shot from 20 yards. Richards, with his appitite dampened then struck a long range effort just wide.
Barrington Belgrave, playing alongside Daniel Webb in attack as Rawle and Richards took up midfield roles, curled a shot into the grasp of Bench from 15 yards before Webb slid a shot straight across the face of goal.
Burnham frontman Danny Bagalo nodded a right wing cross straight at Daniel Gay before further United pressure saw Belgrave force a corner from Bench. The resulting flag kick from trialist Neil Jenkins was headed behind for second attempt. This time Jenkins found Stuart Thurgood who, from the edge of the penalty area, drove a shot well wide through a crowd of players.
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On 78 minutes Webb chased down a long ball, but opted to leave the opportunity to Belgrave who could only touch the ball towards the on-rushing goalkeeper. Three minutes late Richards held the ball up well for Rawle who saw a shot deflected for a corner. Jenkins' right wing corner brought United's fourth goal as Phil Whelan powerfully headed home from close range ast the far post.
Southend could have increased their winning margin, but Ian Selley saw a good shot pushed wide before Webb came close from the subsequent Thurgood corner. Rob Newman however will not complain about a four goal start, it could have been more, but Newman would not moan if a similar performance follows at Braintree Town On Monday night.
SOUTHEND:-
FIRST HALF - Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Damon Searle, Leon Cort, Daniel Lunan; Rio Alderton, Kevin Maher, Steven Clark, Danny Maye; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Salter.
SECOND HALF - Daniel Gay; David McSweeney, Phil Whelan, Stephen Broad; Stuart Thurgood, Tony Richards, Ian Selley, Mark Rawle, Neil Jenkins; Barrington Belgrave, Daniel Webb.
GOALS - Mark Salter 3, Mark Beard 30, Tony Richards 47, Phil Whelan 81.
BOOKINGS - None, DISMISSALS - None
REFEREE - John Jones (Maylandsea)
Mark Wallis
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