Witham 1 V 8 Southend United

Witham 1 - Southend 8

Southend United started their friendly matches with a stroll in the park at Witham Town.

Steve Tilson decided to play two different sides for each half with a surprise inclusion of a trilist named Zoltan the only player to play the whole match for the Shrimpers.

1st Half (1-5)

Southend: Flahavan / Hunt /Clarke / Zoltan / Wilson / J.C.R / Moussa / Maher /Gower / Paynter / Harrold

Apart from an opening own goal on 21 minutes by Peter Clarke after pressure from Witham's Cody MacDonald it really was plain sailing for the Shrimpers.The half was spent with Mark Gower skipping around the opposition as if they were not there,J.C.R running the Witham left back and others ragged and Harrold completing a first half hatrick.

2nd Half

Southend: Collis / Francis / Zoltan / Barrett / Bailey / Black / MacCormack / Hammell / Bradbury / McDonald / Hooper

The highlights of the second half were two penaltys,one converted by Lee Bradbury and the other from new boy MacDonald.

Southend scorers - Harrold (3) Gower (1) J.C.R (1) Bailey (1) MacDonald (1) Bradbury (1)

Tilly said after the game; "We have nine pre-season friendlies so we have a long way to go before we are at the level I demand but this was a good start.

"I said before the game to go and get a few goals because it will give everyone confidence. It was a god test for us and I am really pleased with the way things went."