Youngsters, trialists and reserves stole the show as Billericay Town ended their pre-season preparations by hitting their Essex Senior League rivals for six.
The Ryman Premier League outfit fielded a shadow squad XI that included just five first-team regulars: Joe Baker, Gary Henty, Steve Dickinson, Nick Savage and Juho Rantala.
Finnish defender Rantala scored a 25-yard piledriver, while Dickinson was also on target late in the game for Gary Calder's men.
But otherwise fringe players took their chance, with Danny Gilley and trialist Carl Fannon each scoring twice.
Billericay led just 1-0 at the break as they were continually defied by Southend goalkeeper Steve Jennings.
It was Fannon, formerly of Bishop's Stortford, who got the goal after being put through by Baker.
But the second half was a different story as Town started a goal rush.
Published Tuesday August 13, 2002
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