Southend United cruised through their latest pre-season warm-up match at New Lodge last night with a professional performance against Billericay Town.

The Shrimpers eased past their Ryman Premier Division opponents with first-half goals from makeshift striker David Morley and left-winger Scott Houghton, before midfielder Mark Beard netted a third after the interval.

All of which left Blues boss Alan Little beaming as he said: "We got beaten 4-1 at Gravesend and Northfleet last week in our first friendly, but tonight's display proves we have improved since then.

"I thought we stuck to the task well tonight and looked good going forward - we carved them open at will at times and created a lot of opportunities.

"But I was disappointed that we didn't cash in on our possession and score more goals than we did."

However, Billericay manager Gary Calder was less than happy with his team's performance.

"I'm not one to look too closely into pre-season results because it's all about getting to know your players and trying things out," he said.

"But what does bother me is players who don't what to give their best for their club and I felt a few of my lads didn't want it enough tonight.

"This will be rectified though, because I've got the means to bring in new faces and these players won't be here if they don't want to pull their weight."

However, Calder's side got off to a flying start as Richard Dunwell took advantage of a hesitant linesman to give Billericay a quickfire lead after just five minutes.

Dunwell ignored the linesman's raised flag, which was quickly lowered again, to run through Blues' back-pedalling defence and round keeper Martyn Margetson before stroking the ball over the line.

To their credit though, Southend bounced back within five minutes as outstanding youngster Garry Cross looped over a centre from the right by-line for emergency forward Morley to bullet home a header.

Cross' intelligence led to a second Shrimpers goal after 16 minutes when the right wing-back's quickly taken free-kick released Seasiders forward Neville Roach, whose pass was slid home by Houghton inside the left-post.

Southend continued to dominate and Morley and Houghton were unlucky not to double their personal tallies as they both struck the woodwork with good efforts.

However, Billericay front runner Dunwell had the last word of the half as he forced a save out of Margetson following another jinking run.

Blues resumed their assault on Dave Root's goal after the interval with left wing-back Nathan Jones becoming Southend's third player to lash a shot against the goal frame.

In reply for the hosts, Billy Goldstone tested Margetson with a thunderous free-kick after 73 minutes, but Shrimpers substitute Beard sealed the Third Division outfit's victory 60 seconds later.

Impressive substitute Yemi Abiodun used his lightning pace down the left-wing to accelerate into the Billericay box before squaring the ball to Beard, who fired home from 12-yards.

Southend: Margetson, Jones (Gooding), Cross, Coleman, Newman (Perkins), Booty, Livett (Beard), Maher (Johnson), Roach (Abiodun), Morley (McDonald), Houghton (Connelly).

Man to man - Blues' outstanding youngster Garry Cross tussles for possession at New Lodge

(Right) Get off my back - Southend skipper Simon Coleman shields the ball from Billericay striker David Adekola Pictures: DAVE MONTIER

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.