A Town reserves side including three trialists went goal crazy as Southend's second string were thrashed 7-3 at Roots Hall this afternoon. Bermudian international Reggie Lambe scored four and Irish U19 international Ronan Murray three.
Town included three 18-year-old trialists in their starting line-up. Troy Brown, a Welsh U17 and U19 international, and Pierre Hall, who have both been released by Fulham, were the centre-halves, while ex-Manchester United youngster Chris Curran, a Northern Irishman, was at right wing.
Murray opened the scoring in the second minute, then added the second 10 minutes later. Johnny Herd pulled one back for the home side on 18.
Lambe netted his first of the afternoon on 23, then scored his second and Town's fourth just before the break.
Southend pulled another one back three minutes into the second half via Rhys Henry, a former Town schoolboy, but Lambe completed his hat-trick on 56 and grabbed his fourth on 58 to make it 6-2.
Henry scored his second goal and Southend's third on 68, before Murray completed this scoring and his hat-trick on 77.
Town were superb going forward throughout, with Lambe, playing up front rather than wide in midfield, Murray, Matt Richards and Jaime Peters the stand-out performers.
Troy Brown was the most impressive of the three trialists, winning everything in the air, while Curran and Brown had quieter games, although the Northern Irishman created one of the goals.
Tommy Smith came on at left-back just before the hour mark, having been out of action since breaking his ankle in August.
Reserves: McLoughlin, Casement, Brown, Hall, Richards, Cawley (Smith 59), Curran, Upson, Peters, Lambe (Clark 65), Murray. Unused: Ward, Hyam, Ainsley.