Dean Bowditch made a goalscoring return to action as the reserves all but clinched the Pontin's Holidays Combination League East Division with a 3-1 victory over Leyton Orient at Portman Road.

Richard Hall's side can now only miss out on the title if Southend win their remaining four games and improve their goal difference by 15 goals.

Bowditch, back in action after a lengthy spell out with a groin injury, was named on the bench with Jordan Rhodes and Kieran Leabon starting up front.

Rhodes put the Blues ahead after a quarter of an hour but the O's equalised before the break.

The 17-year-old, called into the senior squad for the first time at the weekend, was again on target around the hour mark after good work from England U17 international Kurt Robinson.

Bowditch, who had come on at the break, added the third close to the end, tapping home a Rhodes cross from the right.

Defenders Michael Synnott and Kurt Robinson were Town's best performers in a decent display from a young reserves side against an Orient team which included former Canary Phil Mulryne, who spent the beginning of the season training with the Blues.

Synnott's performance will have impressed watching boss Jim Magilton with the Town management yet to decide whether the Irishman will be offered a contract at the end of the season.

Town should confirm their title triumph when they travel to take on Luton next Tuesday.

Reserves: Supple, Sito, Robinson, Fenn, Synnott, Smith, Moore (Trotter 46), Reason, Upson, Leabon (Bowditch 46), Rhodes. Unused: Plummer, Tooms. Att: 403.

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