Shrimpers centre-back Leon Cort scored a hat-trick this afternoon as Southend picked up their first home league win since the 1-0 victory over York City on October 12.

Cort opened his account in the sixth minute when he headed home skipper Kevin Maher's free kick.

The defender grabbed his second with 22 minutes played when he nodded a Damon Searle free kick into the Pilgrims' net.

And in the 39th minute former Boston striker Mark Rawle scored against his old club from 18 yards from a Tes Bramble pass.

But the comfortable 3-0 half-time lead evaporated after the interval as Division Three basement club Boston fought back.

Mark Angel's pass from the left found Richard Logan on the edge of the six-yard box and he fired past Darryl Flahavan in the home goal in the 57th minute.

Angel got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes later when he found the net from Alex Higgin's left-wing cross.

Yet Cort ensured the Blues picked up all three points in the 87th minute when he latched on to another Maher cross to head home.

The win was a valuable boost for Southend ahead of their FA Cup second round replay against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

The Cherries fought out a goalless draw away to Shrewsbury this afternoon.

Full match report, pictures and reaction in Today's Echo.

Published Monday, December 16, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo