Southend United stepped up their pre-season campaign with a routine victory at Conference League outfit Kettering Town on Tuesday.

The Shrimpers eased past the non-leaguers, thanks to goals from strikers Yemi Abiodun and Martin Carruthers, leaving Blues boss Alan Little happy with a good night's work.

"We never looked in any trouble against Kettering and it was quite easy for us in the end," said the Seasiders' chief.

"Kettering are a big, physical and direct side, but we soaked up everything they had to throw at us and grabbed a deserved win.

"It was a good exercise for us overall and allowed us to step on with our pre-season preparations.

"I was also happy to see the lads get a victory under their belts. I always say that fitness counts more importantly at this stage of the season, but wins breed confidence, which is something we need."

Little fielded his youngsters, plus trialists - Saffron Walden midfielder Scott Forbes and South African hitman Konye - during the first-half.

And they were a credit to the Southend boss as, driven on by new midfield signing David Lee, they comfortably coped with their hosts.

Former Spurs schemer Lee fired wide and then forced a good save out of home keeper Adam Sollitt in the first ten minutes, before creating Blues' opening goal.

Lee got away down the right-wing and sent a deep penetrating cross to the far-post, which Abiodun chested down smartly and rifled into the net from eight-yards after 19 minutes.

Kettering forward Brett McNamara nearly forged an equaliser on 31 minutes as he tried to lob a speculative chip over a poorly positioned Mel Capleton, but Blues' custodian recovered quickly to save himself embarrassment.

Capleton then did well to hold on to a firmly struck 20-yarder from Phil Brown, before Konye was fractionally off target with a long-range effort for Southend.

Little changed his line-up for the second period, sending on his first-team and, apart from an early drive from Kettering's Dale Watkins, they never looked in any trouble.

Southend forward Trevor Fitzpatrick flashed a couple of shots past the right-post, before the Seasiders doubled their advantage nine minutes from time.

New left-back Damon Searle made a storming run down the channel and found Fitzpatrick with a low cross, which the young Irishsman turned and hit into the path of Carruthers, who lashed home from six-yards.

Southend: Capleton (Prudhoe), Cross (Booty), Kerrigan (Searle), Perkins, (Roget), Johnson (Morley), McDonald (Tinkler; McSweeney), Lee (Maher), Edwards (Connelly), Abiodun (Carruthers), Forbes (Hunter; Houghton), Konye (Fitzpatrick). Att: 457.

Southend fans can see their team in action again this Saturday at Billericay Town. Kick-off 3pm.

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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