Southend United 3 - 0 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League 1

FORMER Orient loanee Lee Barnard came back to haunt his old club as he struck a hat-trick to sink the O's by the seaside on Friday night.

Barnard's three goals all came after the break as Orient fell apart on a disappointing evening at Roots Hall.

Geraint Williams' men were unable to exert any real pressure on Southend and once Barnard had put his side in front with a penalty on the hour, the result was never in doubt.

After an uninspiring start to the game, it was Jimmy Smith who had Orient's first shot of the game when he drilled comfortably over from 25 yards with 20 minutes on the clock.

The O's then survived strong penalty claims - from the crowd at least - when Charlie Daniels halted Damian Scannell's run in the box with a sliding tackle.

Adam Chambers, in for his first start of the season, almost connected with a dangerous JJ Melligan cross on 25, while Melligan had Shrimpers keeper Steve Mildenhall worried with a long-range shot that flew wide of the near post.

Mildenhall dealt unconvincingly with a Smith free kick and Ryan Jarvis fired wide from outside the box within the space of a minute as the match threatened to liven up.

At the other end Lee Barnard spun and shot off target from Scannell's low cross four minutes before the break.

A minute later, a serious save was finally forced when Glenn Morris did well to tip Francis Laurent's swerving shot over the top and Southend did apply the pressure at the end of the opening period, but neither team really looked like forcing a first half breakthrough.

Scannell knocked a bouncing ball over the O's crossbar as Southend began the second period strongly.

With 53 minutes on the clock Laurent ran at the visitors' backline and, with everyone expecting a speculative long range shot, he caught out the O's with a cleverly-disguised pass to Alan McCormack. Morris was alert to the danger though, diving to his right to save the midfielder's effort after he turned on the edge of the box.

Three minutes later Andros Townsend stole in undetected at the far post to meet Melligan's cross, but Mildenhall stood tall to deny the young winger from close range.

Southend went back onto the attack and earned the chance to take a 59th minute lead when Stephen Purches knocked into Barnard as he tried to run on to Laurent's innocuous through ball in the left channel and referee Trevor Kettle awarded a penalty.

Barnard had to hold his nerve after being orded to take the spot kick twice, and he sent Morris the wrong way to fire Southend in front.

Orient responded by introducing Adrian Patulea from the bench and utilising a 4-3-3 formation, but they were still finding it tough to find a way through and McCormack fired into the side netting on 73 as the Shrimpers looked for a second.

14 minutes from time a well-worked move from the visitors ended with Smith knocking the ball into the net, but Patulea was offside in forcing the initial save from Mildenhall and the goal was ruled out.

Two minutes later Barnard put the game to bed when he was left all alone to nod home Adam Barrett's cross from close range after a set piece was played into the O's box.

There was still time for Barnard to complete his hat-trick when, as the clock ticked towards 90, his 20-yard shot took a nick off Luke Ashworth and wrongfooted Morris in the O's goal.

Moussa hit the post as the home side scented yet more and it had been a chastening evening for the visitors, who are now without a win in six.

Southend: Mildenhall; Francis, Barrett, M'Voto, Herd; Scannell (Sawyer 71), McCormack (Walker 89), Moussa, Grant; Barnard, Laurent (Freedman 80)
Subs: Sankofa, O'Keefe

Goals: Barnard pen 59, Barnard 78, Barnard 90

Booked: McCormack

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Ashworth, Mkandawire, Daniels; Melligan (Pires 82), Chambers (O'Leary 69), Smith, Townsend (Patulea 61); McGleish, Jarvis
Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown, Baker. Scowcroft

Booked: Ashworth

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Attendance: 8,836 (1,656 away)