Shrimpers soar to the summit
Penalties from Liam Dickinson and Neil Harris plus a goal from Mark Phillips put Southend top of the League Two table with a 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury.
Dickinson dispatched his spot-kick into the bottom-right corner in the 27th minute with Town goalkeeper Ben Smith diving in the opposite direction, after Jermaine Grandison had needlessly shoved Harris in the box.
Phillips stabbed home a loose ball after Smith fumbled Ryan Hall's free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time before Harris put the final nail in the coffin with a last-gasp penalty following Shane Cansdell-Sherriff's foul.
The Shrimpers took the initiative from the off, Jean-Paul Kalala's crossfield pass finding Dickinson, who forced a good save out of Smith at the left post, before the Shrewsbury keeper pulled off a fine double save to keep the Blues at bay.
Ryan Leonard's volley from the right deflected dangerously off Connor Goldson but Smith reacted quickly to parry the ball, and he then pushed Dickinson's follow-up out for a corner when it was easier for the striker to score.
Shrewsbury hit back with James Collins forcing a save out of Glenn Morris before Southend wasted some good chances to increase their lead.
They nearly paid the price when Grandison smashed a shot off the underside of the bar, but Phillips took advantage to slot home after Smith failed to control Hall's free-kick.
And Harris' penalty kick into the top centre of the goal following Cansdell-Sherriff's foul on Hall confirmed the victory.
Southend 3-0 Shrewsbury: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
