Town: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Greg Docherty (Josh Laurent, 90) Lee Angol (Lenell John-Lewis, 88), Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant.

Subs: Steve Arnold, Arthur Gnahoua, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Josh Laurent, Ryan Barnett.

Southend: David Stockdale, Ben Coker, Timothee Dieng, Tom Hopper, Simon Cox (Shawn McCoulski, 80), Stephen McLaughlin (Theo Robinson, 60), Sam Mantom, Taylor Moore, Jason Demetriu, Harry Bunn, John White.

Subs: Nathan Bishop, Elvis Bwomono, Michael Turner, Michael Klass, Shawn McCoulsky, Theo Robinson, Stephen Hendrie.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Assistants: Anthony Moore and Richard Bartlett

Fourth official: Ravel Cheosiaua

Attendance:  5651 (312)

Shrewsbury Town earned the first three points of the season with a convincing 2-0 win over Southend United.

Two first-half goals from Lee Angol and Greg Docherty sealed the win for Askey’s men.

Team News:  John Askey makes two changes from his side that faced Portsmouth last weekend. Lee Angol and Greg Docherty are both drafted into Askey’s starting 11, as Lenell John-Lewis and Josh Laurent start on the bench.

First-Half:        

It took Askey’s men only five minutes into the half to put themselves onto the score sheet.  A great run from Alex Gilliead gave the winger a chance to cross into the box.  Gilliead, to his credit, managed to cross the ball under heavy pressure into Greg Docherty. The Rangers Loanee fired into the roof of the net from inside box, giving David Stockdale no chance and Town the early lead.

Town settled really well into the early stages of the game, with Askey’s team having the majority of the ball and dominating the Seasiders in the midfield. Anthony Grant, Omar Beckles and Gilliead were looking especially bright.

The Shrimpers chances were limited and had to wait until the 20^th minute for a real chance at goal. A free-kick 25-yards out was struck by Stephen McLaughlin, but the Town wall stood firm and blocked the ball well.

Joel Coleman was called into action with just 15 minutes left in the half. Southend managed to find a free ball in the box, but Coleman got two strong hands to the header and made a great save to keep Town in the lead.

McLaughlin was awarded a yellow card for simulation towards the latter stages of the half, as the midfielder was deemed to have dived on the edge of the Town box.

Simon Cox came very close to equalising for Southend. The striker leaped well into the air, connecting with a cross, but the striker saw his headed shot just miss the target.

Another yellow card was brandished by referee Christopher Sarginson. Timothee Dieng pulled back Docherty as the midfielder was storming towards goal.

On the stroke of half time Town doubled the lead. Southend poorly defended a cross and Lee Angol pounced on the loose ball, slotting home into the bottom left corner of the net.

The half ended with the Shrews two goals up on the score sheet, Lee Angol and Greg Docherty both firing home to give Town a healthy lead.

Second-Half:

Town came out for the second-half intent on getting more goals. The wing-play was causing a problem for Southend, as Town were nearly in again. Shaun Whalley delivered in a perfect ball to Angol, but the striker was unable to knock the ball into the net from five yards.

The next 10 minutes was turning out to be a more even affair, with both teams still looking to attack. Despite the slight shift in play, Town were still looking solid in the defence and midfield.

Angol was given a yellow card in the 69^th minute for backing into the Southend defender.

Jason Demetriu was also booked shortly after for pulling back Gilliead, as the winger was powering through towards goal.

The second-half was lacking any real goalmouth action, but Town were still looking to pressurise the Southend back four. In the 74^th minute Angol had the only real dangerous chance of the half. The striker let off a long-range shot that Stockdale did well to save.

Cox was the latest player to be put into the referee’s book due to a foul on Angol high up the pitch.

The game was beginning to close out, with Town looking to keep a hold of the possession in the Southend half. Whalley and Emmanuel were doing a good job of frustrating the Shrimpers defenders and keeping the ball high up the pitch.

The game ended with Town winning their first league game of the season, with a convincing 2-0 win over the visitors.