A late surge of goals helped Southend's reserves storm to a 6-2 victory at home to Peterborough United.

Five goals in the final 14 minutes at Roots Hall helped the Blues turn the game on its head.

Peterborough were leading 2-1 at the start of the second half, but two goals from Alex Revell and further efforts from Franck Moussa, Francis Laurent, Damian Scannell and Jamie Forshaw helped Southend to the three points.

Shaun Batt did open the scoring inside five minutes for Peterborough, after running through the defence and slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net beyond an exposed Ian Joyce.

Southend looked to response with Revell volleying into the hands of goalkeeper Mark Tyler before the former Brighton striker found the target in the 20th minute.

Good work from Charles Ademeno down the left wing allowed him to release Revell on goal and he did the rest with a superb finish that saw the ball cannon into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

The Blues continued to attack with Laurent heavily involved, as he saw a deflected strike sail wide before being denied by Tyler. In-between Joyce was forced to dive down low at his near post to save from Batt.

The first half ended with Tyler making a smart block to deny Laurent. A great run from Ademeno ended with his strike deflecting into the path of the French striker, but Tyler was alert to keep out his instant volley.

Peterborough regained the lead just four minutes into the second half when Charlie Lee bypassed a series of challenges before arrowing the ball past Joyce.

Scannell missed a good chance to equalise when he flicked Revell's attempted shot over the bar from in front of goal.

But Southend were soon back on level terms in the 76th minute after Moussa drilled the ball down the middle of the goal from 20 yards out.

Just four minutes later and Southend led for the first time in the match, after Laurent collected Revell's flick-on and curled the ball into the top corner of the net.

The Blues were now on a roll and the goals continued to come at regular intervals, with Scannell racing down the right flank and shooting into the bottom right-hand corner of the net in the 83rd minute.

Revell earned a brace three minutes from time after picking up on a weak back pass to round Tyler and squeeze the ball in at the near post from a tight angle.

Substitute Forshaw was the last player to register his name on the score sheet a minute from time when he raced on to Moussa's through ball and planted it past Tyler to help keep Southend top of the Football Combination League.

Southend: Joyce, Whittaker, Sankofa, Jones (Owinja 31), Herd, Scannell, O'Keefe, Moussa, Ademeno (Forshaw 72), Laurent, Revell.

Photo: Graham Bridgeman-Clarke