Southend United's second-string were left stunned by a strong Norwich City outfit as the Canaries romped to a 5-0 Combination victory at Carrow Road.

Whilst the Blues named four trialists in their squad for the opening reserve match of the 2009/10 season, their hosts were able to call upon the likes of Gary Doherty, Simon Whaley and Wes Hoolahan to help them complete a comprehensive success.

Steve Tilson and Paul Brush were both in attendance to watch Bermudan international left-back Khano Smith, young centre-half Justin Clayton, Portsmouth striker Danijel Subotic and Serbian midfielder Danijel Kosovac, although they, like the 921-strong crowd, quickly had to turn their attention to Norwich, who raced into a 2-0 lead within seven minutes.

Clayton made a good early impression when he dislodged the ball from Koran Maric's boot in the second minute as the forward was about to shoot, but within seconds City had gone ahead. A quick free-kick released Hoolahan, who found Chris Martin with a simple pass and the 20-year-old delivered a clinical finish into the corner of the net.

With their next attack, the homesters added to their advantage. Former Witham Town marksman Cody McDonald dribbled down the inside-left channel and turned the ball ferociously into the six-yard box, where a wicked deflection helped to take the ball past Ian Joyce.

Hoolahan was the architect of the majority of Norwich's moves and he crossed for Doherty to head over ten minutes in, whilst Maric fired off target after Clayton had blocked his initial shot.

Southend lacked the Canaries' incisive nature and, despite enjoying periods of possession, too often they gave the ball away cheaply. Their first shot in anger was not dispatched goalwards until the 20th minute when a short corner found its way to Lee Sawyer 25 yards out, and he slammed his shot into Michael Theoklitos' gloves.

Clayton did just enough to put McDonald off as he attempted to convert Whaley's cross at the back post when United had to undertake more defending and Joyce made a good save when Hoolahan slid onto the ex-non-League striker's centre shortly after the half-hour.

James Walker saw the ball stolen off of his toecaps once Subotic had hooked Stuart O'Keefe's corner into his path but, as Blues' thought that they may restrict their opponents until half-time, City struck two more decisive blows before the break.

First, Doherty reacted quickest to Hoolahan's near-post free-kick to tap in unmarked after the Blues back-line were distracted by some pushing and pulling in the penalty area. Then, in stoppage time, and just after Maric had tested Joyce from distance, the Serbian forward smashed into the roof of the net to finish a move that was started when McDonald hustled Callum Whittaker off of the ball down the right flank.

The visitors attacked the second period with renewed vigour and, after O'Keefe had won the ball in a crunching challenge, Dougie Freedman set up Subotic, who could only send a weak shot straight at Theoklitos.

However, Martin still found the space to slide Darel Russell's pass past the right-hand upright and Joyce made a sprawling stop from a Hoolahan shot before former Preston North End winger Whaley bent a free-kick around the wall and into Joyce's bottom left-hand corner on 55 minutes.

Walker attempted to return the compliment on the hour but angled his set-piece just over, signalling Southend's best spell of the game. Marcus Milner, introduced in place of Damian Scannell, twice dashed down the right wing to cross invitingly, the first move concluding with Freedman just unable to touch home Subotic's back-post centre and the second with O'Keefe firing a driven shot inches wide of the post.

There were a little over ten minutes remaining when Walker shot wide after cutting in from the left, but that was still time for Norwich to threaten, Joyce twice having to deny Maric after a well-struck shot and a diving header respectively.

Theoklitos and the American shotstopper traded fine saves in injury time as substitute Kosovac smashed goalwards from Walker's pass at one end and Whaley concluded the action with a low attempt from 20 yards at the other.

Blues' Twos will be looking for an improved performance next Tuesday when they host Northampton Town in a two o'clock kick-off at Roots Hall.

Southend United Res: Ian Joyce; Osei Sankofa, Callum Whittaker, Justin Clayton, Khano Smith; Damian Scannell (Marcus Milner 67), Lee Sawyer (Jamie Dennis 71), Stuart O'Keefe, James Walker; Dougie Freedman (Danijel Kosovac 76), Danijel Subotic.

Substitutes not used: Daniel Bentley and Harry Crawford.