Bilel Mohsni's hat-trick helped Southend secure their place in the League Two play-offs as Barnet were swept aside.

Mohsni poked the hosts ahead after visiting keeper Dean Brill tipped Neil Harris' free-kick onto the post.

He doubled his tally with a stooping header from Ryan Hall's corner and wrapped up a 21-minute hat-trick when he nodded in yet another Hall cross.

The Bees were poor and offered little under returning manager Martin Allen.

Despite Mohsni's hat-trick, Harris also caught the eye for the Shrimpers, putting in an impressive all-round display.

Southend are fifth in the table and cannot be caught by Oxford United in seventh, who are 10 points adrift with three games remaining.

Barnet find themselves in 22nd place, just three points clear of danger having played a game more than both Macclesfield and Hereford.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"I thought the tempo we played in the first half was excellent. We worked very hard on our set-pieces in the last couple of days actually so it was quite pleasing some of them came off tonight.

"The second half, there was an anti-climax to it, the foot came off the pedal. You've got to give credit to Barnet, they tightened up as well.

"That's now three clean sheets at home and nine goals, you can't argue with that.

"Bilel Mohsni is playing in an alien position, he's committed to that role, he's tempered himself very well so far and I'm very pleased with him."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Southend United

  • 35 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Gilbert
  • 06 Bilel (Crawford - 87' )
  • 15 Phillips
  • 23 Barker
  • 04 Hall
  • 07 Grant (Ferdinand - 82' )
  • 08 Timlin
  • 09 Harris
  • 37 Eastwood (Martin - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Ferdinand
  • 16 Prosser
  • 11 Sawyer
  • 14 Martin
  • 20 Crawford

Barnet

  • 01 Brill
  • 12 Mustoe
  • 17 Hector (Saville - 36' )
  • 21 Kamdjo
  • 30 Downing
  • 04 Hughes
  • 08 Byrne
  • 10 Deering (N'Diaye - 71' )
  • 11 Holmes
  • 22 May (McGleish - 53' )
  • 23 McLeod

Substitutes

  • 18 O'Brien
  • 19 Saville
  • 15 Yiadom
  • 25 N'Diaye
  • 07 McGleish
Ref: Scott
Att: 5,765

Match Stats

Shots

19 4

On target

10 1

Corners

10 3

Fouls

10 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:30 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:14

Centre by David Martin, clearance made by Clovis Kamdjo.

90:00 +1:40

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Chris Barker misses to the right of the goal.

90:00 +0:41

The ball is delivered by Clovis Kamdjo, clearance by Kane Ferdinand.

88:24

David Martin has a drilled shot. Save by Dean Brill.

87:17

Ryan Hall takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.

86:18 Substitution

Substitution Harry Crawford is brought on as a substitute for Bilel Mohsni.

85:39

Corner taken by Jordan Mustoe from the right by-line played to the near post.

85:03

Ricky Holmes delivers the ball.

84:49

Foul by Chris Barker on Izale McLeod, free kick awarded. Mark Byrne takes the direct free kick.

83:36

The ball is sent over by Mark Byrne, clearance made by Chris Barker.

82:06

Ricky Holmes takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

81:23

Mark Byrne takes the direct free kick.

81:23 Substitution

Substitution Kane Ferdinand replaces Anthony Grant.

81:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Grant on Scott McGleish.

80:25

Foul by Alassane N'Diaye on Bilel Mohsni, free kick awarded. Ryan Hall delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, save by Dean Brill.

79:46

Izale McLeod challenges Mark Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sean Clohessy restarts play with the free kick.

79:08 Substitution

Substitution David Martin joins the action as a substitute, replacing Freddy Eastwood.

77:33

Bilel Mohsni has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

77:28

The ball is delivered by Freddy Eastwood.

77:15

Anthony Grant decides to take the corner short.

76:47

Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall to the near post, clearance by Alassane N'Diaye.

76:41

Shot from 20 yards by Ryan Hall. Blocked by Mark Hughes.

76:00

Alassane N'Diaye gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Hall. Anthony Grant takes the free kick.

72:44

Bilel Mohsni takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

72:19

The ball is swung over by Ryan Hall, save made by Dean Brill.

71:22

Scott McGleish produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

71:01

Anthony Grant gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Hughes. Mark Byrne takes the direct free kick.

70:03 Substitution

Substitution Sam Deering goes off and Alassane N'Diaye comes on.

69:52

Anthony Grant delivers the ball.

67:51

The ball is crossed by Mark Byrne.

67:04

The ball is crossed by Neil Harris, Jordan Mustoe makes a clearance.

65:58

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall played to the near post, clearance by Jack Saville.

65:48

Shot by Anthony Grant. Blocked by Mark Hughes.

63:56

Freddy Eastwood has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.

60:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Downing on Neil Harris. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ryan Hall from left wing, clearance by Jack Saville.

59:50

Effort from outside the penalty box by Izale McLeod goes wide left of the goal.

57:33

The ball is swung over by Peter Gilbert, Effort on goal by Bilel Mohsni from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

55:10

Jordan Mustoe produces a cross.

53:59

Foul by Sam Deering on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Grant.

52:54 Substitution

Substitution (Barnet) makes a substitution, with Scott McGleish coming on for Ben May.

52:25

Centre by Ryan Hall, Header from deep inside the area by Neil Harris goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

50:25

Mark Hughes is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Anthony Grant.

49:13

Corner taken by Mark Byrne from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Neil Harris.

47:20

Corner taken short by Anthony Grant.

47:13

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, blocked by Jordan Mustoe.

45:46

Ben May concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Barker. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:18 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:44

Corner taken right-footed by Mark Byrne from the left by-line, save made by Cameron Belford.

45:00 +0:28

Sean Clohessy crosses the ball.

43:28

Mark Hughes fouled by Bilel Mohsni, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Byrne takes the free kick.

42:39

Mark Phillips is caught offside. Dean Brill restarts play with the free kick.

42:33

The ball is sent over by Chris Barker.

42:01

Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall from the right by-line, clearance made by Paul Downing.

41:54

The ball is sent over by Sean Clohessy, clearance made by Jack Saville.

40:41

Ben May challenges Bilel Mohsni unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

39:48

Izale McLeod sends in a cross, Chris Barker manages to make a clearance.

39:00

The ball is swung over by Michael Timlin.

38:28

Corner taken by Ryan Hall from the left by-line, clearance by Ben May.

38:18

Neil Harris takes a shot. Paul Downing gets a block in.

37:10

Neil Harris delivers the ball.

35:36 Substitution

Substitution Michael Hector leaves the field to be replaced by Jack Saville.

35:10

Long distance shot from Michael Timlin misses to the left of the goal.

34:54

Neil Harris crosses the ball, clearance made by Sam Deering.

34:03

Izale McLeod fouled by Mark Phillips, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mark Byrne.

32:37

Bilel Mohsni takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

31:11

Assist on the goal came from Ryan Hall.

31:11 Goal scored

Goal - Bilel Mohsni - Southend 3 - 0 Barnet Bilel Mohsni grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Southend 3-0 Barnet.

30:48

Outswinging corner taken by Ryan Hall from the left by-line played to the near post,

28:44

Peter Gilbert fouled by Mark Byrne, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

28:07

Mark Byrne crosses the ball, save by Cameron Belford.

27:28

The official flags Izale McLeod offside. Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

26:12

Ryan Hall delivers the ball.

24:17

Assist by Ryan Hall.

24:17 Goal scored

Goal - Bilel Mohsni - Southend 2 - 0 Barnet Bilel Mohsni finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Southend 2-0 Barnet.

24:11

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Hall,

22:32

Centre by Mark Byrne, save by Cameron Belford.

21:13

A cross is delivered by Neil Harris, Effort from close range by Bilel Mohsni goes wide left of the target.

18:35

Anthony Grant concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Deering. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.

18:06

Shot by Izale McLeod missed to the left of the target.

16:30

Sam Deering challenges Bilel Mohsni unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

13:56

Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall, Unfair challenge on Clovis Kamdjo by Bilel Mohsni results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.

13:47

Neil Harris takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

12:11

Neil Harris delivers the ball, Headed effort from inside the box by Bilel Mohsni misses to the right of the target.

12:11

The ball is sent over by Neil Harris, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Bilel Mohsni misses to the right of the target.

9:26

Paul Downing gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Neil Harris. Strike on goal comes in from Neil Harris from the free kick, save by Dean Brill.

11:37

The ball is crossed by Sean Clohessy, clearance by Paul Downing.

10:38

Assist on the goal came from Neil Harris.

10:38 Goal scored

Goal - Bilel Mohsni - Southend 1 - 0 Barnet Bilel Mohsni grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal. Southend 1-0 Barnet.

9:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neil Harris by Paul Downing. Neil Harris produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Dean Brill makes a save.

8:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Bilel Mohsni on Izale McLeod. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mark Byrne, save by Cameron Belford.

7:17

Sean Clohessy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Izale McLeod. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.

6:42

The ball is crossed by Ryan Hall, clearance by Mark Hughes.

6:19

Unfair challenge on Mark Phillips by Ben May results in a free kick. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

5:40

Michael Timlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Hughes. Dean Brill takes the free kick.

3:52

Centre by Freddy Eastwood.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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