JACK Midson served up a treat to fire Southend United back to winning ways at Cheltenham Town tonight.

The striker, who also works as a part time tennis coach, bagged an early brace as Blues grabbed a 2-0 win at Whaddon Road.

And that was enough to end a run of seven matches without a victory for Paul Sturrock's side.

The triumph also meant it was third time lucky for Southend against the Robins after their two previous meetings against Cheltenham had failed to be completed.

The first was abandoned because of a floodlight failure while the second did not even start because of a frozen pitch.

But there were no such problems last night and it took Southend just eight minutes to open the scoring as Ryan Hall delivered a delightful left wing cross on to the head of Midson who, via a deflection off Town midfielder David Bird, nodded the ball in to the bottom right hand corner of the net from eight yards.

It was the on loan Oxford United striker's first goal for Blues since signing in early November and it was just the sixth time in 19 league games this season that Southend had opened the scoring.

They soon extended that advantage too as Midson neatly controlled a low, right wing centre from Sean Clohessy before turning to fire a fantastic 12 yard shot in to the top left hand corner of the net.

It was not the first time Midson had caused Cheltenham problems this term as he also netted against the Robins for Oxford back in September.

And the hat-trick hunting targetman was soon at it again as he volleyed over another Clohessy cross from eight yards.

Blues continued to pile on the pressure and almost made it 3-0 in the 21st minute when a well struck shot from Clohessy was tipped around the right post by Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown.

The resulting Hall corner was then headed back in to Bilel Mohsni's path by Chris Barker and the defender's close range shot was also smartly saved by Brown.

Mohsni was one of six changes made to the Southend side as Johnny Herd, Anthony Grant, Hall, Midson and Blair Sturrock also returned to the starting line-up.

But the new look Blues then survived a slight scare as Josh Low burst through before firing a tame 20 yard shot straight at Southend goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

Southend were soon back on top with Grant having a close range header scrambled off the goal-line by Danny Andrew Blues made a change at the half-time break with Louie Soares replacing Josh Simpson and they soon almost extended their lead with Hall drilling an angled drive wide of the right post from 18 yards.

Cheltenham then also almost netted with Morris palming out a JJ Melligan cross but Jeff Goulding could only head wide of the right post from close range.

However, Southend replied with Midson dragging a low drive wide of the left post and Mohsni having an effort cleared off the goal-line by Melligan.

Sturrock then fired inches over from long range before forcing Brown in to action with a low, left footed shot in the 75th minute.

Seven minutes later, Blues made a double change with Graham Coughlan and Barry Corr replacing Mohsni, who picked up a knock, and Midson.

Corr was denied by the legs of Brown late on but it was not to prove crucial as Blues comfortably held on, despite six minutes of injury time, to move up to 17th in the League Two table.

Southend United (4-4-2): Morris, Clohessy, Mohnsi (Coughlan 82) , Barker, Herd, Simpson (Soares 46), Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Midson (Corr 82)

Subs not used: Zaaboub, Prosser, Crawford & Evans