Scunthorpe climbed into the top three of the Third Division courtesy of a convincing win at home to Southend.

Despite having won their previous three games Southend rarely troubled the Iron.

Martin Carruthers gave Scunthorpe an 11th-minute lead following some poor defending from the Shrimpers.

But six minutes later the Essex side were level when midfielder Jay Smith turned brilliantly to drive the ball home from 18 yards.

Ian Kilford fired Scunthorpe back into the lead through a crowded box in the 36th minute and eight minutes later Alex Calvo-Garcia rose to head home number three.

Paul Hayes capped an impressive home debut with Scunthorpe's fourth after 71 minutes, and in the closing stages centre-back Mark Jackson had two efforts cleared off the line by Daryl Sutch.

Scunthorpe: Evans, Stanton, McCombe, Jackson, Dawson, Kilford, Graves, Calvo-Garcia, Brough, Carruthers, Featherstone. Subs: Beagrie, Lee Ridley, Parton, Hayes, Capp.

Southend: Gay, Sutch, Searle, Cort, Beard, Clark, Maher, Smith, Marney, Bramble, Rawle. Subs: Thurgood, Belgrave, Tilson, Jenkins, Jordan.

Referee: A Leake (Lancashire)