Iyseden Christie hit a fine hat-trick to earn Mansfield Town their first win of the season at Southend United.
The home side made a strong start and Leon Cort went close to opening the scoring after just three minutes but he headed over the bar when well placed.
But the Stags began to take control as the first half wore on and Christie and Neil MacKenzie both tested Carl Emberson in the home goal, but he kept out both efforts.
Leke Odunsi fired in a 20-yard shot just over the crossbar for the home side, but it was Mansfield who struck first when Bobby Hassell crossed for Christie to head home three minutes before the break.
The Shrimpers twice had chances to equalise at the beginning of the second half with Cort and James Corbett both going close, only for the visitors to extend their lead after 51 minutes.
David Artell hit a high cross into the box and United keeper Emberson could only tip it on to Christie's head allowing the striker to nod home his second of the afternoon.
Cort again went close to scoring with a header only for Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington to produce an impressive stop.
But in the main it was the visitors who created the best chances with Colin Larkin firing narrowly over the crossbar and Junior Mendes seeing an effort cleared off the line by Duncan Jupp.
And in injury-time they got the third goal their play deserved when Christie fired it into the roof of the net from 15 yards out to complete the 3-0 victory.