It was a result that both delighted and relieved director of rugby Adrian Edwards. He said. "I am relieved to get that result, conditions were very difficult today but we played some good rugby.
"Playing into that wind in the first half I felt that we looked after the ball well and built some good phases allied with some good kicking to put us in good positions.
"After the month that we have had we were under some pressure we knew we had to perform for the crowd. There were some great performances out there: Matt Gidlow had a great game along with hooker Neal Turner and prop Craig Williams. He's bit of an unsung hero at times but gets through a tremendous amount of work.
"In the backs, Tom Notman scored two fine tries today, but I am delighted with the form of Ben Drew who has come in and staked his claim for the other wing's shirt and is definitely one for the future."
Playing towards Hell Fire Corner in the first half though against the breeze, the Redruth pack soon got on top of their Essex opponents with two Chris Fuca tries scored from set scrums near the Southend line. Paul Thirlby knocked over the conversion from the second score.
The visitors profited from an error in the Redruth defence to kick to the corner and set up a drive which sent lock Alan Barker over for an unconverted try which referee Mr Watters awarded after consulting his assistant.
Redruth maintained their forward pressure to reap their reward just before half-time. A series of scrums near the visitors' line saw the ball booted out in desperation from the scrum by Southend, leaving the referee little choice but to award a penalty try which Thirlby converted for a half-time advantage of 19-5.
The Reds got the second half off to a great start to secure the try-scoring bonus point as backs Lewis Vinnicombe and Tom Notman combined to send full-back Notman in from 25 metres for the first of his two tries in the scoreboard corner.
Southend showed good spirit to strike back from the re-start, a break from scrum-half Sam Arnott putting prop Todd Bailey in for their second try. full-back Rob Kirby landed his only successful kick from five attempts at goal to add the extras.
Back came the Reds, a powerful drive from flanker Gidlow, who caught the eye throughout, set up a fifth try scored by hooker Neal Turner, Thirlby again on cue with the extras in the tricky wind.
As the game ebbed and flowed, Southend hacked the ball into the Redruth 22 forcing the Reds to concede a five-metre scrum. In the confusion that followed, No.8 Daniel Legge scored a try in Hell Fire Corner under controversial circumstances as the ball appeared to have been knocked-on in the build-up.
Notman and Vinnicombe again worked their magic to send the full-back sliding in for his second try of the game to wrap up the win, Thirlby adding his fourth conversion from wide out.
Ben Drew showed a good turn of pace as he broke from his own 22 making light of the slippery underfoot conditions, Southend's cover denying the youngster the sniff of a try.
Vinnicombe was shown a yellow card late in the game for a professional foul as Southend looked for their own try-scoring bonus point. Pressure finally told as player-coach Chris Green crossed for a score that once again was awarded after the referee consulted with his assistant.
At the final whistle the Redruth faithful were happy to see the club's poor National Two South run put behind them.
