SOUTHEND 2 POMPEY 0
Weston got clear down the left and sent in a dangerous cross, but Jack Payne was unable to guide it on target.
The only other noteworthy moments before the break were a couple of late challenges by James Dunne and Gary Deegan that saw the pair receive bookings.
Half Time: Southend 0 Pompey 0
Storey looked bright immediately after the restart, jinking past several challenges before being denied by Bentley.
The keeper then also kept out Hollands’ long-range effort as Pompey tried to liven things up following an uninspiring first half.
But Southend had also stepped up a few gears and Jones had to fumble behind Weston’s cross on 55 minutes.
The hosts took the lead from the resulting corner, however, as Hurst’s corner fell kindly for Corr to head home.
Awford soon made his first substitution, with Shorey making way for Andy Barcham out wide.
But it was still the Shrimpers looking more threatening and Alex Wynter did well to head behind Hurst’s fine cross.
Pompey did carve out an opening at the other end, with Hollands volleying narrowly over following good build-up from Jed Wallace and Craig Westcarr.
Southend then made a mess of a long punt forward on 77 minutes, but Barcham could not quite take advantage.
Dan Butler and Patrick Agyemang entered the fray as the Blues tried to salvage something from the match.
It was Agyemang who went closest to rescuing a point, but his header was blocked on the line as Pompey fell short.
Instead Southend made sure of victory when Southend broke quickly from a Blues corner.
It was a fine individual effort from Coulthirst, who beat a couple of challenges before firing into the bottom corner.
Southend (4-2-3-1): Bentley; White (c), Thompson, Prosser, Williams; Deegan, Leonard; Hurst (Worrall 73), Payne (Atkinson 80), Weston (Coulthirst 87); Corr
Goals: Corr 56, Coulthirst 9
Booked: Deegan, Payne
Subs not used: Smith, Ibenfeldt, Clifford, Barnard
Pompey (4-3-2-1): Jones; Wynter, Robinson, Whatmough, Shorey (c) (Butler 72); Wallace (Agyemang 78), Dunne, Hollands; Storey (Barcham 60), Holmes; Westcarr
Booked: Dunne, Shorey, Wallace, Robinson
Subs not used: Poke, Devera, Ertl, Close
Referee: Graham Scott
Attendance: 7,023 (1,518 Pompey fans)