Reggie Bratton believes Worthing Thunder’s play-off train is back on course after a key win in Southend last night.

Thunder came from behind for a crucial 88-77 win at Essex Pirates, the BBL newcomers who won at Worthing last month.

Bratton, who missed that game, led Thunder this time with 31 points, including 14 in a strong fourth quarter.

However he switched the praise to point guard Sherrad Prezzie-Blue, who is also back from a month out through injury.

Prezzie-Blue had 18 points in Thunder’s second away win of the season.

Sam Cricelli scored 23 and Kadiri Richard piled up 12 rebounds to go with his six points.

Pepe Zafirov had four points and Daniel Hildreth and James Brame three apiece, the latter firing a key three-pointer to extend the lead to nine in the fourth quarter as Thunder gradually took the game away from their hosts.

Bratton said: “It was a pretty good team effort and our point guard has come back and really helped the overall effort.

“I like to think I helped out but Little Prezzie is the one who adds control of the game.

“I’m a wing player so I don’t set the whole thing up. Little Prezzie is like the conductor of the train, I’m more like the passenger.”

Bratton got to the basket on a regular basis in the fourth quarter and reckoned the fact more fouls were being called on Essex helped him.

He said: “We were certainly being aggressive.”

Pirates led 20-12 late in the first quarter but Thunder kept chipping away and had an eight-point run to close the second period, taking them into a 39-38 half-time advantage.

The scores were tied at 58-58 two minutes from the end of the third quarter but Thunder scored the next five points to take a handy buffer into the fourth.

They gradually extended that lead in the final period.

Pablo Rodrigo led Essex with 22 points while Taner Adu had 20.

Pirates sprang a surprise in calling up Hungarian sharpshooter Haggai Hundert and his three fourth-quarter three-pointers kept their hopes flickering.

Thunder improve their record to 5-8 after 13 games and have the rest of the weekend off.

Bratton said: “Our aim is to get to .500 (50% win-lose record) and take it from there.”