Blues Youth hit seven as the Hoops Face 'A' Teams

Last updated : 29 September 2008 By Robert Craven
Duncan fielded his more experienced scholars in the first half before taking a look at a younger, pacier side in the second period, including three trialists. One of the trio was Roland Benedict, the son of American actor and star of 'The A Team' Dirk Benedict. Benedict Jnr. appeared on the left-hand side of midfield, having previously appeared for Gillingham's reserve team, whilst his father watched on from the sidelines to add some celebrity to a sunny day in southeast Essex.


The opposition will bear little resemblance to the QPR outfit that line up against the Shrimpers next Saturday in the Football League Youth Alliance Cup, but put up a determined fight during the opening stages of the encounter.


Fredrik Ljungström glanced a header into the goalkeeper's gloves from Ronnie Jones' lofted pass before Duran Reynolds directed a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area around the wall at a comfortable height for the custodian.


The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute when Medi Abalimba threaded his pass down the inside-left channel to Craig Calver. The former Ipswich Town forward finished clinically into the bottom right-hand corner from twelve yards.


On the half-hour, Justin Hazell's low shot was parried by the 'keeper to Ljungström, who swept home from five yards only to see the assistant referee's flag raised on the right touchline. The Swedish striker did not have to wait long for his goal as a mere thirty seconds later Reynolds found Calver on the left. Although the second-year's effort may have found the net of its own accord, Ljungström made sure with a simple tap-in at the far post.


As the half came to an end Blues missed a number of chances to add to their tally, Medi Abalimba stabbing wide after a series of ricochets and then nodding over from Ade Osifuwa's cross. Ljungström had a golden opportunity to score his second, but lost his footing and mishit his shot from ten yards before Hazell's right-footed attempt slid past the right-hand post.


Only Nathan McDonald, Merrick James-Lewis and Reynolds remained on the field for the second 45 minutes, and immediately Southend scythed open the R's back-line. A Rangers defender hacked off of the goalline after Marcus Milner had bullied his way around the goalkeeper, and a goal followed just three minutes into the half when Joel Mitchell curled a free-kick into the top right-hand corner.


The goalkeeper had got a hand to that effort, and it was a similar story just before the hour when the Shrimpers made it 4-0. Jamie Dennis provided the assist, searching out Harry Crawford 25 yards from goal for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur trainee to arrow a rising shot into the roof of the net.


The 'keeper made spectacular saves from Milner and another trialist, Luke, but after a short interval to allow the teams to catch their breath, United netted three times in seven minutes.


First, Kyle Asante controlled Crawford's centre to turn and steer into the bottom left-hand corner from eight yards, then a wonderful move down the left saw Benedict pass to the overlapping Mitchell. The left-back's cross from the bye-line was headed powerfully home by Crawford with a quarter-of-an-hour left.


United were not finished yet and Crawford was involved again, touching the ball inside to midfielder Dennis, whose high finish left the 'keeper with no chance.


The only blot on the copybook came five minutes from the end as an intricate move inside the Blues penalty area culminated in the visitors' strong front man slipping his shot underneath McDonald, whose only previous action had been to make a routine save in the first minute. Nonetheless, the performance will have kept spirits high ahead of the trip to west London next weekend.


Southend United U18s: First half:
Nathan McDonald; Ricky Byrne, Ronnie Jones, Ade Osifuwa, Duran Reynolds; Davis Abbey; Merrick James-Lewis, Medi Abalimba; Justin Hazell; Fredrik Ljungström, Craig Calver.


Second half:
Nathan McDonald; John Owinja, Merrick James-Lewis, Duran Reynolds, Joel Mitchell; Kyle Asante, Jamie Dennis, Luke [trialist], Roland Benedict; Harry Crawford, Marcus Milner.


Goals:
Calver 20, Ljungström 31, Mitchell 49, Crawford 60, 76, Asante 74, Dennis 81.