The midfielder's spot-kick came just five minutes after the Chairboys had
converted a penalty themselves to add to an early first-half effort and complete a second win over the young Shrimpers this season in the process. For Blues, this was a second defeat in three matches ahead of next week's trip to second-placed Queens Park Rangers.
Head of Youth Ricky Duncan recovered from a bout of flu to take his place on the sidelines for United's first match in three weeks but he was denied the services of both of his first-choice front-men. Kyle Asante continues to miss out with a nasty knee injury picked up in a recent reserve team outing while Harry Crawford travelled with the first-team as a substitute for their Coca-Cola League One clash at Hartlepool United.
With Duran Reynolds continuing to appear for Grays Athletic in the Blue Square Premier, Duncan named prospective Under-16s talent Anthony Furlong at right-back, whilst Marcus Milner and George Smith aimed to support Duane Ofon-Acheampong up front as the tall target man made his first start for the club.
However, it was the visitors who made the better start with their tall centre-half nodding the first of three unmarked headed opportunities goalwards from a right-wing corner and Teddy Nesbitt managing to block from his position next to the left-hand upright.
Southend were punished for their inauspicious start on 14 minutes when Wycombe's tricky left-winger picked the ball up 25 yards out to the left of the 'D' and arrowed an unstoppable shot into the very corner of Daniel Bentley's net with even the goalkeeper's outstretched left hand unable to get a touch.
Two minutes later a Wycombe forward almost doubled the advantage when he connected powerfully with another flag-kick, heading against the crossbar from eight yards out, and Bentley had to make a fine parried save to keep out a close-range effort within minutes of that opportunity with a forward pushing the follow-up past the post.
Blues' first real chance came on 24 minutes from Callum Whittaker's raking right-wing pass. The high ball was controlled by Smith, who found Milner on the edge of the six-yard box, but the speedy forward's fierce shot was charged down by a defender.
Wanderers' right-winger had a perfect chance to grab his team's second goal when he burst between Whittaker and Ade Osifuwa and swept the ball past Bentley in one swift movement, but he failed to tap into the net. Bentley's first-half action concluded nine minutes before the break as he collected another header, having claimed a number of teasing crosses.
Duncan made a double substitution on 40 minutes, introducing Julian Okai and Justin Hazell in place of Smith and James Stevens, and Hazell almost made an immediate impact by bundling the ball into the box to release Milner on the stroke of half-time, only for a defender to steal it off of the second-year's toecap.
Southend enjoyed a greater deal of possession during the second period, but they were unable to penetrate the Wycombe defence and the Chairboys goalkeeper remained largely untroubled. At the other end, a mazy run from a visiting forward ended with the youngster firing wide of the goal on 52 minutes whilst Bentley gathered a left-footed free-kick after it had been curled around the wall on the hour.
When the former Arsenal shotstopper was not keeping the scoreline manageable, it was his team-mates that were called upon to make responsible blocks. A right-wing cross was met by a substitute, but Osifuwa stepped into his way to clear, and the follow-up was kept away from danger by Okai. Shortly afterwards, Duncan took the opportunity to introduce forward Kamahl Wright, a second-year trialist released by Derby County's Academy.
Another shot from distance was saved by the impressive Bentley with just two minutes remaining, whilst a further Wycombe chance was flashed across the face of goal. But Blues' resistance was broken with a little over a minute remaining when a forward stumbled under a challenge and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The spot-kick was converted down the middle of the goal, just eluding Bentley's right leg.
Despite going 2-0 down, Southend pressed forward in stoppage time and gained their reward when Milner was brought down by the Wycombe goalkeeper after he had touched the ball past the custodian and Dennis stepped up to clinically dispatch into the corner from twelve yards but, by then, there was no time for an equaliser.
Southend United U18s: Daniel Bentley; Anthony Furlong, Callum Whittaker, Adetayo Osifuwa, Teddy Nesbitt; Merrick James-Lewis, James Stevens (Julian Okai 40), Jamie Dennis; Marcus Milner, Duane Ofon-Acheampong (Kamahl Wright 72), George Smith (Justin Hazell 40). Substitute not used: Alex Woodyard.
Goal: Dennis (90+4pen).
Cautioned: Ofon-Acheampong (49 - delaying the restart of play).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section, go here:
www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=10