Duncan after Dons: 'Oggy's strike is already a contender for goal of the season'

Southend United Under-18s began their 2011/12 Football League Youth Alliance season with a five-star performance against AFC Wimbledon, recovering after conceding an early goal to record a 5-1 victory at Tolworth Court Sports Ground.

 “It was a good, strong start to the season. We set the target to win the game at the start, and that’s what we’ve done,” said Head of Youth Ricky Duncan after the match. “It wasn’t the ideal preparation for us with James Pinnock getting injured in the week to add to the injuries suffered by Louis Baucutt and Fope Coker, and we had a long coach journey down with problems on the M25, but we were determined not to come here and use any excuses.”

Perhaps it was little surprise then, having had less than 25 minutes’ warm-up, Southend were sluggish at the game’s outset and Wimbledon took the lead in their first-ever South East Conference fixture in just the third minute as a right-wing centre was thumped into the top right-hand corner of Luke Chambers’ net.

The goal jolted Blues into action and, within sixty seconds, they almost registered an immediate reply as Lyle Della-Verde’s cross was flicked to the back post and Marlon Agyakwa’s half-volley was parried out at the near post.

However, with still less than five minutes completed, the Shrimpers were level. Della-Verde was this time dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area, but Ryan Auger won the ball back and found Jack Payne with a short, precise pass. The diminutive playmaker calmly stroked his 15-yard shot beyond the goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.

Southend settled as a result and, when Seedy Njie was fouled, the referee played a useful advantage to allow Della-Verde to fire a long-range shot into the ‘keeper’s stomach. The winger was denied again as the Dons custodian spooned a low effort around the left-hand upright after 13 minutes whilst a defender prevented Njie from converting after Auger had found the front-man with a lofted pass on the quarter-hour.

The frenetic nature of the opening fifteen minutes eventually dissipated but, with the visitors channelling their play down the flanks, Blues remained a threat. And, with 25 minutes on the clock, they moved in front as Njie battled for the ball on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box, leaving Della-Verdeto jink inside a challenge and direct his shot between a defender and the ‘keeper.

Wimbledon attempted to bounce back themselves and, when a cross was lofted in from the left before being turned back into the box, Anthony Furlonge was called upon to block on the goal-line. On the half-hour, an onrushing midfielder was afforded a clear sight on goal with a header from eight yards out, but Chambers this time produced an outstanding reaction save to turn the ball to safety.

With four minutes remaining in the first half, a Dons forward raced onto a midfield header to advance one-on-one with Chambers, with the Welsh youth international exerting enough pressure to force the striker’s shot wide. And, early in the second period, the second-year shotstopper claimed a comfortable save besides his right-hand post as the hosts continued to press.

However, having ridden out the storm, Southend moved back into the ascendancy, with Furlonge threading the ball into Payne’s feet only for the first-year’s ferocious left-footer to be pushed out by the ‘keeper, who later twice denied substitute Shamir Mullings after he had been put clear by Njie.

In the 71st minute, Blues’ pressure told. A wonderful move began on the left with Agyakwa, who cut inside to cross with his favoured right foot. Njie flicked the ball on to Mullings at the back post, and it initially appeared that he had chosen the wrong option as his pass from the bye-line was rolled back outside the penalty area. However, the trialist had shown excellent vision to spot Auger who, galloping onto the ball 25 yards out, produced an excellent controlled finish to curl his shot into the top left-hand corner.

 “There were five different scorers out there today, which was another positive, and Oggy’s strike is already a contender for goal of the season,” reflected Duncan.

Agyakwa’s final involvement was to exchange passes with Njie before forcing the goalkeeper into another good save by the base of his left-hand post, whilst Mullings should have done better with a close-range header from Robert Hyams’ swinging left-wing centre as he headed over.

Mullings made no mistake seven minutes from the end, though, as the towering front-runner received Hyams’ throw-in and proceeded to slam his shot from 18 yards into the bottom left-hand corner.

Blues were not finished and a wonderful move marked the culmination of the scoring four minutes later. Furlonge advanced through midfield, feigning to shoot before instead picking out Mullings. He slid in Hyland ten yards out on the right, and the skipper shot into the opposite corner of the goal to make it 5-1.

 “We didn’t know what to expect from Wimbledon, and they were confident after going ahead, but I was keen to show them that we meant business, too,” said Duncan. “It’s a good, solid start.”

Southend United U18s: Luke Chambers, Anthony Furlonge, Robert Hyams, Michael Hyland, Aaron Tatham, Michael Hassini (Josh Banton 46), Marlon Agyakwa (Mitchell Pinnock 76), Ryan Auger, Seedy Njie, Jack Payne (Shamir Mullings 66), Lyle Della-Verde.