After a first half in which Peterborough, who took the lead through Jennai Gordon-Hutton in the 14th minute, were largely repelled by Luke Chambers in the Southend goal, efforts from substitute Jack Payne, full-back Ryan Auger and forward Shamir Mullings – who notched twice in a minute – saw the Shrimpers ease to victory.
“I thought Saturday’s match was very similar to the FA Youth Cup game against Brentford on Tuesday night,” said Blues’ Head of Youth Ricky Duncan. “In the first half we rode our luck and we were lucky to come in 1-0 down. Luke Chambers was excellent in goal for us, Peterborough were first to every ball and they will have been disappointed to have come in just 1-0 up.”
“In the second half I changed things up; we switched to a 4-4-2 formation by bringing on Jack Payne and we were more positive. We took our chances and limited theirs, and when they did get some, Luke made two or three more excellent saves.”
The visitors made an excellent start, and could have taken the lead in the third minute when Ben Seymour-Shove burst past Aaron Tatham and slid a shot beyond Chambers, but Robert Hyams had skirted around the back of the goalkeeper to clear off the goalline.
Another pacey run from the dangerous Seymour-Shove saw him pick out Tom Wood, but the forward could only side-foot wide and, still in just the eleventh minute, Charlie Batt’s goalbound prod was turned around the post by Chambers. Seymour-Shove’s corner was directed over Chambers by Dan Evans, but the ball bounced back off the left-hand upright and out to safety.
Seymour-Shove then drilled Gordon-Hutton’s knockdown wide, but it was not long before the onslaught told and Evans was responsible for threading a pass in to Gordon-Hutton, who outmuscled Michael Hassini before firing clinically into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The Posh sensed that Blues were vulnerable, and when Mitchell Pinnock sliced a clearance, Seymour-Shove broke away, only for him to shin over when placed one-on-one with Chambers. Evans also smashed over before setting up Gordon-Hutton for a shot that was deflected wide.
Southend’s first sniff of a chance came when Peterborough goalkeeper Alex Archer mis-kicked straight to Pinnock, but the winger’s first-time effort sailed inches over the crossbar. After that Chambers parried out from James Sage at point-blank range before making an equally impressive stop when central defender Michael Ritchens powered a Seymour-Shove flag-kick goalwards.
Pinnock was handed another opportunity when Mullings forced Archer to come out of his penalty area to head out, and he again attempted a lob over the ‘keeper, who back-pedalled quickly to save, but play switched again to the other end and Ritchens headed over from close range before ex-Arsenal shotstopper Chambers made a superb save to push the same player’s 25-yard drive around the post.
“There was a bit of a hangover from the Youth Cup game last week,” admitted Duncan. “We showed real character having gone 1-0 down to come back and win 4-1. The lads could’ve folded, but they didn’t.”
“I have to give a special mention to Luke Chambers. Normally if we win 4-1 and I say the ‘keeper has been outstanding you would look at me strangely, but he was outstanding. In the last four games he has gone on a fantastic run and has pulled off some fantastic saves, so I’m over the moon and he gave us the platform to go on and win.”
The first signs of a recovery were evident in the last minute of the first half when Pinnock headed Marlon Agyakwa’s hanging cross over Archer, only for Ritchens to head off the line. Agyakwa was replaced by Payne at the interval, and he quickly cushioned the ball into the path of trialist Kamal Creary, who half-volleyed inches wide.
Auger then rolled in Mullings on the right-hand side, and he shot just past the left-hand post before Jack Paxman’s inswinging corner was met by Hassini, with Archer pushing his header onto the post. The same duo combined in the 56th minute, with Archer this time clinging onto the centre-half’s header.
Chambers made another strong save at his near post to push out Dan Lawlor’s fierce attempt, and that paved the way for his team to equalise in the 62nd minute. The ‘keeper was involved himself, sending a goal-kick up field for Creary, who nodded on towards Payne. The playmaker seized on the indecision between Archer and his back-line to pounce on the ball and turn it home.
Hyams charged down a Wood effort on the edge of the penalty area at the other end, where Posh skipper Peter Grant also wastefully glanced Seymour-Shove’s free-kick wide having minute earlier performed heroics in his own penalty area to deny Mullings. The forward had rounded Archer from Auger’s chipped pass, but Grant managed to clear on the line.
Blues were not to be denied for long, though, and with 17 minutes remaining they took the lead for the first time in the match. An excellent interchange between Payne and Paxman on the right flank saw the latter brought down in the penalty area and, when the referee waved away his appeals for a penalty, Payne was dumped on the turf to leave the match official with no choice but to point to the spot.
Auger was given an immediate opportunity for redemption after being thwarted from twelve yards in midweek, and he sent Archer the wrong way to make it 2-1. “I’m pleased for Ryan; their goalkeeper was excellent on Tuesday. I said to Ryan, ‘You didn’t miss it, the ‘keeper saved it’, and he told me on Friday that if we got a penalty in the next match, he’s take it, so it was excellent that he scored,” reported Duncan.
Chambers made yet another outstanding save to deny Gordon-Hutton with his left leg, and he was also sent diving to his right-hand side eleven minutes from time to keep out a skimming Evans attempt.
That left Blues to confirm the victory inside the final minute of the 90. Mitchell Pinnock provided the delivery for both goals, with the first coming when his inswinging corner was met by Mullings, who thundered his header into the top left-hand corner of the net.
The fourth goal was completely different as Pinnock swept the ball out of defence down the left flank to release Mullings, and this time the forward held off a back-liner before lashing unstoppably past Archer at his near post to seal a third consecutive League win.
“We dominated at the end; after Tuesday the lads knew they let themselves down, but they were determined to put it right. Three of the back four were first years; we had Anthony Furlonge and Louis Baucutt injured at the back and Fope Coker and Seedy Njie also out further forwards, but we still came away with a 4-1 win,” concluded Duncan.
Southend United U18s: Luke Chambers, Ryan Auger, Robert Hyams, Michael Hyland, Aaron Tatham, Michael Hassini, Marlon Agyakwa (Jack Payne 46), Kamal Creary, Shamir Mullings, Jack Paxman, Mitchell Pinnock.
Substitutes not used: James Pinnock, Jack Edwards, Harry Jeffrey, Josh Banton.
Goals: Payne (62), Auger (73 pen), Mullings (89, 90).
Cautioned: Auger (89 – delaying the restart of play).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk