Ricky Duncan’s charges were defeated for a third consecutive time but, having fielded just one second year scholar in the shape of skipper - and goalscorer - Michael Hyland, the Blues’ Head of Youth was pleased with the spirited nature of his squad after Shamir Mullings further reduced the arrears in the 3-2 defeat.
“That must be the youngest side I’ve ever put out at Southend,” remarked Duncan after the match. “We had nine first-years playing, a schoolboy in goal and just one second-year out there. This time next year those first-years will have a lot more experience behind them.”
“I’m disappointed not have got a point out of the game. Last week I was disappointed with the team, but this week I’m disappointed for them because they’ve worked really hard to get back into the match,” he added.
With Luke Chambers still nursing an ankle injury, Ted Smith was named in goal again having recently spent a week away training with the England Under-16 squad. His experience at Breezehurst Drive in Bewbush was not so pleasant as he was required to pick the ball out of the net after just 13 seconds.
The hosts made a break straight from the kick-off and forward Jonte Smith was immediately in the action as he stole the ball from Aaron Tatham and slid it confidently into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Having already taken points off Millwall and Gillingham in the season so far, Simon Rusk’s Reds were full of belief, and they extended their advantage after 13 minutes. Jamel Dobson was the instigator as he raced away down the right-hand side and squared the ball for Oliver Emsden to tuck in from close range.
Seedy Njie saw a header well saved after winning a corner for Mitchell Pinnock to deliver, but this was a rare foray into Crawley territory, and the homesters could have added to their lead as Dobson fired into the side-netting and Smith made an excellent stop with his left hand from his namesake’s prodded effort.
Njie was denied as a defender just timed his tackle well enough to touch the ball away from the striker in the 27th minute, but play switched to the opposite end within seconds for Town to make it 3-0. This time Nathan Evans made the break, holding off Tatham before shooting neatly into the net.
We were shell-shocked by their start in that first half-an-hour and found ourselves 3-0 down, but I was pleased with the resolve we showed after that,” said Duncan.
That resolve began just four minutes later as Southend got themselves on the scoresheet. Hyland was deployed in an unfamiliar right-wing position, but he battled manfully and looked to have been illegally wrestled off the ball. The referee played an advantage, allowing Jack Payne to shoot from distance and, although his shot was deflected away from goal, the captain was on hand to smash the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
Within seconds the Shrimpers had almost scored again as Njie chased a high ball over the top and got an outstretched right boot to the ball, only to send his shot inches over the crossbar having beaten the ‘keeper.
That was the final opportunity of note before half-time, but Blues followed Crawley’s lead in netting early in the second period. Indeed, a mere 38 seconds had passed when Harry Jeffrey found Mullings, and the towering front man took a touch before coolly rolling into the net from 20 yards out.
“I thought young Harry Jeffrey was excellent today; he was only told that he was in the starting line-up on the coach on the way to the game,” revealed Duncan. “He played a key role in the second goal, and Shamir was very good as well; he never gave up working hard.”
Evans fired into the side-netting for Town soon afterwards, but the play began to become more even, and Mullings could have grabbed an equaliser on 65 minutes when he collected Hyland’s return pass but skewed wide.
At the mid-point of the second half, Smith was extended into another fine save, getting down to push out Smith’s skidding effort from a Dobson flick-on but, the longer the game progressed, the more likely Blues were to score a goal of their own.
Njie attempted to cheekily back-heel in Mullings’ centre at the near post but just failed to make the necessary connection before the Crawley custodian dropped on the ball in his six-yard box as substitute James Pinnock attempted to turn in a Hyland cross.
Smith parried out from a strong Evans effort as play switched immediately to the other end, but Njie was agonisingly close to levelling when he attempted an audacious overhead bicycle kick with just two minutes remaining. The teenage Shrimpers strained every sinew in trying to equalise, but it was not to be and Smith completed the final meaningful action of the match by grabbing a Dan Millard free-kick above his head.
“We had to make some changes today, with Marlon Agyakwa travelling with the first-team to Rotherham and with the injuries we have, but I was pleased with how we adapted and we created enough chances to get something from the game. On another day, we would have won that match,” Duncan concluded.
Southend United U18s: Ted Smith, Harry Jeffrey, Robert Hyams (Josh Banton 88), Michael Hyland, Aaron Tatham, Michael Hassini, Jack Payne (Joel Mbebe 83), Jack Edwards, Shamir Mullings, Seedy Njie, Mitchell Pinnock (James Pinnock 74).
Goals: Hyland (32), Mullings (46).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk