Blues’ Youths reached the area final of the competition last year, losing to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park after an impressive run to the last four, and Head of Youth Ricky Duncan was happy with his teenage charges as they began their bid to emulate that achievement.
“I thought we were unlucky today,” he said after the match at QPR’s Imperial College training ground in Harlington. “It was pretty even in the first period - QPR had a lot of the ball but they were restricted to shots from distance - and then in the second period we had much the better chances to score. In the end, it’s only a penalty that has separated the sides.”
“QPR have a big budget. They applied for Academy status last summer, as they should do because they are a Premier League club. You only had to look at the number of coaches on the sidelines to see that they are a big club and they’ll be bidding for one of the Category One places next year, but I have every faith in my players and think they can make an impression at Southend United,” he added.
Rangers dominated possession in the early stages of the match against a Shrimpers side that numbered just two changes from the line-up that had impressively defeated Millwall seven days earlier. Michael Hassini came in at centre-back in place of Anthony Furlonge whilst Marlon Agyakwa replaced Seedy Njie out wide.
Skipper Jordan Gibbons saw his third minute shot nodded out by Aaron Tatham but, for all their superior passing, that was all the Hoops could muster in the opening 20 minutes, at which point midfielder Callum Webb fired over from 25 yards.
Midway through the opening period Jack Paxman had the ball in the back of the net for Blues, but his effort was ruled out for offside at the culmination of a move that also included Shamir Mullings and Jack Payne. Play quickly switched to the other end where Webb drew a comfortable save from Southend goalkeeper Luke Chambers.
Then, in the 33rd minute, the hosts edged in front. Freddy Champion, a recent acquisition for QPR from Tottenham Hotspur, smashed a shot at Jack Edwards from close quarters, and the Shrimpers midfielder was adjudged to have deliberately blocked the attempt with his arm. Simpson stepped up to coolly chip the penalty over Chambers, who had guessed the correct direction of the spot-kick.
The opening half ended with Michael Hyland’s curling shot being deflected wide of the right-hand post, but this was a pre-cursor of increased attacking intent and within six minutes of the restart Ryan Auger had exchanged passes with Mullings before sending his shot straight into the gloves of the goalkeeper.
A similar fate befell Payne’s looping header from a Paxman corner before Chambers expertly palmed away a James Daly snapshot after Auger had been dispossessed besides the byeline. Another quick move midway through the second half saw Hassini cut out a pass intended for Daly ahead of Chambers producing another fingertip save to thwart Webb.
If QPR had been looking to wrap up the victory swiftly, they were stopped in their tracks by the introduction of Njie, who brought with him more forward threat for the visitors. The front man wasted a fine chance to equalise with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, nodding wide of the left-hand upright after rising unmarked to meet Agyakwa’s cross, and more was to follow.
Again Tatham sent the ball forward from the back, this time with his head, and found Mullings, who moved play on to Njie. The striker had got in behind the Rangers’ back-line but, with just the ‘keeper to beat, he slid his 87th minute shot narrowly wide, and Blues’ hopes had been extinguished.
Paxman blocked a late chance for Gibbons to add a second for the Hoops, leaving Duncan to reflect on a close-fought defeat: “Seedy had two great chances late on, and he should’ve hit the target. If he had, we may even have nicked it,” he mused.
“Overall, I’m pleased with the start we have made despite the result, and we’re still targeting a top three finish to get out of the group,” he concluded.
Southend United U18s: Luke Chambers, Ryan Auger, Robert Hyams, Michael Hyland, Aaron Tatham, Michael Hassini, Marlon Agyakwa (James Pinnock 77), Jack Edwards, Shamir Mullings, Jack Paxman, Jack Payne (Seedy Njie 64).
Substitutes not used: Anthony Furlonge, Harry Jeffrey, Mitchell Pinnock.
Cautioned: Auger (84 - dissent).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk