Duncan on 'shocking' defeat to Daggers: 'Didn't manage a single shot on target'

Jack Connors scored twice for the visitors during a disjoined opening period before Tony Jacobs completed their first success since the opening day of the season a minute from the end after a Blues performance that Head of Youth Ricky Duncan described as “shocking”.

“I could accept the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion a week ago, because that was a good match and they are a very good side that will be up there at the end of the season, but we didn’t manage a single shot on target this morning” he elaborated straight after the final whistle. “I will get the lads in now to look through the video, and we will talk about what went wrong and then work on that in training next week.”

It could have been very different for Duncan’s side – which included Robert Hyams again at left-back after he missed out with a virus last weekend plus Shamir Mullings and James Pinnock in a two-pronged attack – had they built on a bright start, with August Player of the Month Marlon Agyakwa flashing narrowly over in just the third minute.

There was an early scare for Southend’s Under-16 goalkeeper Ted Smith when Connors cut the ball back for Andy Evangelou and he sent a skidding shot flying past the right-hand post.

Smith was included as Luke Chambers missed out through injury, and he was unfortunate to see the ball whizz past him for the first goal in the 25th minute. Tommy Davie’s left-wing corner was dummied at the near post by captain Andre Gumbs and Connors raced on unmarked to sweep into the net through a crowded penalty area.

Blues were struggling to create chances despite dominating possession, with Michael Hassini’s off-balance header from an Agyakwa free-kick nine minutes from half-time the closest they came to forcing Dagenham goalkeeper Cain Davies into a save.

Within sixty seconds, the Daggers had put themselves further in front with almost a mirror image of their opener. This time both Gumbs and midfielder Lewis Frost dummied the ball at the near post and Connors, who was waiting unmarked on the edge of the penalty box, converted via the inside of the left-hand upright.

Duncan was disappointed with both goals: “We knew about the threat from corners and we told the lads about it on Friday, so it was very disappointing to concede in that fashion. I felt that we should have been more alert to that situation,” he said.

Things could have been even worse as Davie slid a shot wide after being released by Connors on the stroke of the interval, and Jacobs could have extended the lead within seven minutes of the restart when he latched onto Liam Foster’s through-ball. He cut inside Aaron Tatham and almost beat Smith with his low shot, only for the ‘keeper to pounce on the ball at the second attempt.

Jack Payne and Seedy Njie were brought on during the early stages of the second half, and initially they gave the Shrimpers some added impetus as Payne exchanged passes with Jack Paxman before shooting wide.

However, Southend’s play was largely predictable, with too many misplaced passes, and Dagenham remained a threat on the counter-attack. Jacobs’ cross-shot was tipped over by Smith midway through the half before the same player was denied by Smith’s parry, and Connors’ follow-up was then charged down by Hyams, but Daggers did add a third in the dying seconds.

Successive corners culminated with the second not being fully cleared, and the ball was worked out to Jacobs, who eluded a sliding challenge from Tatham before stroking into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

There was a welcome sight late on as Jack Edwards was brought on, and he was closest to netting in stoppage time as he headed Njie’s miscued effort wide of the right-hand post. “We’ve got Crawley Town next, and they’ll fancy their chances, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re ready for that challenge next week,” Duncan concluded.

Southend United U18s: Ted Smith, Anthony Furlonge, Robert Hyams, Michael Hyland (Jack Edwards 79), Aaron Tatham, Michael Hassini, Marlon Agyakwa, Ryan Auger (Jack Payne 46), Shamir Mullings, James Pinnock (Seedy Njie 58), Jack Paxman.

Substitutes not used: Josh Banton, Harry Jeffrey.