F.A. Youth Cup: Millwall 3 Southend United 1

Blues' Youths failed to recover from conceding two goals within the opening five minutes and, despite a spirited second half display, eventually succumbed to the Lions, who will now host Oxford United in the next round.

An away tie at the New Den was one of the most difficult fixtures possible at this stage of the competition, but boss Ricky Duncan was still confident of overturning a run of form against the south London outfit that had seen the Shrimpers lose three times to Millwall during the current calendar year.

Duncan unveiled a fluid 4-5-1 formation with Julian Okai and Kyle Asante - two members of Southend's first-team squad during last Friday's 1-0 win over Gillingham - given license to get forward down either flank to support Harry Crawford. There were a number of changes from the side that defeated Aldershot Town 2-1 in the club's last outing, with the most notable being centre-back Duran Reynolds' return after a lengthy injury lay-off.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley was another to be recalled but after a mere three minutes he was picking the ball out of the net in unfortunate circumstances. Grant Ludford's free-kick from 35 yards out on the right touchline forced the former Arsenal shotstopper to push the ball onto the crossbar, only for it to bounce down and drop into the goal off of his head.

Just 45 seconds later, Millwall were celebrating their second. Almost straight from the kick-off, forward Kiernan Hughes-Mason picked up possession before dispatching a clinical low drive into the bottom left-hand corner from 25 yards. The strike represented the front man's sixth goal in three appearances against Blues this term.

Only Bentley's outstretched glove denied the hosts a quickfire third as Ludford rose to nod John Marquis' cross goalwards before Reynolds headed a vicious Hughes-Mason centre out for a corner.

United slowly edged their way back into the game and Asante's willingness to chase a lost cause was almost rewarded on 19 minutes as he attempted to latch onto Connor McLaren's under-hit back-pass. Despite getting to the loose ball first, custodian Wayne Drummond managed to do enough to force the ex-Millwall youngster out of play.

James Stevens' high free-kick was nodded wide by Reynolds in another half-chance midway through the first period, but Millwall still looked threatening whenever they approached the Southend penalty area and Ludford's incisive through-ball found Hughes-Mason on 28 minutes, with only Bentley's anticipation allowing him to make a good save with his legs .

Marquis smashed waywardly on the half-hour as Millwall continued to probe, although Blues could have reduced the arrears during two counter-attacks shortly afterwards. Harry Crawford was unable to shoot on target from Teddy Nesbitt's swinging cross in the first move and he then saw his effort from 15 yards charged down after Okai had done well to outmuscle a defender and run onto Reynolds' long diagonal pass.

In stoppage time, Bentley was again the hero for the Shrimpers, excellent positioning helping him to save Marquis' low shot after fine build-up play from Hassan Janneh and Jake Gallagher.

After half-time, with captain Merrick James-Lewis pushing on himself, the team moved further up the pitch and, initially at least, this meant that the team showed a vast improvement. Okai was unlucky on 54 minutes when he cut inside after collecting another raking Reynolds pass as Lions skipper Chris Hegarty deflected his shot over with a brave slide.

Asante was similarly denied, this time by Drummond, after exchanging passes with Okai on the edge of the penalty area, but Blues were to suffer a further set-back when the third goal arrived in the 63rd minute.

Hughes-Mason was the key individual again, hustling Nesbitt until he surrendered possession to McLaren and then racing forwards to gather the right-back's pass. He travelled to the bye-line before squaring to substitute Ikenna Ofoche, who squeezed his shot past Bentley and just inside the left-hand upright.

That did not deter Southend, who still searched for a response with Okai flicking a header onto the roof of the net from Ade Osifuwa's swirling cross. Then, with 25 minutes remaining, the visitors did score as Jamie Dennis embarked on an impressive cross-field run. Having created space for a cross on the right-hand side, he picked out Asante, who nodded into the left-hand side of the net.

Duncan immediately threw on flying winger Marcus Milner and towering forward Duane Ofon-Acheampong, although it was Crawford who came closest to registering a second when his fierce shot was deflected wide by Omar Beckles.

Blues became even more adventurous, Kane Ferdinand replacing Callum Whittaker to leave United with three at the back and three up front, but they could not fashion any further opportunities. Instead, Nesbitt effected a fine challenge on Marquis as he was about to pull the trigger and Bentley denied Connor French at point-blank range during stoppage time to maintain the 3-1 scoreline.