James Stevens' double and Duane Ofori-Acheampong's tenth goal of the season were enough to see Southend United safely into the Third Round of the FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON following a 3-0 win over Brentford.
Ricky Duncan's young charges had been due to face the Bees on Friday night but heavy fog scuppered that plan, although it took little time for a side that numbered just one change from the victorious First Round line-up - Lyle Della-Verde in for the injured Hicham Abdellah - to get into their stride in the rearranged clash.
Indeed, Blues had rattled the woodwork with just 40 seconds on the clock when 15-year-old Della-Verde unlocked his box of tricks on the left before finding Alex Woodyard. The midfielder drove into the penalty box before being dispossessed and the loose ball fell to Stevens, who saw a stinging shot bounce back off of the left-hand upright before hitting goalkeeper Jack Middleton and dribbling out for a corner.
Three minutes later, George Smith flicked the ball into the path of Julian Okai, with the winger curling narrowly over the crossbar from 15 yards before Alex Woodyard fired over from Teddy Nesbitt's swinging cross. In between, Aaron Scott stabbed wide after good work from Kyle Vassell on the Brentford left.
Southend took the lead in the 17th minute. Kayode Bola was cautioned after ending Woodyard's run abruptly and Kane Ferdinand and Okai both stood over the dead ball with the latter rolling the set-piece into the path of Stevens, who struck it firmly into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Within sixty seconds the young Shrimpers could have doubled their advantage as Della-Verde dug out a left-wing cross to the near post, where Ofori-Acheampong galloped onto the ball before directing his prodded effort against the base of the post.
Daniel Bentley was called upon to make his first save midway through the opening period when Emmanuel Oyeleke scrapped for the ball and Scott scooped a shot towards the top right-hand corner of the net. Eight minutes later, Alfie Mawson spooned Charlie Adams' corner over the crossbar but, by the time the half had ended, United had reasserted their ascendancy.
An excellent move involving Woodyard, Smith, Ofori-Acheampong and latterly Della-Verde ended with the flanker crossing for Woodyard, who mistimed his jump to allow Middleton to make a comfortable save, and the midfielder went close again three minutes before the break as a shot was deflected wide after Okai's initial effort had been charged down.
On the stroke of half-time, Della-Verde saw a fierce effort beaten away by Middleton, and it was the same duo who featured in the opening action of the second period as the trainee teamed up with Ofori-Acheampong to volley at the custodian from the edge of the penalty area.
Bentley made a further smart save, gathering substitute Stefan Tomasevic's side-footed attempt at his near post, but further brave defending was required at the other end when Woodyard attacked a devilish Okai centre to deny the second-year scholar a sight of goal.
The second Southend goal arrived on the hour mark, effectively sealing the destination of the tie. Okai was involved, picking up possession on the right flank before offloading to full-back Anthony Furlonge on the overlap. The defender made no mistake with his cross, picking out Ofori-Acheampong, who outmuscled the attentive back-liners to convert from close range.
Louis Hazlewood made a token effort to reduce the arrears with a well-struck 40-yard free-kick that failed to trouble Bentley, and it was a set-piece from similar distance that ultimately led to Blues' third goal.
Stevens did not try his luck from range, preferring to pick out a pass to Ferdinand, who spread play to the opposite right-hand side and Furlonge. This time the defender cut back onto his weaker left foot, sending in a swirling cross that Stevens met to plant home his fourth goal of the 2010/11 campaign.
There was another chance for Bentley to showcase his excellent shotstopping capabilities, denying Vassell at point-blank range, but the final fifteen minutes saw the Shrimpers turn on the style in search of a fourth.
Stevens smashed a 35-yard shot goalwards with goalkeeper Middleton grasping the ball at the second attempt, and fine combination play between Okai and Stevens ended with the wide man firing narrowly wide.
Furlonge's overlapping runs continued to pose problems for the visitors, and a hanging cross was thwacked towards the roof of the net by Fope Coker, looking to make an instant impression after replacing Della-Verde.
Unfortunately for him, a combination of Middleton and defender Greg Butler managed to turn the shot over the crossbar and, in the closing stages, the custodian's left leg blocked a strong Woodyard effort after Jack Paxman had threaded him through.
A superb team effort, with centre-halves Ferdinand and Louis Baucutt ensuring that there was no passage through at the back, underpinned Southend's latest FA Youth Cup success, and they will now look to overcome Academy outfit Coventry City at Roots Hall in the Third Round in early December.
Southend United U18s: Daniel Bentley, Anthony Furlonge, Teddy Nesbitt, James Stevens, Louis Baucutt, Kane Ferdinand, Julian Okai, Alex Woodyard, Duane Ofori-Acheampong, George Smith (Jack Paxman 85), Lyle Della-Verde (Fope Coker 76).
Substitutes not used: Luke Chambers, Ryan Auger, Michael Hyland.
Goals: Stevens (17, 69), Ofori-Acheampong (60).
Brentford U18s: Jack Middleton, Greg Butler, James Zanelli, Alfie Mawson, Louis Harris, Louis Hazlewood, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Aaron Scott, Kyle Vassell, Charlie Adams, Kayode Bola (Stefan Tomasevic 46).
Substitutes not used: Tom Warren, Myles Hippolyte, Michael Eldridge.
Cautioned: Bola (16 - unsporting behaviour), Tomasevic (82 - foul tackle).
