The young Shrimpers dominated the first half and Head of Youth Ricky Duncan was able to take a number of positives from the performance, with the final scoreline meaning that both sides maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Blues began in perfect manner, with midfielder Hazell scoring his second goal of the season straight from the kick-off. Craig Calver and Harry Crawford had combined the start the fixture, and Hazell seized on the ball 20 yards from goal before driving his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.
The 16-year-old continued to impose himself on the game, combining well with Calver and Crawford throughout at the head of a diamond formation in midfield. With Southend enjoying lots of possession, it seemed in the early stages as though each attack could lead to a goal.
On 7 minutes, Calver's intelligent pass released Medi Abalimba on the left flank, and his cross culminated in Crawford seeing a shot blocked on the goal-line. Former Ipswich Town scholar Calver then turned provider himself, a cross from the left-hand side picking out the onrushing Hazell, who directed his glancing header across the face of goal.
On a sizzling morning in southeast Essex, Southend continued to play delightful one-touch football, encouraged all the time by Duncan to keep the ball moving. Just before the half-hour, Calver combined once again with Hazell for the latter to smash a fierce shot against a defender.
Arguably United's best opportunity to double their lead came nine minutes before half-time when Hazell controlled a high forward ball before touching into the path of Crawford. Faced with only the goalkeeper to beat, the former Tottenham Hotspur forward picked his spot, only for the custodian to tip the ball around the post at full stretch.
Callum Whittaker, who was extremely vocal alongside Ronnie Jones at the centre of the Blues defence, and his colleagues had barely been tested at the back, and the extent of Nathan McDonald's work in the opening 45 minutes was to claim a couple of high crosses with ease.
It seemed as though the second half would follow the same template, with Hazell teeing himself up just before the hour mark to half-volley wide from the edge of the penalty area. Abalimba was similarly wayward when he struck wildly to the left after receiving a knock-down from Jack Morris' corner.
In the 62nd minute, the Chairboys levelled with their first shot on target of the match. The visiting right winger, who had only just been introduced on the pitch, was allowed time to send a teasing cross into the penalty area, and
George Daly had the time to take a touch before drilling his shot underneath McDonald from eight yards out.
Another Wanderers replacement then warmed McDonald's gloves and, although Southend were now under more pressure at the back, they remained the more likely side to add to their tally. Duncan introduced Fredrik Ljungström and Marcus Milner to add height and pace to the front line, and Milner had the chance to open his account for the club when Morris' low cross flew to the back post. The winger, who had seen Hazell fail to connect with a side-foot at the near post, had his effort blocked besides the other upright.
Ronnie Jones directed his powerful header into the side-netting from Morris' free-kick and Milner hit a rising shot just inches over the crossbar as the Shrimpers sought a late breakthrough. Calver deserved to have the definitive say, but when he collected Ljungström's flick-on, he found the goalkeeper ready to palm his strong shot over.
The 1-1 draw means that Southend now have four points from two games in Group 5 of the Youth Alliance Cup, although they face a testing trip to Queens Park Rangers on October 4th in their penultimate fixture before tackling Millwall at Boots & Laces.
Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Ricky Byrne, Ronnie Jones, Callum Whittaker, Jack Morris; Davis Abbey; Merrick James-Lewis ( Marcus Milner 69), Medi Abalimba (Kyle Asante 82); Justin Hazell; Craig Calver, Harry Crawford (Fredrik Ljungström 69). Unused substitutes: Jamie Dennis, John Owinja.
For the Trust's dedicated section to the Centre of Excellence go to: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/default.asp?page_id=311