Home v Colchester United - Saturday 17th January 2009 | |
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"I thought we were a little bit sluggish, a little bit slow out of the blocks in the first half," said Head of Youth Ricky Duncan. "You could see the improvement in the second period, though, and in the end we probably could have won four or five-one."
The first match of 2009 saw full-backs Ricky Byrne and Jack Morris restored to the side having returned from injury, whilst Tashan Adeyinka was brought in up front after completing his period of work experience at Ryman League Premier Division club Harlow Town. With Justin Hazell and Marcus Milner named in wide positions, Duncan's team lined up in a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.
Colchester, who had climbed into third position as a result of a seven-match unbeaten run of their own, had an early chance inside the first minute when a free-kick was struck narrowly over the crossbar, and it was the visitors who enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
Nathan McDonald in the Blues' goal was forced to anticipate a well-directed through-ball to pounce at the feet of an onrushing forward, but Southend did create a chance of their own when Craig Calver flicked Merrick James-Lewis' pass into the path of Adeyinka. The powerful front-runner forced his fierce shot over when faced with an acute angle to deliver his final attempt.
After 20 minutes, the hosts did take the lead. Jack Morris raced across to the right flank to send an inswinging free-kick into the six-yard box, and central defender Duran Reynolds slid in to guide the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
The lead lasted a mere ten minutes, though, with a clearance being immediately seized upon by the U's. Morris could not track the forward, who raced onto the ball and lofted it beyond McDonald to equalise.
Calver wasted a fine opportunity to restore the Shrimpers' advantage just before half-time when he side-footed a shot inches wide of the left-hand upright at the end of a move that he himself had started in midfield by releasing Milner on the right wing.
The prolific front man made no mistake two minutes after the break when presented with an opportunity to score again. Having seconds earlier crossed for James-Lewis to mis-kick at the near post, Calver this time drifted inside from a wide position before curling left-footed into the very corner of the net.
Southend effectively rounded off the win in the 55th minute when James-Lewis scored his first goal for the Under-18 side. Calver was again involved on the right, crossing for Adeyinka to get the slightest touch into the midfielder's path. James-Lewis still had work to do with his back to goal, but he turned his marker before dispatching into the goal from 15 yards.
Adeyinka tested the goalkeeper from distance before Reynolds denied a U's forward with a brave last-ditch challenge after McDonald had managed to save an initial effort with his legs.
"Both central defenders played really well today; we think Duran has all the attributes to be a centre-half, and Ronnie Jones was also excellent," confirmed Duncan.
There were further chances in the final half-an-hour as Hazell's header was clawed away by the Colchester custodian, who then pushed out a long-range James-Lewis drive with Adeyinka blazing the rebound over the bar. Substitute Kyle Asante also forced the 'keeper into a smart save to his left.
An unsavoury incident occurred seven minutes from the end as a U's defender shoved Ricky Byrne in the face, earning him a yellow card, but Blues maintained their discipline and concentration to complete a well-earned success. The win lifts them above their opposition with three matches in hand following a number of recent postponements.
Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Ricky Byrne, Ronnie Jones, Duran Reynolds, Jack Morris; Marcus Milner (Jamie Dennis 76), Merrick James-Lewis, Davis Abbey, Justin Hazell (Kyle Asante 70); Craig Calver (Harry Crawford 84), Tashan Adeyinka. Sub not used: Medi Abalimba.
Goals: Reynolds (21), Calver (48), James-Lewis (55).