Home v Aldershot Town - Saturday 5th September 2009 | |
 Cup Group 5 |
The young Shrimpers were missing no less than five players, with George Smith notably on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, where he featured in all three of the country's Syrenka International Under-17s Cup fixtures, helping to set up two goals in their 4-1 win over Romania on Friday.
Duran Reynolds, Adetayo Osifuwa, Merrick James-Lewis and Justin Hazell were also unavailable, but that did not stop Ricky Duncan's charges easily recording their third win in four competitive matches after goals in either half from Harry Crawford and trialist Dwayne Orach.
Aldershot, who had been defeated 6-2 and 5-2 last season by the rampant Shrimpers, arrived at Boots & Laces having lost all three of their League fixtures leading into the match. However, during the opening stages they showed that they have continued to make good strides as they adjust to life in the Football League Youth Alliance and they enjoyed a bright start. | |
It was the hosts who delivered the first shot of note on 12 minutes as Marcus Milner's cross was cushioned into the path of Crawford by Kyle Asante and the forward half-volleyed over the crossbar.
Chances were few and far between throughout the first half, although Julian Okai could count himself unfortunate not to net when he received the ball at the end of an excellent move which had started with Kane Ferdinand winning the ball in the right-back position. The ball was moved quickly from Crawford to Milner and then on to Asante, who picked out Okai with a fine cross, only for the winger's shot to be beaten away.
Asante wasted a good opportunity to score when he mis-kicked from Teddy Nesbitt's teasing cross and, after an Aldershot forward had nodded wide, Southend took the lead in the last minute of the half. Okai picked out Asante inside the area, and the Shrimpers skipper squared to Crawford, who slotted in joyfully from close range for his third goal of the campaign.
Jamie Stevens' snap-shot just after the interval heralded the beginning of a Southend onslaught which peaked around the hour mark. First Asante burst onto a through-ball, sliding his shot past the right-hand post before Crawford directed his header from a Nesbitt cross wide of the opposite upright.
Patient build-up play from Blues again went unrewarded as left-back Nesbitt crossed for Crawford, the former Tottenham Hotspur trainee setting up Asante, only for the striker to get the ball stuck in his feet, allowing a defender to clear the danger.
Daniel Bentley made a comfortable save from a long-range shot at one end whilst United continued to open up the Aldershot defence, Crawford glancing a header from an Okai free-kick just off-target.
Jamie Dennis, the goalkeeping hero of the previous week's success at Gillingham, was introduced with 25 minutes remaining, and he almost made a quick impact when he swept home Stevens' corner, only for the referee to rule out the strike for a foul on the Shots' custodian.
Stevens himself was unlucky as he rifled a 20-yard free-kick against the angle of post and bar, whilst Orachi and Asante were both denied ten minutes from time, the trialist by a brave defender and Asante by the goalkeeper, who flung himself to his left to save.
Southend did not have to wait any longer to score their second as they netted from the ensuing flag-kick. Again it was Stevens who provided the pinpoint delivery, and Orachi, playing his second home match as a trialist, powered a header into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
A low shot from an Aldershot forward was watched onto the outside of a post by Bentley before Southend twice worked the visiting shotstopper in the dying minutes, Dennis' effort one-on-one being touched round the post and Asante rifling a shot that was tipped away.
Blues will now look to build on this result as they travel to Bisham Abbey to tackle Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Southend United U18s: Daniel Bentley; John Owinja, Kane Ferdinand, Callum Whittaker, Teddy Nesbitt; Marcus Milner, James Stevens (Jack Paxman 90), Alex Woodyard (Jamie Dennis 65); Julian Okai; Harry Crawford (Dwayne Orachi 74); Kyle Asante.
Goals: Crawford (45), Orachi (80).
Booked: Crawford (56 - dissent), Stevens (74 - foul tackle), Asante (89 - unsporting behaviour).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, to read all the latest updates of the Blues youth teams throughout the season go here:
www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/default.asp?page_id=311