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Ricky Duncan's charges travel to the Netherlands for a short tour encompassing a fixture with AZ Alkmaar this week after an impressive display in what has become their traditional pre-season curtain-raiser at the Addicks' training ground in New Eltham. The match was split into three half-hour sessions as the two clubs gently eased themselves into action under a sweltering sun in southeast London with numerous substitutions failing to detract from the quality of football on offer. Blues fielded eight second-year scholars during a first period that saw the visitors retain possession for long spells. Their first opportunity arrived in the seventh minute when Stevens' raking pass to the left earned a corner and Fope Coker delivered an inswinger that Anthony Furlonge headed into the gloves of the Charlton goalkeeper. Furlonge looked classy on the ball and continually strove to drive the Shrimpers forward from right-back with his 13th-minute skidding through-ball just eluding the onrushing George Smith and Julian Okai. However, that pair soon combined to offer midfielder Stevens the chance to give Southend the lead. Republic of Ireland Under-17 international Smith played a one-two with Okai before finding Duane Ofon-Acheampong and the tall centre-forward was brought to the ground inside the penalty area. Stevens stepped up confidently to slam the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Ofon-Acheampong proved to be a handful for the Charlton back-line, and he held the ball up to good effect before passing to Stevens, whose lofted pass was controlled by Smith. Unfortunately for the lively attacking midfielder, his touch was little heavy and he was eventually crowded out. In the 20th minute, Kane Ferdinand brought the ball out of defence before picking out the run of winger Okai, with the diminutive wide-man desperately unlucky to see his shot fly inches past the upright. At the other end, an Addicks midfielder fired wide from 25 yards out as Blues' defensive unit held firm to restrict the hosts' chances. The middle period saw seven changes as a number of first-years were introduced to the fray, but despite the lack of experience on the pitch Blues continued to keep the ball well. Full-back Ryan Auger was a threat going forward and his swinging centre from the right flank saw Ofon-Acheampong head meekly at the Charlton custodian. United's substitute stopper, Luke Chambers, was brought into action to clasp a low close-range snapshot at his near post, whilst at the other end Coker was unlucky when his curling effort went narrowly over after a jinking run inside off of the left wing. More changes ensued and the Shrimpers momentarily lost their focus at the beginning of the final third. Chambers held a strong 30-yard shot impressively within three minutes of the restart, but he was beaten by the same player on 66 minutes when a Charlton full-back was allowed to get down the left-hand side and cross dangerously. The eventual shot, delivered on the turn, was drilled inside the far post from twelve yards out. The Addicks continued to press, with Chambers pushing an overhead kick to safety and then holding onto a long-range stinger before finally tipping over a 20-yard effort whilst flinging himself to his left. Despite that, Southend could have snatched a win as they came back strongly in the last five minutes. Okai's header from another pinpoint Auger cross hit a defender in the 86th minute and, two minutes later, Alex Woodyard's flick-on was lobbed goalwards first-time by Smith with the outside of his right boot, only for the 'keeper to back-peddle and save. Then, as the final whistle approached, Smith centred for Okai, whose shot had the pace taken out of it by a deflection and represented a comfortable save for the goalkeeper. Nonetheless, Head of Youth Duncan was pleased with his side's work-rate and enthusiasm ahead of the upcoming youth team tournament at Roots Hall and the new season beyond. Southend United (first third): Daniel Bentley; Anthony Furlonge, Kane Ferdinand, Louis Baucutt, Teddy Nesbitt; Fope Coker, James Stevens, Alex Woodyard, Julian Okai; George Smith; Duane Ofon-Acheampong. (second third): Bentley (Luke Chambers 46); Ryan Auger, Furlonge, Ferdinand, Baucutt (Nesbitt 46); Rhys Mackay, Michael Hyland, Jack Paxman (Stevens 58), Okai (Coker 49); Hicham Abdellah; Ofon-Acheampong. (final third): Chambers; Auger, Ferdinand (Furlonge 75), Baucutt, Nesbitt; Mackay (Ferdinand 81), Stevens (Hyland 75), Woodyard, Coker (Okai 75); Smith; Abdellah. |
James Stevens' early penalty helped to earn Southend United's Under-18 side a 1-1 draw at Academy club Charlton Athletic in their first pre-season friendly before the 2010/11 season.