Away v Millwall - Friday 1st May 2009 | |
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With the Football League Youth Alliance South-East Conference title already sealed, the Shrimpers were unable to recapture the form that they showed throughout the campaign as they were brought firmly down to earth by a Millwall side fixed on securing second spot in the table.
"I don't want to make any excuses for the performance today, but these lads are really tired," Blues' Head of Youth Ricky Duncan explained. "Millwall are a good side, and they will be up there next season, but they had something to play for. It would've been different if we'd had that type of goal today - if we'd've needed a point, I'm convinced we would've got it."
"You only have to look at the way the players warmed down at the end of the match to see how tired they are - it has been a long hard season. In the end, after winning at Brighton on Saturday and Gillingham on Monday, this match was one game too far from them having already had a fantastic season and after winning the League."
"But there are still some positives. Julian Okai came in today for his first start in the Under-18s. He will be a first-year scholar next year, and I thought he was our best player in the first-half; he did really well. In the second-half, we introduced George Smith, who is another new scholar next season, and he looks like he can handle the game as well," the former Cambridge United youth team boss added.
Millwall took the lead in just the second minute of the match when a midfielder slammed home a left-wing cross, and they added to that lead in first-half stoppage time as a 25-yard free-kick was deflected past Nathan McDonald by the unfortunate Jamie Dennis.
Dennis had earlier gone closest himself for Southend with a set-piece of his own that smashed onto the top of the crossbar, and Blues improved after the interval as Duncan brought Harry Crawford, Marcus Milner and Smith into the team.
However, the Lions made sure of their victory with a third goal four minutes from the end as a forward was brought down by McDonald as he attempted to round the 'keeper, and the resultant spot-kick was lashed resoundingly into the top left-hand corner of the net.
During the dying stages, Crawford saw a low shot deflected past the far post, but it was not to be for Duncan's young charges, who claim the championship from three-time winners Queens Park Rangers after a simply stunning season.
"The team are disappointed, you could see that from the way they walked off, but they simply had nothing left in the tank. It is asking a lot of any team to come here on the back of two tough games earlier this week. There was just not enough spark, but they are only 17-year-old lads. The good thing is that they realised this, and they want to do better," Duncan concluded.
Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Jamie Dennis, Callum Whittaker, Duran Reynolds, Adetayo Osifuwa; Medi Abalimba, Davis Abbey, Merrick James-Lewis, Julian Okai (George Smith 64); Craig Calver (Harry Crawford 55), Kyle Asante (Marcus Milner 63).
Subs not used: John Owinja, Jack Paxman.
*With thanks to Phil Cox for additional match information