 The Shrimpers swapped places with Colchester at the top of the South-East Conference table after this victory, which was earned after a fixture of the highest quality in extremely blustery conditions.
Unfortunately, during stoppage time, both Crawford and substitute Duane Ofon-Acheampong were sent off along with a Colchester defender to temper the side's celebrations.
James Stevens was brought into the centre of midfield for Teddy Nesbitt in the only change from the 3-3 draw at Leyton Orient a week earlier with Merrick James-Lewis moving out to the left-hand side. George Smith dropped back into the middle, allowing the pacy Milner to partner Crawford up front with regular forward Kyle Asante again involved in the first-team squad.
Southend made a bright start as Crawford was just unable to convert Stevens' swinging free-kick in the fourth minute, but the visitors were a threat on the counter-attack and an early opportunity saw Callum Whittaker make a good block.
With the wind gusting, both teams kept the ball on the ground although Colchester's left-back used conditions to his advantage with a swirling effort from forty yards that Daniel Bentley was forced to watch carefully before claiming above his head.
Bentley also made a smart save when a visiting forward connected with a fierce half-volley at the back-post, whilst Southend were restricted to long-range efforts from Stevens and Dennis.
However, during the final quarter-of-an-hour of the first half, the speed of the game picked up and, for a period, play switched rapidly from end to end. A fine flowing move for the homesters concluded with Dennis teeing up Smith, who set himself before a curling 20-yard shot was tipped over the crossbar. From the ensuing Stevens corner, Duran Reynolds' powerful header was blocked and Milner slashed wildly past the post.
Colchester's left-winger was denied by Bentley, who parried out a shot at the near post before Reynolds helped the clearance on and, shortly afterwards, a further foray saw Whittaker force a striker wide to deny him a clear sight of goal.
Dennis was then thwarted when the goalkeeper dived at his feet after the midfielder had skipped a challenge on the right, but Southend's pressure would eventually tell in the 42nd minute.
Stevens threw himself into a tackle just inside his own half, winning the ball and finding Smith. The midfielder then sent Milner clear with a well-weighted pass and the second-year scholar converted his second career goal for the Under-18s with a well-taken effort from 18 yards.
Within 75 seconds, the Shrimpers had doubled their advantage. James-Lewis centred for Smith at the near post and the Republic of Ireland Under-17 international chipped the ball to the back post, where Crawford controlled instantly before firing his third goal in four matches between the goalkeeper and a defender.
A free-kick on the edge of the penalty area was deflected over by Reynolds in the final minute of a pulsating half and, if the second did not match the first for chances, it did for skill levels.
This time it was the Blues backline that had an opportunity to showcase their talent with John Owinja, Ade Osifuwa, Reynolds and Whittaker all helping Bentley in an impressive display whenever Colchester broke forward. Southend enjoyed a great deal of possession and kept the ball across the team.
However, one moment of hesitation in the 67th minute gave Colchester the chance to reduce the arrears. A ball down the left-hand side saw Bentley consider coming off of his line and, after electing to stay on his line, a forward raced away before squaring to an onrushing team-mate to tap in and make it 2-1.
A slip from Reynolds necessitated a well-timed sliding challenge from Osifuwa to stop another front man from galloping away ten minutes from the end and, from the resultant throw-in, Bentley stooped down to claim an overhead bicycle kick.
The Shrimpers shotstopper continued to scoop up any crosses into the penalty area as the clock ran down, although the hosts' ability to maintain their lead was threatened when Crawford was sent off for a second cautionable offence within six minutes during stoppage time.
Then, in the third minute of injury time, as a free-kick was set to be delivered into the penalty area, a further scuffle saw Ofon-Acheampong and the U's central defender picked out and dismissed for violent conduct. Blues held on with nine men to record an impressive win ahead of next week's trip to Aldershot Town.
Southend United U18s: Daniel Bentley; John Owinja, Callum Whittaker, Duran Reynolds, Adetayo Osifuwa; Jamie Dennis, James Stevens (Kane Ferdinand 90+5), George Smith (Alex Woodyard 89), Merrick James-Lewis; Marcus Milner (Duane Ofon-Acheampong 88), Harry Crawford.
Substitute not used: Akim.
Goals: Milner (42), Crawford (44).
Cautions: James-Lewis (81 - dissent), Crawford (85 - adopting an aggressive attitude; 90+1 - dissent).
Dismissals: Crawford (90+1 - second cautionable offence), Ofon-Acheampong (90+3 - violent conduct). |
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