Stevens has marked his last three appearances with stunning strikes, and the stand-in captain has now contributed eight goals in an identical number of games from the centre of the park. On this occasion, his fourth-minute effort provided Ricky Duncan's team with a seventh win in eight matches from their final outing before travelling to Liverpool in the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup.
Luke Chambers continued in goal as second-year scholar Daniel Bentley was allowed to join Blue Square Bet South club Braintree Town as goalkeeping cover, with Duncan later explaining: "Braintree asked us for a favour as Nathan McDonald has picked up an injury, and it will be a good experience for Dan to play at a club that are top of Conference South. He will just play the one match for them, and he'll be back in our squad for the match at Anfield."
Under-16 central defender Michael Hassini was drafted in to replace Dominic Iorfa, who picked up a knock against Leyton Orient, whilst the only other change to the starting eleven saw Hicham Abdellah restored to the team in place of Lyle Della-Verde.
With the wind behind them in the first half at the May & Baker Sports Ground in Dagenham, Blues took the lead after just three minutes. Julian Okai and George Smith worked a short corner routine on the right before Okai picked out Stevens on the edge of the 'D', and the midfielder slammed a ferocious shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Within seconds Dagenham's Adam Gemili had brought a fine save out of Chambers as the custodian sprawled to his right to touch a strong shot into the side-netting, but Southend largely dominated the first half both territorially and in terms of possession.
Smith set up Okai for a volleyed effort in the eighth minute that was directed narrowly wide of the right-hand upright, and debutant Hassini was unable to generate enough pace on a side-footed attempt from an Okai corner to trouble the goalkeeper shortly afterwards.
Alex Woodyard saw a penalty appeal for handball waved away when his well-struck shot was blocked by Gemili at close-range, and the second-year was even more unfortunate just after the half-hour mark when good work from Smith and Abdellah engineered a chance for him ten yards out. Woodyard delivered a goalbound left-footed shot that beat the 'keeper, but unluckily bounced out after inadvertently hitting forward Duane Ofori-Acheampong on the goalline.
Southend's pressure was temporarily broken up by Jay Nash's 34th-minute breakaway, but the bustling front man was unable to trouble Chambers as left-back Teddy Nesbitt got back to effect an excellent sliding challenge.
The half ended with Ofori-Acheampong's powerful run releasing Okai for a rising shot in the last minute, although the diminutive winger saw the ball fly inches over the crossbar and the Shrimpers were left to rue a succession of over-hit passes and crosses.
Predictably, the second half followed a rather different pattern as Blues were forced to hold onto their one-goal advantage into the face of the gusting wind.
Despite Tom Davie sending an early shot into the gloves of Chambers, it did not appear necessarily that this would be the case as first Ofori-Acheampong fired over and then Smith was sent clear by Anthony Furlonge, only for the 'keeper to come out and force the Republic of Ireland Under-18 international too wide to shoot.
From the ensuing goal-kick, Chambers had to make a fine strong-wristed block to deny Nash as he galloped away from the defence, although the 'keeper was later indebted to substitute Michael Hyland and Hassini for closing down Billy Densham after fluffing a free-kick into the striker's path.
Former Derby County and Arsenal youngster Chambers returned to form midway through the second half as he again pushed out a fierce effort, this time from a Dagenham substitute, before Densham smashed the rebound over.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Chambers made a smart save from Nash, who had taken the ball to an acute angle after being put through by the marauding Gemili, but his finest moment came in the 83rd minute as he somehow managed to turn away a thunderous shot from 12 yards out having only just had time to leap to his right.
Daggers' replacement Tony Jacobs side-footed the last shot of the match wide of the right-hand upright from a good position and Southend saw out a couple of late corners before the final whistle sounded on a had-working performance.
"It was scrappy, but we got a good win," remarked Duncan. "I told the lads before the game that it was going to be windy, and the pitch wouldn't be that good, and that's just how it turned out. We had to scrap for the win, but we got it in the end."
Southend United: Luke Chambers, Ryan Auger (Michael Hyland 46), Teddy Nesbitt, James Stevens, Michael Hassini, Anthony Furlonge, Hicham Abdellah (Jack Paxman 90+2), Alex Woodyard (Lyle Della-Verde 82), Duane Ofori-Acheampong, George Smith, Julian Okai.
Substitute not used: Fope Coker.
Goal: Stevens (4).
League