League
Hazell had been the fulcrum of much of the Shrimpers' attacking intent but, even after he was harshly sent off following a collision with a Luton defender on the halfway line five minutes before the interval, his team fought hard to push the Hatters all the way.
United again gave an opportunity to trialist Kamahl Wright up front whilst Tottenham Hotspur youngster Coskun Ekim was introduced as a substitute, just as he had been in Tuesday's reserve team outing at Northampton Town. Callum Whittaker gave a typically wholehearted display at the heart of the Blues backline, despite learning this week that he would not be offered a contract to stay with the club into 2010/11.
Luton threatened first in the third minute as their centre-forward was presented with an excellent chance to beat Luke Chambers in the Southend goal. Chambers advanced off of his goal-line to meet the front-man and managed to get a firm hand to the shot, with young right-back Anthony Furlong scampering back to clear as the ball dribbled goalwards.
Despite that early threat from the visitors, it was the Shrimpers who generally made a bright start to the game and they responded quickly when Julian Okai flicked the ball into the path of Marcus Milner. Having been put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Milner could not keep his shot down and it sailed wildly over the crossbar.
Hazell went even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute when he connected with Jamie Dennis' near-post corner. The winger's nonchalant flick hit the inside of the left-hand upright but fell excruciatingly the wrong side of the goal-line and dropped into the 'keeper's hands.
Milner then curled over from 25 yards after being set up by Wright's cushioned touch, but it was Town who took the lead after 27 minutes. The Hatters' powerful forward was put clean through on the edge of the Blues box and this time he made no mistake, driving the ball into the bottom left-hand corner despite Chambers again getting an outstretched right hand to it.
For a brief period Southend were forced onto the back foot and they were almost caught out as Luton swept forward from a cleared Dennis corner, but Hazell tracked back quickly to block inside his own penalty area. Unfortunately, his determination to help his side backfired in the 40th minute when he committed to a challenge and raised his foot in an attempt to win a bouncing ball. His opponent stooped to head the ball and he connected with the Luton player's face, with the referee deeming this worthy of a red card.
Still the Shrimpers pushed forwards and Furlong released Milner's blistering pace on the right-hand side in first-half stoppage time. The striker sprinted past his marker but was denied a goal by a fine fingertip save.
The second period began with chances at either end; first Chambers clutched a rising ball prodded goalwards from point-blank range and then Milner looped a header over. The introduction of Duane Ofon-Acheampong almost paid immediate dividends when his towering knock-down helped Milner tee up Furlong, but the defender chipped his shot over.
Ricky Duncan employed an adventurous 3-4-2 formation and forward pairing Ofon-Acheampong and Wright combined to set up Okai, whose deflected shot was well-saved by the 'keeper.
The duo were not to be denied, though and, in the 65th minute, Southend deservedly levelled. Ofon-Acheampong won the ball on the left-hand side and galloped down the flank before spotting Wright at the far post and the ex-Derby County trainee slid the ball low into the right-hand corner to open his Shrimpers goalscoring account.
Chambers was forced to make a further smart save at his near post, but the custodian's opposite number was now being over-worked as he produced a further good stop from Okai after industrious work by Ekim on the right wing.
James Stevens flashed a left-footed shot over soon after being brought on as an 80th minute substitute, but Luton were slowly looking more dangerous and Teddy Nesbitt made up good ground to deflect a shot out for a corner six minutes from time. However, luckless Blues were undone from the flag-kick as Nesbitt nodded out to Town's forward, who smashed a shot into Furlong's back with the deflection deceiving Chambers, the former Arsenal youngster's flailing left hand only serving to push the ball into the roof of the net.
Even then there was a late chance for Wright to earn his team a point when Ekim's deep cross picked him out at the back post. Despite having time to select his spot from 15 yards, the forward fired high and wide in the fourth minute of stoppage time to bring a close to proceedings.
Southend United U18s: Luke Chambers; Anthony Furlong, Callum Whittaker, Adetayo Osifuwa (Duane Ofon-Acheampong 53), Teddy Nesbitt; Jamie Dennis (James Stevens 80), Merrick James-Lewis; Justin Hazell, Marcus Milner (Coskun Ekim 69), Julian Okai; Kamahl Wright.
Substitute not used: Alex Woodyard.
Goal: Wright (65).
Dismissed: Hazell (40 - serious foul play).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section, go here:
www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=10