"I will score, honest, I will, just stop picking on me with childish captions like this"
Dean Austin returned to Cherrywood Road as he led a Southend United XI against Farnborough, with the Shrimpers going down by just a single goal to nil.
Austin, now United's Reserve Team coach, managed Farnborough Town in the Football Conference before the club reformed after administration. The Hampshire outfit won promotion from the BGB Southern League South & West Division last season, and will tackle the Premier Division with a number of players who have played in the Football League, including former Torquay United captain David Woozley and ex-Hartlepool United forward Marcus Richardson.
Blues were not without experienced heads of their own, but front men Alex Revell and Richie Foran had contrasting fortunes. Revell completed 90 minutes as he seeks to prove his fitness ahead of the Coca-Cola League One curtain-raiser against Peterborough United on Saturday, whilst Foran limped out of action just minutes before half-time.
Indeed, it was 25-year-old Revell who came closest to scoring for Southend inside the opening two minutes. He had just exchanged passes with Charles Ademeno when the youngster was brought down in firing a shot at goalkeeper Lyall Beazley, and the former Brighton & Hove Albion forward stepped up to smash the ensuing free-kick against the top of the crossbar.
United, who named trialist Willie Fonja in the centre of midfield, were indebted to young centre-half Callum Whittaker when he headed away from danger after custodian Ian Joyce had failed to stop Michael Barima's run, and then the shotstopper himself as he tipped Rob Saunders' swinging free-kick over.
Ademeno proved a relentless runner, and a left-wing cross was headed into the path of Foran by Revell just before the half-hour mark. The Irishman angled his aerial effort goalwards, but Woozley was positioned on the left-hand upright to clear the danger.
Despite that opportunity, Farnborough enjoyed a good spell in the twenty minutes leading up to half-time, with Joyce making smart saves from Richardson and the dangerous Saunders, who also lobbed onto the roof of the American's net. The final action of the opening period saw skipper Johnny Herd shepherd Connor Hamilton away from goal to an acute angle, from which the midfielder could only direct his shot onto the outside of a post.
Although Foran had departed, Southend approached the second half with vigour, and Revell was unfortunate when his fine cross was devalued by a lack of attacking blue shirts in the penalty area. Stuart O'Keefe then swung a delivery to the back post, where Ademeno disappointingly nodded wide.
The one-time Bishop's Stortford loanee then turned provider, sending a low centre into the six-yard box, with Revell's merest of touches after a desperate lunge barely a yard from goal only sufficient to deflect the ball inches past the post.
Southend were served a warning when Ian Oliver's cross was powered over the bar from close range by Barima and, on 72 minutes, a similar situation, this time with Darren Wheeler's ball in from the left, saw the home team score the decisive goal, substitute Mark Gamble connecting with a bullet header into the bottom left-hand corner.
Both teams made a succession of changes, with Blues introducing Ipswich Town scholar Craig Calver for the final six minutes, but it was Farnborough who coped better. Ade Osifuwa effected a fine block to deny the unfortunate Saunders before subs Gamble and Michael-Lee Charles flashed efforts narrowly off-target.
Austin will have learnt much about the club's youngsters' suitability to step up to reserve team football, with Osifuwa and Whittaker impressing as a youthful centre-back pairing. He will also have been pleased with the progress of Revell and the determination of Herd and Ademeno in a bright overall display.
Southend United XI: Ian Joyce; Jamie Forshaw (John Awinja 66), Ade Osifuwa, Callum Whittaker, Johnny Herd (Duran Reynolds 84); Stuart O'Keefe, Willie Fonja (Medi Abalimba 53), Peggy Lokando, Charles Ademeno (Craig Calver 84); Richie Foran (James Lindie 44), Alex Revell. Unused substitute: Nathan McDonald.