Colchester United 1 Southend United 5
Played at Boots and Laces

Southend United's Under-18s put in a five-star performance to defeat their Colchester United counterparts in a fixture switched to the Blues' Boots & Laces training ground.

Colchester may have had more important youth team fixtures in mind when they made their second trip to southeast Essex of the season - the U's lined up against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday in the Youth Alliance Cup Southern Final - but their 5-1 thumping was indicative of the improvement in Ricky Duncan's teenagers as they approach the end of the campaign.

During December, Blues' Youths reached the nadir of their season when they were defeated 4-1 by Colchester at the same venue but, a mere four months later, they were given a lesson in attacking football as the Southend quartet of Jamie Forshaw, Rhys Henry, James Lindie and Stuart O'Keefe turned on the style.

O'Keefe was one of four first-year scholars in the side, with Medi Abalimba still eligible for the Under-16s this term, and his pass inside the first minute put Henry clear. The forward, who has spent the past month on work experience at Harlow Town, sent the ball narrowly past the post.

Just two minutes later, Southend were in front. O'Keefe sent Lindie through on goal, and the front man, who has also enjoyed time with the Ryman League Premier Division club, cut the ball back to Forshaw, who met it with a decisive and confident finish.

O'Keefe was then twice denied by the U's goalkeeper, riding two challenges on the edge of the penalty area before sending his shot into the custodian's grateful gloves before Dan Harvey threaded the ball into the midfielder's path, only for the 'keeper to make a fine save.

Colchester almost equalised, but Nathan McDonald's outstretched hand turned a strong shot onto the crossbar and David Obaze hacked clear. That save allowed the hosts to double their own advantage, an excellent passing move eventually leading to Harvey crossing for Lindie at the near post. The striker's shot was clinical; firing low to the goalkeeper's left.

With Blues' next attack, they were handed a penalty kick. Henry collected a mis-hit clearance and was brought down as he attempted to get around the shotstopper. Having dusted himself down, Henry took the kick himself, and although his initial effort was parried out, the confident attacker swept home the rebound.

Just after the half-hour mark, a raking O'Keefe ball picked out Lindie, with the second-year scholar, who has been handed a one-year development contract for 2008/9, making no mistake from besides the penalty spot.

A breathless first period was concluded with Henry smashing Forshaw's centre over the crossbar, although it was too much to ask for the performance to be completely replicated in the second period.

Marcus, a trialist from Leicester City, replaced Lindie five minutes into the half, but it was the visitors who posed the initial goal threat, reducing their arrears to 4-1 shortly afterwards when a high finish eluded McDonald to his right.

Colchester had their best spell of pressure, but Obaze and Gordon Rieck held firm at the back, and when their defence was penetrated, a high lob bounced on the top of the bar and out behind the goal.

Slowly, Blues regained control, and substitute Tashan Adeyinka repaired the four-goal lead a little over 10 minutes from the end as he tapped home O'Keefe's splendid hanging cross. The final seconds saw O'Keefe free Harvey, but Colchester's bedraggled goalkeeper dived at the right-back's feet to avert a sixth goal.

Southend now find themselves in a respectable mid-table position after rebuilding their season following their historic F.A. Youth Cup exploits, and will look to conclude the year in style by extending their unbeaten run to seven matches when they travel to Brentford on Saturday.

Southend United: Nathan McDonald; Dan Harvey, David Obaze, Gordon Rieck, Jack Morris; Stuart O'Keefe, Medi Abalimba, Davis Abbey, Jamie Forshaw (Tashan Adeyinka 77); Rhys Henry (Fredrik Ljungström 64), James Lindie (Marcus 50).

Subs not used: Durran Reynolds, Ade Osifuwa