Brentford U18's 1 Southend United U18's 2
Report by Mark O'Keefe and Robert Craven

Southend United's Under-18 completed their season with a 2-1 victory at Brentford, leaving the Blues in a respectable mid-table position after a seven-match unbeaten run.

Perhaps, after finishing fourth in 2005/6 and second in 2006/7, boss Ricky Duncan will be a little disappointed by Blues' League placing in the South-East Conference of the Football League Youth Alliance, but that is sure to be tempered by the historic run to the last sixteen of the F.A. Youth Cup and the professional contract offered to Johnny Herd, as well as the development deals awarded to Jamie Forshaw, Rhys Henry, James Lindie and Luke Thurlbourne.

The unbeaten sequence at the end of the campaign has seen many of the club's second-year scholars return from spells on work experience, but at the same time, the likes of Stuart O'Keefe and Ronnie Jones, who scored the goals in the weekend win, can also look back having made excellent strides this season. Fellow first-year scholars Nathan McDonald and Jack Morris have also ended the term strongly.

An entertaining fixture under beautiful spring skies began with McDonald being tested by an early effort from the hosts, although Southend's shotstopper barely had to move to make a simple save.

Forshaw, playing on the left-hand side of midfield, then arrowed a shot straight at the goalkeeper before O'Keefe and Henry linked up to set the former Scotland Under-16s trialist away again, with the winger's effort again fired too close to the custodian.

Davis Abbey and Medi Abalimba, two more of the 2008/9 crop, combined with the latter making the Bees goalkeeper to effect another save, whilst Morris and Forshaw's partnership on the left handed Lindie the chance to hit a powerful shot goalwards. Unfortunately, his effort was gathered at the second attempt by the 'keeper.

The opening goal finally arrived just after the half-hour mark. Dan Harvey found O'Keefe on the right, and the midfielder exchanged passes with Lindie on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce shot with his left-foot that bounced off of the underside of the crossbar and into the net to hand Southend the lead.

Henry could have added a second five minutes later with a free-kick that missed its target by inches, and at the break, Brentford decided to test another goalkeeper and change to a 4-3-3 formation in an attempt to tame the visitors.

The Bees posed a more physical threat in the second period, and again McDonald had to be on his toes to keep out an early shot. Duncan responded by bringing on Marcus, a trialist from Leicester City who had featured in the win over Colchester, for Forshaw, with Henry dropping into a more withdrawn role.

McDonald made another decent save from a long-distance attempt before Brentford's custodian dived at Lindie's feet to stop him converting O'Keefe's through-ball, but the homesters did find an equaliser with 18 minutes remaining.

A more robust second half display from the Bees meant that Blues enjoyed less time on the ball, and it was a hurried and mis-hit clearance from David Obaze that led to the leveller, the grateful Brentford youngster evading two challenges before driving the ball across McDonald into the corner of the goal.

Southend rode the storm, and inside the final ten minutes deservedly edged back in front. The visitors had been the recipients of a number of free-kicks, and Harvey's final delivery hit the far upright and bounced out to Jones, who reacted quickest to turn the ball home in clinical fashion.

Brentford saw a header ruled out for offside and Obaze had a nervous wait as his header struck the base of his own post as he attempted to clear, but Southend held firm to take the three points. The squad will now regroup over the summer, with some additions from the Under-16 side, ahead of further progression next season.

Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Dan Harvey, Ronnie Jones, Dave Obaze, Jack Morris; Stuart O'Keefe, Medi Abalimba, Davis Abbey, Jamie Forshaw (Marcus 50), James Lindie, Rhys Henry (Ade Osifuwa 60).

Subs not used: Fredrik Ljungström, Tashan Adeyinka, Gordon Rieck.