Watford Reserves 1 Southend United Reserves 1
Report by Robert Craven
A spirited performance for Southend United's second-string earned them a point away to Watford in their latest totesport.com Football Combination match courtesy of Ronnie Jones' first-half header.
Both clubs fielded inexperienced line-ups owing to busy Football League campaigns, but that did not detract from an entertaining encounter. Both sides had chances to win, with Blues ending strongly and squandering two late headed opportunities to snatch all three points.
Ishmel Demontagnac was handed a trial with the Blues at Boreham Wood F.C.'s Meadow Park ground after unsuccessful periods with Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic. The former England Under-18 and Under-19 winger was sacked by Walsall in November following a series of serious breaches of club discipline.
It was United's defensive quartet who started the fixture in the spotlight, though, with Ade Osifuwa immediately recovering from a carelessly misplaced pass to execute a fine challenge on Lewis Young. Centre-back colleague Jones then tracked back well to block Young's effort from an acute angle out for a corner.
Blues' first sight of goal arrived on 12 minutes courtesy of Demontagnac, who received a short pass thirty yards from goal before sending a dipping shot hurtling over the crossbar.
A well-organised Southend back-line, together with a hard-working midfield - featuring Peggy Lokando alongside Stuart O'Keefe in the centre - ensured that Clark Masters' goal remained largely unthreatened until Jack Warburton brought a smart save from the ex-Brentford gloveman with a long-range strike just before the half-hour.
Southend were denied a penalty on 32 minutes when Harry Crawford turned Lokando's cross goalwards and Jordan Parkes appeared to block the shot with his hands with the referee waving away the visitors' appeals.
Masters had to be alert when Young threaded a precise pass into the path of Matty Whichelow down the inside-right channel. Despite the best efforts of Jones, who stayed tight to the pacy forward all the way into the area, Whichelow managed to fire a half-volley towards goal, where Masters gratefully clutched the ball to his chest.
With seven minutes left in the opening period, Blues took the lead. Crawford was involved initially, drawing a fingertip save from Watford goalkeeper Stuart Searle, who pushed the ball around the left-hand upright. From Marcus Milner's resultant inswinging corner, Jones rose at the near post to glance into the net.
The advantage lasted just four minutes as the hosts responded quickly. Young had curled a wicked free-kick past the post in an initial warning shot, and he was involved again on the right-hand side in the lead-up to the goal. The forward picked out Alex Cauna at the back post with a centre that flew along the six-yard box before a classy side-footed finish from the wide man ensured the ball was dispatched into the roof of the net.
Southend started the second period on the back foot, Osifuwa covering the near post to block Michael Bryan's low shot after a darting run into the penalty area.
Thereafter, despite an even spread of possession, it was the Seasiders that enjoyed a monopoly on chances created. Just after the hour mark, Ricky Byrne's corner was prodded into the six-yard box by Jones although, once that had been cleared, Masters had to be quick off of his goalline to claim at the feet of winger Cauna, who had travelled the length of the pitch.
O'Keefe went close to handing Blues the advantage again when his free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall and a strong follow-up effort from the rebound had to be held above his head by Searle.
The introduction of Jamie Forshaw and Justin Hazell out wide facilitated a switch into a centre-forward role for Demontagnac, who continued to work hard with little reward. Forshaw was soon involved in a flowing move that concluded with Hazell picking out O'Keefe. The 18-year-old, who made his first-team debut at Leeds United in January, only managed to direct his header over from just yards out.
In the final minute, O'Keefe initiated another sweeping raid into Hornets territory, passing to first-year scholar Hazell, who this time searched out Fredrik Ljungström. When the Swedish striker's sharp shot was pushed wide by Searle, Osifuwa arrived unmarked at the back post to connect with the flag-kick, although he too sent the ball skywards.
Eventually, both sides would have to be satisfied with a point on a cool Hertfordshire evening that contained plenty of positives for the on-looking first-team management duo of Steve Tilson and Paul Brush.
Southend United Res: Clark Masters; Ricky Byrne, Ronnie Jones, Adetayo Osifuwa, Johnny Herd; Marcus Milner (Justin Hazell 71), Peggy Lokando (Davis Abbey 82), Stuart O'Keefe, Ishmel Demontagnac; Fredrik Ljungström, Harry Crawford (Jamie Forshaw 71).
Subs not used: Nathan McDonald, Jack Morris.
