Northampton Town Reserves 4 Southend United Reserves 0
Report by Rob Craven

Stuart O'Keefe's return from a hernia operation was the highlight for Southend United's reserve team as they suffered a 4-0 defeat at Northampton Town.

19-year-old O'Keefe has spent almost two months on the sidelines after aggravating the injury when appearing as a second-half substitute in the Coca-Cola League One fixture at Millwall, but he was able to complete 45 pain-free minutes before being replaced at half-time.

The Blues handed a place on the bench to Tottenham Hotspur youngster Coskun Ekim, a product of the Broadwater Farm project that also spawned former Blues' youngster Peggy Lokando, and the one-time London Youth Games 800m champion came on after 38 minutes when Osei Sankofa was injured in a clash of heads.

The match started at a frantic pace, with ex-Derry City front man Stephen O'Flynn almost catching Daniel Bentley off of his line with an audacious 45-yard lob within the opening sixty seconds. From the resultant corner, Julian Okai headed off of the line when Jean Yves M'Voto inadvertently directed Michael Jacobs' flag-kick goalwards.

M'Voto was involved again in the third minute as the Cobblers took the lead. The Sunderland loanee showed indecision inside the penalty box and was robbed by O'Flynn, who squared the ball to Steve Guinan for the 33-year-old to stroke into the bottom right-hand corner of the net from ten yards out.

The central defender was withdrawn in the 12th minute and replaced by first-year scholar Kane Ferdinand, who showed adeptness at the back to make a number of important interventions.

Northampton were a constant attacking threat throughout the game, and O'Flynn's header from a Courtney Herbert cross in the 13th minute looped narrowly wide of the right-hand upright. Herbert's pace on the right flank caused constant concern in the Blues back-line and a 30-yard drive after 21 minutes was parried out by Bentley, who quickly recovered to collect Gary Mulligan's follow-up.

There were few bright moments for the visitors, with O'Keefe's inventive passes from midfield failing to find the forward runs of Harry Crawford or Scott Spencer. At the other end, Guinan - a recent returnee from a hernia injury himself - should have doubled his tally midway through the first half when Jacobs' deflected shot fell into his path, but he stumbled and could not register a shot on target.

However, he did make it 2-0 eleven minutes before the break. The intelligent Jacobs was the provider, curling a left-wing corner to the back post, where Guinan leapt unopposed to nod down into the opposite corner of the goal.

Jacobs also chipped over and Bentley saved a long-range effort from Herbert either side of Southend's singular effort towards goal of the afternoon after Spencer had been tripped on the edge of the penalty area. O'Keefe stepped up and curled the free-kick right-footed just inches past the angle of post and crossbar in his final action of the match.

Blues were on the back foot from the beginning of the second half, and Guinan volleyed a Jacobs centre narrowly over the bar within two minutes of the restart. Ferdinand was called upon shortly afterwards to divert another Jacobs cross off of the boot of O'Flynn at the far post, but United conceded for a third time on 57 minutes.

Again Jacobs was the instigator as he both initiated a short-corner routine and received a return pass before sending a teasing cross towards the far post where ex-Cheltenham Town striker Guinan was waiting to poke the ball home and complete his hat-trick.

Bentley had to be alert a few minutes after the hour mark as he gathered Sebastian Harris' powerful header under the close attention of Mulligan, but the Blues were a further goal behind in the 65th minute. A mis-understanding between Ekim and Teddy Nesbitt resulted in Jacobs dribbling the ball into the area before unselfishly picking out O'Flynn at the back post for a simple finish.

O'Flynn then held off Ade Osifuwa before shooting off target but, despite some bullish runs from Crawford, there was to be no further goalmouth action as the fixture petered out in the spring sunshine.

Southend United Res: Daniel Bentley; Adetayo Osifuwa, Jean Yves M'Voto (Kane Ferdinand 12), Osei Sankofa (Coskun Ekim 38), Teddy Nesbitt; Marcus Milner, Merrick James-Lewis, Stuart O'Keefe (Alex Woodyard 46), Julian Okai; Scott Spencer, Harry Crawford.

Substitutes not used: Luke Chambers, Duane Ofon-Acheampong.