Stevenage Borough Reserves 1 Southend United Reserves 1
Report by Rob Craven

Southend United's second-string concluded their 2009/10 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Stevenage Borough as George Smith's first-minute strike was cancelled out by Nikolas Salapatas' second half free-kick.

Smith opened the scoring after just 35 seconds, and such was Blues' dominance that they twice hit the woodwork as well as consistently threatening Charlie Crowley's goal. However, a combination of fine goalkeeping and robust defending kept them out, allowing Salapatas to set up an anxious final fifteen minutes.

There were two changes to the team that lost 3-1 at Luton Town seven days earlier, but the side retained its youthful feel as Ade Osifuwa replaced Kane Ferdinand at right-back and Republic of Ireland Under-17 international Smith came in for trialist Coskun Ekim.

The first-year scholar made an instant impression in his role just behind front man Duane Ofon-Acheampong as he put the Blues in front within a minute. Having controlled a high ball in midfield, Smith advanced into the penalty box and, with the Stevenage defence standing off him, directed a sumptuous low strike inside the right-hand post.

Borough's response was swift as Jack Cornhill chipped a 20-yad shot past Daniel Bentley, only to see it bounce back off of the left-hand upright with Anthony Jack smashing the rebound high over the crossbar.

At the other end, Teddy Nesbitt and Smith exchanged passes on the edge of the penalty area, the left-back eventually cutting the ball back for Marcus Milner, who saw a fierce effort well blocked by Ali Birri. From the resultant Julian Okai corner, captain Merrick James-Lewis side-footed over from 12 yards out.

Bentley parried out a Jordan Pavett drive but by now, with Milner particularly effective on the right flank, Southend were looking especially dangerous. The wide-man served notice of his intent with a pacy run to the bye-line before pulling the ball back for Alex Woodyard at the back post, but the midfielder could only find the side-netting with his shot.

Opposite flanker Okai then went close as Smith teed him up 25 yards out and his effort flew inches past the post before the diminutive winger centred James-Lewis' quickly-taken free-kick for Milner, who again fired narrowly off-target.

With two minutes remaining in the first half, Bentley parried James Dobson's dipping shot into the path of Pavett but, despite the Colchester United work experience forward sweeping the ball in after smashing against the underside of the bar, the effort was ruled out for offside.

The prominent Milner closed the half by again bringing out a block from Crowley, who sprung to his feet speedily to turn Okai's wicked follow-up away from goal.

After the break, there was a slight lull in action before Ofon-Acheampong climbed to head a Milner free-kick over on 57 minutes. Shortly after the hour mark, Pavett fired a shot across the face of goal from an acute angle, but it was still largely the visitors who looked more likely to score.

Indeed, Okai should have done better when James-Lewis lofted the ball over the defence to him at the back post, but the teenager crashed his shot against the base of the left-hand post. James-Lewis himself then found himself cursing the woodwork as his 30-yard half-volley shaved the opposite upright.

When James-Lewis had a header hacked off of the goal-line 18 minutes from the end, he must have sensed that it was not to be his day, and Stevenage's equaliser followed shortly afterwards. Salapatas lined up a set-piece 25 yards out and found the top left-hand corner with a superb curling effort past Bentley.

That instigated a nervy conclusion for Ricky Duncan's team as first Chace O'Neill angled a skimming shot wide from distance and then Pavett's towering header floated over. Bentley also made a good save from Salapatas, but Blues' back-line held firm to claim a point from their final fixture of the season.

Southend United Res: Daniel Bentley; Adetayo Osifuwa, Callum Whittaker, Duran Reynolds, Teddy Nesbitt; Merrick James-Lewis, Alex Woodyard (Kane Ferdinand 78); Marcus Milner (Anthony Furlonge 75), George Smith (Michael Hyland 78), Julian Okai; Duane Ofon-Acheampong.

Substitutes not used: Luke Chambers, Louis Baucutt.