Southend United U18's 1 Peterborough United U18's 1
Report by Mark O'Keefe and Robert Craven
James Lindie returned from his spell on work experience at Harlow Town to grab an important equaliser as Southend United's Under-18 side stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.
The second-year scholar was on hand eleven minutes before half-time to score his tenth goal of the season for the club's youth team after Peterborough United had taken the lead midway through the first half on a cold day at Boots & Laces.
With Ricky Duncan away with the Centre of Excellence in Germany, Luke Hobbs took control of the Under-18s, who were again missing Johnny Herd, the left full-back travelling to Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road as part of the first-team squad. Centre-back Ricky Byrne was ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the 3-0 win over Barnet the previous weekend, allowing new 2008/9 first-year scholar Ade Osifuwa into the starting line-up.
Elsewhere, Durran Reynolds returned after his lay-off at left-back, allowing Jordan Yong, the left-footed trialist released by Norwich City, to move into midfield. The other two trialists, Michael Moon and Tom Miller, were not selected, whilst up front, Lindie partnered Tashan Adeyinka after Medi Abalimba arrived late at the ground. The match itself was delayed by fifteen minutes due to traffic problems on the M11.
Southend began brightly and enjoyed most of the possession in the opening stages, but had just two unthreatening Dan Harvey corners to show for their endeavours when Peterborough took the lead from their first flag-kick. A Peterborough forward raced onto the ball to nod home a perfectly executed header, leaving Nathan McDonald with no chance.
On 22 minutes, the Blues were only denied by a full-stretch save from the Posh goalkeeper. Stuart O'Keefe linked up with Harvey down the right flank before releasing Lindie, the front man crossing for Yong, whose well-struck shot was pushed away by the inspired custodian.
Just before the half-hour mark, it was McDonald's turn to make a heroic save, expertly tipping a powerful strike over the crossbar after David Obaze had misjudged the flight of the ball.
The visitors had managed to keep Blues at bay, the goalkeeper claiming a succession of centres from Jamie Forshaw - playing in a central midfield position - and O'Keefe, but he could do nothing with Lindie's excellent finish. The ex-Potters Bar Town youngster latched onto a mis-hit clearance and drove the ball hard into the corner of the net from his position inside the penalty area.
It could have been even better for Southend as they went in at half-time when Obaze connected with Harvey's deep corner kick, but his header across the face of goal rebounded off of the crossbar and was hacked to safety.
Hobbs withdrew Adeyinka at the interval, with Jack Morris coming on and first-year O'Keefe moving into a more central role as part of a 4-5-1 formation. Both sides played enterprising football although Southend had the better opportunities, and a Jamie Forshaw free-kick was deflected just past the post. From the resultant corner, Osifuwa's fine downward header was blocked to O'Keefe, whose low effort was again saved by the 'keeper.
Twenty minutes into the second period, Posh were forced to bring on their substitute custodian, but Blues again found a shotstopper in a miserly mood. Forshaw's fierce effort was blocked and Yong's follow-up could only be blasted over the bar, whilst O'Keefe's jinking run was ended when the 'keeper made a good save to his right.
At the other end, right-back Harvey did well to force a Peterborough forward into dragging his shot wide of goal when the away side launched a counter-attack five minutes from the end.
However, it was the Blues who ended the match the stronger, and Reynolds linked up with Morris, who deep cross was guided into the path of O'Keefe by Lindie's cushioned header, only for the midfielder to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.
Even inside the final minute, Lindie almost scored as he took the ball wide of the 'keeper, only for his nemesis to recover and block the shot out for a corner. Finally, the forward and O'Keefe combined to make space for substitute Dubi's thunderbolt from 20 yards, the shotstopper brilliantly turning the ball onto the crossbar.
Although the fixture ended level at 1-1, Southend are now playing with confidence, and will expect to test League leaders Queens Park Rangers at Boots & Laces in a rearranged match next Saturday.
Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Dan Harvey, David Obaze, Ade Osifuwa, Durran Reynolds; Stuart O'Keefe, Davis Abbey (Dubi 70), Jamie Forshaw, Jordan Yong; James Lindie, Tashan Adeyinka (Jack Morris 46).
Unused substitutes: Gordon Rieck, Fredrik Ljungström, Medi Abalimba.
Photo: Graham Bridgeman-Clarke
