Colchester United U18's 1 Southend United U18's 2
Report by Robert Craven

Southend United's Under-18 side made it two wins from two at the start of the 2008/09 campaign as a brace from Craig Calver earned them a 2-1 victory at local rivals Colchester United.

Calver, a second-year scholar signed by Blues after an impressive trial period with the club, took his personal tally to three in two fixtures as he slotted home twice either side of an unfortunate own goal from Ronnie Jones.

Head of Youth Ricky Duncan made three changes to the team that defeated Millwall 2-0 on the opening day of the season as midfielder Stuart O'Keefe returned from his experience in the first-team squad to replace Medi Abalimba in midfield, whilst Harry Crawford and Calver were introduced in an attacking vein instead of Jack Morris and Tashan Adeyinka.

Former Ipswich Town scholar Calver was soon in action, drawing a save from U's stopper Shane Cusack in just the third minute, and shortly afterwards the forward had his name on the scoresheet. A long ball forwards was flicked on by Crawford on the edge of the penalty area, and Calver anticipated it's flight before calmly rounding Cusack and tapping into an unguarded net.

An impressive opening in oppressive conditions was almost undermined when Ben Griffiths' beautiful pass down the left flank for the hosts found Jordan Pavett, but he was denied by Nathan McDonald diving bravely at his feet.

Fellow front man Perry Sansford then prodded wide from Pavett's neat knock-down, though, as the half progressed, the Shrimpers again found themselves in the ascendancy.

Merrick James-Lewis, playing on the right-hand side of midfield with Marcus Milner in a more advanced role, slashed Ronnie Jones' pass wide of the left-hand upright on the half-hour, and a wonderful flowing move, instigated by interplay between James-Lewis and Milner, ended with O'Keefe drifting a cross onto the head of Calver, who planted his effort wide. Crawford also fired a stinging effort past the post in the closing stages.

Justin Hazell replaced Milner at the break, and despite the midfielder slipping Crawford in behind the U's defence in the early stages - the first-year seeing his goalbound attempt blocked by the legs of Cusack - Southend endured a tough opening to the second period.

The half had started with Sansford collecting Conor McCloskey's through-ball, McDonald advancing off of his line to spread himself well and block impressively, and right-back Kyelan Marvell was also allowed to carve a shot goalwards from the penalty area after an unobstructed run, Jones getting an important deflection to send the ball over the crossbar.

When the equaliser did arrive, it was the centre-half who was unfortunate to divert it past McDonald. Russell Malton was permitted the freedom to send a teasing cross towards the back post, and Jones headed low into his own net under pressure from substitute Michael Rafter.

The goal appeared to bring some urgency back into the Shrimpers' performance, and their reply was swift, Calver equalising on 72 minutes. The strike, chipped into the bottom right-hand corner by the forward from close range, came as a result of United swiftly turning defence into attack, O'Keefe sweeping the ball into the path of Crawford, whose low cross helped to register his second assist of the fixture.

Although the scoreline remained tight, Blues were able to maintain a high defensive line in the closing stages, with Crawford and Calver a dangerous double outlet in attack. United will be hoping to maintain their winning start to the campaign next Saturday, when they travel to Youth Alliance League newcomers Dagenham & Redbridge.

Southend United: Nathan McDonald; John Owinja, Ronnie Jones, Ade Osifuwa, Durran Reynolds (Callum Whittaker 76); Merrick James-Lewis (Jamie Dennis 59), Stuart O'Keefe, Davis Abbey; Craig Calver, Marcus Milner (Justin Hazell 46), Harry Crawford.

Subs not used: Tashan Adeyinka, Fredrik Ljungström.