Southend United U18's 2 Queens Park Rangers U18's 1
Report by Robert Craven
Photos by Graham Bridgeman-Clarke
Southend United's Under-18 team produced an excellent performance to defeat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Boots & Laces and move above their title rivals on goal difference.
Ricky Duncan's side put the two late goals conceded at Barnet and Peterborough United behind them as Craig Calver netted an 83rd minute winner to secure a second victory over the Hoops this season.
Whilst the 5-3 Youth Alliance Cup success showcased the Blues' attacking prowess, this time it was their defensive attributes that came to the fore as the hosts kept Rangers' dangerous three-pronged front-line at bay for long periods.
The displays from all four individuals in the back-line was all the more impressive since the quartet comprised entirely of first-year scholars, with Jamie Dennis in an unfamiliar right-back role and Ade Osifuwa on the left. The other changes from the 1-1 draw at Peterborough saw Medi Abalimba return after an impressive game for the reserves in midweek and Harry Crawford recover from concussion to partner Calver up front.
Abalimba shot wide after four minutes, but generally it was the visitors who threatened the goal more often during the first half. Within the space of two minutes, a forward hooked over the crossbar whilst swivelling onto a cross from the right-hand side and Josh Parker half-volleyed past the far post from close range.
There was an opportunity for Southend when Calver found Crawford 25 yards out from Merrick James-Lewis' chipped ball down the left flank. The former Tottenham Hotspur trainee sent a low drive that seemed destined to nestle just inside the right-hand post before the QPR goalkeeper produced a fine fingertip save at full-stretch to turn it behind.
Midway through the half, Nathan McDonald was drawn into a stunning save at his near post when a forward delivered a snap-shot from the corner of the six-yard box before he had a rather more simple stop to make when Callum Whittaker atoned for an earlier error by taking the sting out of a fierce effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Blues grew in confidence as the first period progressed and Justin Hazell headed Dennis' corner wide at the far post. Calver was then unfortunate when he latched onto Abalimba's sweeping ball over the top and could only find a weak finish as a Rangers defender appeared to catch him from behind. The referee waved away the second-year scholar's frantic appeals for a penalty.
As the interval approached, McDonald summoned another magnificent save at point-blank range after a midfielder burst through from Parker's left-wing centre and blasted goalwards. The same player fizzed a shot over the crossbar from twenty yards shortly after half-time before a resilient Southend took the lead on 54 minutes.
Calver was upended on the edge of the 'D', giving the Blues the chance to line up a free-kick. Dennis won the argument with the forward over who should take the set-piece and proved that it was the correct decision by curling the ball around the 'keeper's outstretched left hand and into the corner of the goal.
Unlike the previous two matches, Blues continued to come forward, holding a high line, and they restricted QPR to a single header, which was directed over, when another free-kick brought the teams level. The 70th minute set-piece, from thirty yards, appeared to be heading goalwards even before it clipped Hazell and defeated McDonald to make it 1-1.
Fuelled by a sense of injustice, and having had to retain cool heads as nerves and tempers frayed, Southend earned their reward less than eight minutes from the end. There did not appear to be much danger for the visitors when Calver received the ball from James-Lewis on the right touchline, but the youngster, who has been handed a development deal for the 2009/10 season, smashed a well-struck shot from distance over the head of the 'keeper, who managed to get a hand to the ball. Fortunately for the Blues, he could not claw it back as it crept over the line and sparked excited celebrations.
This time there was to be no comeback. Calver, Dennis and substitute Marcus Milner in particular kept the ball well in the corners, and QPR were unable to test McDonald in the last ten minutes. Instead, Blues clung on to the three points, earning a third consecutive win over Rangers, who have claimed a hat-trick of Youth Alliance League titles since 2005/6, in the process.
United will have little time to recover from their exertions though, as they travel to Leyton Orient on Monday morning in the first instalment of five away matches that will determine whether they can succeed in their pursuit of a first-ever championship.
Southend United U18s: Nathan McDonald; Jamie Dennis, Callum Whittaker, Duran Reynolds, Adetayo Osifuwa; Medi Abalimba, Davis Abbey, Merrick James-Lewis, Justin Hazell (Marcus Milner 82); Craig Calver, Harry Crawford.
Subs not used: James Stevens, Tashan Adeyinka, John Owinja, Michael Ngoo.
