New goalkeeper Luke Chambers kept a clean sheet on his Under-18s debut as Southend United edged out Barnet 1-0 at Boots & Laces in their latest Youth Alliance fixture.

Chambers, formerly an Under-16 goalkeeper at Arsenal, was later unveiled at half-time during the Blues' first-team match against Tranmere Rovers at Roots Hall, having made a number of key saves to protect the one-goal advantage afforded to Blues' Youths by Harry Crawford's 38th-minute header.

With Daniel Bentley stepping up to act as understudy to Steve Mildenhall for Steve Tilson's men in Coca-Cola League One, Chambers - who has signed a deal encompassing the remainder of this term and then a two-year scholarship with the club - was one of four changes to the team that lost 5-1 against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The remaining trio to miss out were Marcus Milner, who was named as a substitute, Justin Hazell and Duran Reynolds, who has moved out on work experience with Blue Square Premier club Grays Athletic. The left-sided centre-half was cautioned on his first start for the Bridge Road outfit in a 2-0 defeat to Salisbury City as John Owinja, Teddy Nesbitt and George Smith returned to the youth team.

Southend made a bright start to the game on a crisp, cold morning at the club's training ground, with Crawford blasting an early effort over the crossbar. Blues held a much greater territorial advantage than they had against Brighton, and on eleven minutes Kyle Asante recorded the first effort on target with a stinging drive that the Bees goalkeeper clung on to at the second attempt.

Another sweeping move upfield arrived midway through the first half as Ade Osifuwa flighted a precise cross-field ball into the path of Jamie Dennis, who drilled his cross to the back-post where Crawford could only direct a shot wide of the left-hand upright. Just after the half-hour mark, the Blues saw a goal chalked off for offside when Dennis centred and Asante tapped into the net from close range after James Stevens' free-kick had not been cleared.

It appeared that the Seasiders were in for a frustrating morning until they converted just under eight minutes before half-time. The assist came from an unlikely source as Callum Whittaker galloped down the left flank before delivering a pinpoint cross onto Crawford's head, and the muscular front man powerfully nodded home his eleventh goal of the season.

Despite taking the lead, the half ended with Blues on the back foot as Chambers first had to push away a fierce shot within two minutes of United's goal and then fully extend himself to his left-hand side to gather a skimming shot from thirty yards out.

The match became more tetchy after the interval, and John Owinja was forced off of the field through injury within six minutes of the restart. He was replaced by Alex Woodyard, with Dennis moving to right-back, but the visitors had gained momentum from their lively spell at the end of the previous period and Chambers had to scurry across his six-yard box to paw a long-range free-kick away from danger.

At the other end, Asante should have doubled the lead just before the hour mark when Crawford cushioned Stevens' inswinging cross into his path, only for the forward to force his low shot past the post from an excellent position.

Barnet had made a substitution at half-time, and the replacement forward was unfortunate when he fired wide after cutting back onto his favoured right foot. His strike partner also narrowly failed to score as he flicked a free-kick over the bar, whilst Chambers had one more effort to save as a Bees attacker nodded a left-wing cross into his gloves.

Southend introduced Milner to add pace going forwards, but too often the team failed to find the required pass to set either the winger or Asante away. During the closing stages, Michael Hyland, a Republic of Ireland youth international previously with Millwall, was also introduced to the action as a trialist as Blues held on to claim their sixth win in the last seven South-East Conference fixtures.

Southend United U18s: Luke Chambers; John Owinja (Alex Woodyard 51), Callum Whittaker, Adetayo Osifuwa, Teddy Nesbitt; Merrick James-Lewis, James Stevens (Michael Hyland 83), Jamie Dennis; George Smith (Marcus Milner 65); Harry Crawford, Kyle Asante.

Substitutes not used: Duane Ofon-Acheampong, Julian Okai.