SOUTHEND United’s winless sequence was extended to 10 matches with a 2-0 home reverse against Eastleigh under 19s at Boots & Laces on Wednesday afternoon.

Whilst performances have generally improved during the second half of the campaign, as demonstrated by Blues having previously suffered a 6-2 defeat in the reverse fixture against the Spitfires, Danny Heath’s teenage charges have been unable to locate the results to match.

And that trend continued after goals by Ryan Chavez-Munoz and Nathan Rogers consigned Southend to a fourth straight home loss.

Eastleigh threatened first when Lewis Williams crossed for Archie Gallagher to nod over in just the second minute.

But Blues enjoyed a sizeable portion of possession in the opening stages and, in the fifth minute, Ellis Lawson picked out Archie McGonigle with his delivery and the midfielder saw an effort charged down before Joshua Jackson slipped as he attempted to follow-up.

McGonigle was the focal point of another attack in the 16th minute, with his late entries into the penalty area proving to be troublesome for Eastleigh as Jack Stone attempted to occupy the central defenders for the visitors.

Sibanda and Poxon linked up on the right-hand side and McGonigle smashed a rising shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

The Spitfires took the lead after 20 minutes. There didn’t appear to be any danger when Ryan Chavez-Munoz picked up possession around 35 yards from goal, but his long-range effort deceived Gluckstead in the blustery conditions and the ball dropped into the left-hand corner of the net.

Blues responded well and, on 29 minutes, Mikey Faulkner released Sibanda down the right touchline and his cross was flicked into the path of McGonigle, who sent a powerful header over at the far post.

Two minutes later Faulkner collected a Lawson pass and cut the ball back to Poxon, who saw his snapshot turned around the left-hand post by Dylan John in the Eastleigh goal.

Ollie Erdinc sent a 25-yard effort swinging high and wide for the visitors in the 35th minute, but the opening period ended with Poxon again testing John as he held off Gallagher to hit a skidding shot towards the bottom right-hand corner that the Spitfires goalkeeper got down to save.

Southend came out in the second half intent on hauling themselves level and, within four minutes of the restart John was required to punch Faulkner’s deep free-kick off the head of McGonigle.

Sixty seconds later Sibanda fizzed the ball across the six-yard box just out of the reach of Poxon and McGonigle.

However, Erdinc hooked a 25-yard shot wide of the right-hand upright in the 51st minute and, two minutes later, Eastleigh doubled their advantage.

Ethan Gee won a midfield tussle with Jones and released Nathan Rogers, who cleverly shielded the ball from Gluckstead’s sight by using Thato Molefi’s presence in front of him and he caressed his finish into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Sibanda did fire over on 70 minutes from Poxon’s pass, but Blues were indebted to Gluckstead for keeping the scoreline down seconds later as Gee met a long throw with a close-range half-volley that was brilliantly turned over the crossbar by the goalkeeper.

Leo Downing also skewed wide for the visitors, but Heath threw on George Pulham, Obi Okafor and Shehu in an effort to get something from the game, and Shehu combined with Sibanda to set up the frustrated Stone, who saw a fierce strike fielded easily by John.

Okafor crossed for Shehu in the 84th minute, but his low shot was saved by John and Eastleigh ended the match the stronger as Bailey Honeysett dragged his effort wide of the right-hand post.

Southend have just 48 hours before their next fixture, against Bromley at Boots & Laces on Friday, kick-off 2pm.

Southend United U19s: Gluckstead,  Jones, Lawson,  Jackson (Shehu 67),  Molefi, Saponara, Sibanda (Pulham 83), McGonigle (Okafor 83), Stone, Faulkner, Poxon.

Subs not used: Cerullo & Huet.