10:36am Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Chris Phillips
JAMIE Dennis’ injury-time penalty was not enough to salvage a point for Southend United’s under 18 side as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
The midfielder’s spot-kick came just five minutes after the Chairboys had converted a penalty themselves to add to an early first-half effort and complete a second win over the young Shrimpers this season in the process.
For Blues, this was a second defeat in three matches and it was the visitors who made the better start with their tall centre-half nodding the first of three unmarked headed opportunities goalwards from a right-wing corner which Teddy Nesbitt managed to block from his position next to the left-hand upright.
Southend were punished for their inauspicious start on 14 minutes when Wycombe’s tricky left-winger picked the ball up 25 yards out to the left of the ‘D’ and arrowed an unstoppable shot into the very corner of Daniel Bentley’s net with even the goalkeeper’s outstretched left hand unable to get a touch.
Blues’ first real chance came on 24 minutes from Callum Whittaker’s raking right-wing pass. The high ball was controlled by George Smith, who found Milner on the edge of the six-yard box, but the speedy forward’s fierce shot was charged down by a defender.
Southend enjoyed a greater deal of possession during the second period but they were unable to penetrate the Wycombe defence.
But Blues’ resistance was broken with a little over a minute remaining when a forward stumbled under a challenge and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
The spot-kick was converted down the middle of the goal, just eluding Bentley’s right leg.
Despite going 2-0 down, Southend pressed forward in stoppage time and gained their reward when Marcus Milner was brought down by the Wycombe goalkeeper after he had touched the ball past the custodian and Dennis stepped up to dispatch into the corner from 12 yards but, by then, there was no time for an equaliser.
>Southend United U18s: Bentley; Furlong, Whittaker, Osifuwa, Nesbitt; James-Lewis, Stevens (Okai 40), Dennis; Milner, Ofon-Acheampong (Wright 72), Smith (Hazell 40).Substitute not used: Woodyard.
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