SOUTHEND United boss Phil Brown felt the club’s under 21 team were forced to grow up during their 2-1 defeat at Brentwood Town on Tuesday night.

The Shrimpers youngsters were undone by a late Shad Ngandu penalty at the Brentwood Centre.

But Brown was pleased by how his side stood up to the physical side of the contest.

“You could see what Brentwood are going to be all about next season and our two centre-backs probably needed to be wearing crash helmets but they did well,” said Brown.

“I would say it was a game in which they had to grow up because it was men against boys.

“We call this team an under 21 team but really they’re all pretty much around 19 and they were up against an experienced Brentwood side.

“I think the players would’ve learnt a lot from the game though and it will certainly stand them in good stead for the season ahead.”

Brown also used the game to take a look at two trialists – centre-back Yago Fernandez and winger Danny Galbraith.

And they will both be kept on for further appearances.

“Yago suffered a cut around his eye and was only ever going to last 45 minutes because of his fitness but I thought he did OK,” said Brown.

“We had a look at Danny out of position up front which wasn’t really fair on him but we will have another look at them both.

“Danny could feature against Canvey tonight but I must just save him for the Dagenham game to see how he gets on against league opposition.”

Blues went in front against Brentwood after 18 minutes when winger Brandon Scott curled home a fine shot.

But, four minutes later, Brentwood equalised when Liam Hope nodded in a right wing cross and, 12 minutes from time, Dean Holdsworth’s side made sure of the win with Ngandu’s penalty.

Southend United: Bexon, Williams, Fernandez (Salami 46), Matsuzaka, Adeyeye, Johnson, Norman (Keating 61), Gard, Scott, Galbraith (Trialist 46), Cotton