JOE Bedford felt Southend United’s chemistry was the main reason for their 2-0 win against a strong Peterborough side in yesterday’s under 21 clash at Boots & Laces.

Bedford was joined on the score-sheet by Dan Matsuzaka as the Shrimpers secured an impressive victory.

And Bedford was certain it was Blues’ togetherness as a team which saw them come out on top.

“The last time we played Peterborough we lost 4-0 but the team we had today was very close knit and was full of people who play and train together all the time,” said the 19-year-old midfielder.

“I’ve played with Sonny (Coutts) and Harry (Phillips) for 10 years now so we know each other’s game inside out and there’s certainly a lot more chemistry than when people come in who we haven’t played in before.

“Peterborough had a strong side so to beat them like we did was really good and I enjoyed it.

“Having Sonny sitting in like that meant I could go forward more and it was good to get to get another goal, even if Marc-Antoine Fortune wasn’t very happy about it as he felt his shot was going in before I touched it but I wasn’t sure it was so I thought I had to make sure.”

Blues came close to opening the scoring early on when Fortune fired just wide of the right post from 20 yards before Nico Cotton saw a well struck shot smartly saved by Peterborough goalkeeper Dion Henry, At the other end of the field, Shrimpers shot-stopper Josh Bexon did well to deny Moncur from close range before the home-side opened the scoring at the start of the second half with Bedford on target for the third time in three games.

The midfielder reacted sharply after Fortune’s shot from Zavon Hines had been partially saved by Henry and poked the ball home from close range.

Moments later, Blues had strong shouts for a penalty waved away when Sonny Coutts appeared to be pushed in the box when attempting to reach a right wing corner from Cotton before attacking midfielder Harry Phillips saw a well-struck 20 yard shot tipped over the crossbar by Henry.

However, Blues were not to be denied a second goal and it came courtesy of a well-taken goal from Matsuzaka. The defender powered a 12 yard shot high into the roof of the net after Henry had done well to deny both Abdul Salami and Norman Wabo in quick succession.

Southend United: Bexon, Bwomono, Salami, Matsuzaka, Kyprianou, Hines (Gard), Coutts, Bedford, Cotton, Phillips (Wabo), Fortune (Walker)