SOUTHEND United youth team coach Dave Huzzey was left feeling frustrated by his side’s 3-2 defeat at Gillingham.
The Shrimpers led 2-1 with just eight minutes of the match remaining.
And Huzzey was disappointed Blues could not hang onto their advantage.
“Ill-discipline and poor game management let us down in the end but we didn’t play well,” said Huzzey.
“We knew it would be tough to match Gillingham physically because of the size of their team but we were hopeful of being able to move the ball around them with our shape.
“But we ended up going too direct too soon and I’m sure this is a game the players will have learnt a lot of lessons from.”
Gillingham took the lead when Leroy Hlabi fired home in the 24th minute before Blues hit back to equalise in the 58th minute when Eren Kinali teed up Alex Clark to score.
Emile Acquah then put the Shrimpers in front in the 74th minute.
But the Gills hit back to level eight minutes later before Noel Mbo headed home late on to inflict a fourth straight away defeat on Blues.
Southend United U18s: Bishop, Humphreys, Clifford, Cuthbert, Mackenzie, Pianim, Kinali, Yearwood, Acquah, Cooper (Dias 62), Matthews (Clark 50) Subs not used: Curran, Farah & Rush.
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