SOUTHEND United coach Dave Huzzey was disappointed with the result but not the performance following his side’s exit from the FA Youth Cup.

The Shrimpers were beaten 1-0 by MK Dons in the first round of the competition.

But Huzzey felt his players could not have given anymore.

“I’m upset in the fact that this group of players deserve more but I’m really proud of the performance and the way the boys didn’t give up,” said Huzzey.

“For the whole 93 or 94 minutes they worked hard and, at the end, we hit the crossbar and had a couple of really good chances to nick something but it didn’t go our way.

“The nail in the coffin was that we got beaten by a set-play, which hurts because we haven’t been undone by the first phase of set-plays this season.

“But the boys gave everything they’ve got, so I’m really proud of them.

“I couldn’t stand there and have a go at them because they’ve given us everything, but we did have some chances we should have done better with.”

For the third time in four seasons Blues were drawn against the team at the top of their league table.

But the Shrimpers - who are second in the standings - began the tie brightly with powerful striker Sewa Marah having a 25th minute effort ruled out for offside.

Moments later, Dru Yearwood fired over from long range but, having survived the scares, Dons hit back to bag the only goal of the game eight minutes before the break when Bradley Bell’s corner was volleyed home by Jay Bird via the underside of the crossbar.

After the break, Blues’ Eren Kinali got in behind the Dons’ defence but was denied by goalkeeper Nathan Pickworth.

Yearwood - who dropped back down from the first team squad to play - then dragged an effort wide of the left post before Shrimpers midfielder Jon Benton saw a late free-kick, from 20 yards out, bounce back off the crossbar.

The visitors continued to push for an equaliser, with Kinali firing wide of the target from eight yards late on after good approach play from Yearwood and substitute Terrell Egbri.

Southend United U18s: Bishop, Humphreys, Osimeh, Cuthbert, Curran, Pianim, Kinali, Yearwood, Acquah (Egbri 66), Rush (Benton 79), Marah Substitutes not used: Seaden, Stewart & Hutchings