SOUTHEND United’s under 18 side bounced back from their FA Youth Cup disappointment to triumph 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon.

Blues were narrowly beaten by MK Dons in the cup contest.

And coach Dave Huzzey was happy to see his young players respond in fine fashion.

“It’s testament to this group of players that we moved past the FA Youth Cup a couple of days after the game,” said Huzzey.

“We reviewed it in the right way and then we put it aside and started concentrating on the next game.

“I have been confident in the group about how they have dealt with it and how they have moved forwards and we didn’t have to reflect on losing previously to get them up for this game.

“We have had to in previous years but with this team we didn’t.

“We knew what the game plan was and we executed it to the finest detail.”

Southend made a bright start to the contest and earned a couple of early corners but it was Blues goalkeeper Nathan Bishop who was drawn into action first. In the eighth minute the Dons moved quickly down the left-hand side and the shot-stopper, making his 39th under 18 appearance, brilliantly turned a close-range finish around the left-hand post.

But the Shrimpers responded well and opened the scoring in the 49th minute when Ide Osimeh’s corner was met by a towering Taylor Curran header.

And, although his attempt was repelled, the loose ball fell to Eren Kinali on the edge of the penalty area and he rifled his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to spark jubilant celebrations.

Southend then made sure of the victory in the 87th minute when Marley Hutchings converted his first youth team goal for the club.

The substitute, who is the son of former Shrimpers defender Carl, forced the ball over the line from close-range after Emile Acquah had distracted the goalkeeper when Osimeh delivered another right-wing corner.

Southend United U18s: Bishop, Humphreys, Osimeh, Pianim, Curran (Hutchings 70), Mitchell-Nelson, Kinali (Egbri 66), Cuthbert (Stewart 79), Marah, Benton (Rush 74), Acquah.

Sub not used: Knock.