SOUTHEND United’s youth team coach Dave Huzzey heaped praise on his players following their 3-1 win at table-topping Swindon Town.

The victory was the Shrimpers’ first in the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League One season.

And Huzzey was quick to praise the performance.

“I was really pleased with the performance and the way we played against a Swindon side who are still top of the league,” said Huzzey.

“The Merit League season had been a bit stop start for us because of the weather but this was our third game and it was good to get the win.

“The conditions played a big factor but we dealt well with them and also stuck to the game-plan to get a really good result, which we will look to go and build on now.”

Blues had the advantage of kicking with an icy wind in the opening period and, after taking a few moments to acclimatise, they soon found their stride.

In the seventh minute, Jon Benton rolled the ball into the feet of Sewa Marah, but his curling effort was gathered by Archie Matthews in the Swindon goal.

However, Southend’s probing was rewarded just three minutes later when they took the lead.

The ever-willing Eren Kinali chased down a right-wing pass and managed to cut the ball back with the intention of picking out either Marah or Matt Rush.

A Swindon defender sensed the danger, but he could only guide the ball inside the far corner of his own goal.

Blues then doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Terrell Egbri teed up Kinali, who fired a low 12 yard shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net and the Shrimpers made it 3-0 eight minutes into the second half, with Marah on target as he fired home another cross from Egbri.

The Robins hit back late on, with Toby Holland firing home, but by then Blues’ win had already been secured.

And the Shrimpers will be bidding for more of the same when they host Bristol Rovers in a rearranged clash on Tuesday afternoon.

Blues: Seaden, Humphreys, Howard, Pianim, Mitchell-Nelson, Knock, Kinali, Benton (Stewart 86), Rush (Kelman 75), Marah, Egbri.

Substitutes not used: Taylor, Brogan & Osimeh.