SOUTHEND United’s youth team returned to the top of the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League One table with a 2-0 win at Milton Keynes Dons.

Emile Acquah and Sewa Marah were both on target for Blues.

And coach Dave Huzzey felt it was his side’s best display of the season.

“I think that’s the best performance, the best result and the best victory we’ve had all season,” said Huzzey.

“The boys’ commitment, desire and tactical nous was outstanding.

“They are perfecting what we’re asking of them during the week on a Saturday and, if they continue to do that, they will get results like this.

“MK Dons are a very, very good side and they showed that in the first league stage.

“But we’ve put a nice little run together with four results and four wins and, if we continue to build on this, you never know where it might take us.”

Blues made an excellent start against the Dons with Matt Rush getting the better of Tommy Hope in the second minute only to prod a finish into the gloves of the MK goalkeeper.

However, the hosts had an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock in the 16th minute.

The tricky Liam Sole again darted inside from his left-wing position and drew a foul from Dan Humphreys as he entered the penalty area.

The referee deemed the infringement to have occurred inside the box but Sole smacked the crossbar with his spot-kick and Bradley Bell smashed the rebound over.

Nine minutes later, the Shrimpers also wasted a penalty of their own.

The spot-kick was given for a foul on Jon Benton but Rush saw his effort saved by Doyle.

But Blues were able to make the breakthrough in the 69th minute when Rush’s drive corner teed up Acquah to score his 10th goal in 10 games.

The Shrimpers then made sure of the win six minutes from time when Doyle’s short goal-kick was miscontrolled by Delsim Ackom, enabling Marah to nip in and fire home a fine shot into the top right hand corner of the net.

Southend United U18s: Seaden, Humphreys, Howard, Knock, Curran, Mitchell-Nelson, Kinali (Egbri 80), Pianim, Rush, Benton (Acquah 64), Marah