SOUTHEND United’s youth team coach Danny Heath felt his young Shrimpers deserved more following a 2-0 defeat to Northampton Town.

The Cobblers scored twice in the second half to secure victory.

But Heath thought Blues should not have been beaten.

“It was disappointing because I felt the boys’ overall performance deserved something from the game,” claimed Heath.

“I thought it was quite an evenly-matched game.

“Maybe, in the second half, we worked the ball into good areas and had the better of the chances, so it was disappointing in terms of the result.

“The boys have got to keep their chins up, roll their sleeves up and we will go again.”

The two teams could not be separated until midway through the second half, when a Haydn Price penalty put the Cobblers ahead.

But Heath did not agree with the decision.

“Even their coaching staff said it was never a penalty and they were further up the pitch in line with our box,” said Heath.

“Their manager said if anything it was a free-kick to us because their striker fouled Reiss Chandler so that was disappointing but that’s football.

“Physically they were probably bigger than us all-round but we made things hard for them to score.”

Caleb Chukwuemeka’s injury time strike sealed Northampton’s win.

Southend United U18s: Grossart, Chandler, Biler, Brogan, Davis, Wallace, Anyadike (Benton 46), Coker (Brown 78), Adeooja, Eastwood, Unwin

Substitutes not used: Taylor & Shala