Southend United’s under-18 side registered their biggest victory of the season, thrashing MK Dons 7-0.

The destiny of Danny Heath’s side for the second portion of the campaign will be determined by the Boots & Laces clash with Luton Town this weekend.

And Heath is happy to be heading into the clash on a high.

“I’m very pleased for the lads,” said Heath.

“The three messages to the boys before the game were to work hard, earn the right to play and perform how they can do and the result would follow. I think we got all three.

“We just had to be patient. A couple of times we tried to force the goal but once we got the first one I thought more would follow, which they did.”

Blues took the lead in the 42nd minute when Oli Coker fired into the bottom right hand corner of the net and, just two minutes later, the midfielder was celebrating again as he netted a stylish effort from long range.

Five minutes after the break, Freddy Eastwood made it 3-0 with a clinical shot from 12 yards before Tommy Lambourne also worked his way onto the scoresheet as he raced onto Coker’s through ball to fire home.

Blues remained on top and added a fifth goal in the 72nd minute when Jimmy Wallace netted his first youth team goal as he powered home a header.

Bobby Unwin then made it 6-0 with a good finish after fine approach play from substitute Demaray Anyadike before Blues completed the scoring in the 90th minute when another replacement Kenny Coker forced home the rebound after Eastwood had been denied.

But Heath has already turned his attentions towards facing Luton.

“The initial focus will be on training so we’ll leave no stone unturned and we’ll make sure we’ve done all that we can to make sure we’re ready physically and mentally as well as tactically and technically,” said Heath.

“Short-term, because on paper you’re playing against other teams that have finished in the top half of their league, it’s good to be tested, but long-term, if we do end up in Merit League Two, it doesn’t mean we’re not producing as an academy.

“Players might still come through and get a professional contract at the club, but in the short-term it is important to do all we can to get into Merit League One.”

Blues: Taylor (Grossart 67), Chandler, Biler, Brogan, Wallace (Reeve 76), Shala, Eastwood, Brown (Crowhurst 86), Lambourne (K Coker 87), Coker (Anyadike 76), Unwin.