Southend United’s under 18 side qualified for EFL Youth Alliance Merit League One by seeing off Luton Town 2-1 in their final South East Conference fixture of the season at Boots & Laces.

Danny Heath’s squad required at least a draw from the match against the Hatters.

But, thanks to an early own goal by Luton defender Avan Jones, which was subsequently cancelled out by a penalty converted by the same player, and Tommy Lambourne’s header five minutes before half-time, they did so with a modicum of comfort.

And Blues’ head of academy Ricky Duncan is pleased with the progress being made.

“It was a tough game against Luton and it was good to get the win to get into the top Merit League Division,” said Duncan.

“That’s great and it’s another year for us playing in that top flight which is what we set out to do as an academy so we got the best games.

“I’m pleased with that and we’re seeing boys coming back from injuries now too.

“Danny’s had to deal with that which has been tough for him but we’ve blooded a lot of our under 16s in 18s football.

“We’ve got a couple back now though and that’s helped us get over the line in the last couple of weeks which is great.

“We’re all happy with that and we’re having another successful year.”

The Shrimpers opened the scoring on Saturday after just eight minutes when Bobby Unwin’s cross was slid into the back of his own net by Jones while under pressure from Oli Coker.

However, the visitors began to enjoy more possession, and they hauled themselves level in the 34th minute when a Jimmy Wallace clearance was charged down and Casey Pettit latched onto the loose ball.

As the midfielder bore down on goal, Reiss Chandler was adjudged to have brought him down and Jones atoned for his own goal by drilling the penalty kick into the bottom left-hand corner of Callum Taylor’s goal.

But, six minutes later, Blues hit back to bag what proved to be the winning goal with in-form striker Lambourne heading home Ahmet Biler’s fine cross after he had received the ball from team-mate Freddy Eastwood.

Southend United: Taylor, Chandler, Biler,Brogan, Wallace, Shala, Eastwood, Brown, Lambourne (K Coker 45), O Coker, Unwin.

Substitutes not used: Grossart, Anyadike, Crowhurst & Reeve.