SOUTHEND United coach Craig Fagan felt tonight’s clash at Canvey Island produced two conflicting halves of football.

Blues were beaten 2-1 at a blustery Park Lane But Fagan was far more satisfied with his young Shrimpers after the break.

“It was a game of two halves as they say,” said Fagan.

“The wind was against us in the first half made and it was hard to get out but in the second half I thought we were excellent.

“We put them under pressure and for the first game it wasn’t too bad.

“There’s room for improvement but there are a lot of young lads in the team because so many others have gone up into the first team squad.

“The younger lads who came in were excellent too.”

Blues went behind to an early own goal from centre-back Jimmy Wallace but Fagan was pleased with how his side responded.

“There was more bravery in the second half,” said Fagan.

“In the first half we were too safe and we were playing backwards too much.”

However, the Shrimpers attacked more in the second half with subsitute Cam Brown coming on to score an equaliser before the hosts scored a late winner with Connor Hubble scoring a fine free-kick.

"Cam got his first goal for the 23s," said Fagan.

"He got the goal which was good but it was unlike Rushy (Matt Rush) not to hit the target with the chances he had but he will still score a lot of goals this season.

“But we’ve only been together as a group for one or two days so we will improve, just like last year.

"There’s some exciting players and it’s good for the club.

"To have under 18s coming in and playing for the under 23s so early shows what good standards we have at the moment."