SOUTHEND United’s under 18 side maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they registered a 2-2 draw with Peterborough United at Boots & Laces on Saturday morning.

But, despite the eventual result, with namesakes Oli and Kenny Coker both having hit the target to put Blues in front, youth team coach Danny Heath was a little frustrated that his squad failed to build on their advantage in the EFL Youth Alliance South East Conference clash.

“I thought the boys played OK, but not quite at the levels we know they can reach,” said Heath.

“We were playing a good Peterborough side, so to take a point when we’ve not played as well as we can against one of the better teams is a positive sign.”

“But we went 1-0 up and maybe we’d want to keep it tight for 10 minutes, so maybe conceding so quickly after each goal is something we need to improve on.”

It took less than three minutes for the returning Kenny Coker to make an impression.

Tayo Adedoja won the ball impressively in midfield before offloading to his fellow first-year scholar, who strode purposefully forward before picking out the run of Oli Coker.

He sprung the offside trap to convert his fourth goal of the season with his left foot.

But the lead was short-lived as Blues youngsters conceded their first goal in over six hours of football two minutes later.

The ball was moved quickly down the right flank and then centred to Luke Harris at the far post, and he had the simple job of tapping home from close range.

Jamie Grossart did well to smother a couple more close-range efforts in the 12th minute, but a break in play caused by an injury to a Peterborough player enabled Southend to regroup and, in the 19th minute, Kenny Coker made it 2-1 when he stole the ball from a defender before thumping into the net from just inside the penalty area.

The forward couldn’t get any power behind a header from Callum Burkey’s chipped cross five minutes later and, with Louie Arrowsmith having snuffed out a previous Posh attack, Blues were pegged back again when the referee awarded the visitors a penalty and Charlie O’Connell sent Grossart the wrong way to equalise on 26 minutes.

Blues showed good intensity and employed a high press but chances remained at a premium.

Just after the hour mark the ball dropped invitingly for Anyadike after the Posh goalkeeper had failed to claim Oli Coker’s corner, but the winger couldn’t adjust his body quickly enough and he scooped his shot over from inside the six-yard box.

A Bobby Unwin cross also almost caught out the custodian, who managed to backpedal and tip the ball out for a corner, but a dramatic conclusion lay in store with the two teams still locked level in the third minute of stoppage time.

First Adedoja’s thumping strike was parried out by the goalkeeper, but Kenny Coker was on his heels and the shotstopper managed to recover.

Then, after Grossart came out quickly to punch clear off the head of a Posh attacker, Oli Coker stabbed Anyadike’s right-wing centre goalwards.

Again, the goalkeeper managed to push the ball out, but this time Kenny Coker was presented with an opportunity to net the winner.

The rebound arrived at the striker’s feet quickly and he snatched at the strike, sending it over and narrowly failing to grab a last-minute winner against opponents that they will meet again on Tuesday in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup.