SOUTHEND United's under 18 side continued their impressive start to the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League Two season with a 4-2 win away to Cambridge United on Saturday.

Danny Heath’s side built on a 3-0 victory against Stevenage in their opening match to consolidate their position at the top of the fledgling league table thanks to goals from Kenny Coker and Tendi Quamina in the opening period, and substitute Mohammed Amir and Coker again after the interval.

Coker’s goals took his tally during his youth team career to 11 in 18 starts and Heath was delighted with his continued contribution to the side.

“Kenny has been working hard on his finishing,” said Heath.

“He has been concentrating on striking the ball cleanly and keeping his head over the ball, so I’m pleased for him that he’s got two goals.

"Kenny is someone that feels he hasn’t played well if he doesn’t get on the scoresheet, but he often contributes in other ways.”

“His work-rate is getting better and better, and the way he has been closing down has restricted the time and space opposition teams have had to play the ball out from the back.

"He has also been working on his heading, either winning flick-ons or bringing others into the game, so his all-round play has been outstanding and the two goals are just the icing on the cake."

Blues took the lead in the 24th minute through Coker and a moment of real quality.

The first-year front-man received the ball around 25 yards from goal and bent the ball beautifully past the Cambridge goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net.

Quamina, who completed another hour in his rehabilitation from a two-year absence through injury, added a second goal shortly afterwards following good work from Jaden Crowhurst on the regain in midfield.

He fed the forward with a fine pass down the side of the defender, and Quamina caressed the ball into the far corner.

The hosts pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time, and Southend were indebted to schoolboy shotstopper Fin Purcell for keeping the team in front in the early stages of the second period as he pulled off a string of superb saves.

After surviving the scares, Southend made it 3-1 with  the first competitive goal of Amir’s youth team career.

The teenage talent had netted twice in a friendly against Watford recently, as well as the winner away to Category Two Academy Ipswich Town, but his opening EFL Youth Alliance finish came when he passed Tayo Adedoja’s lay-off into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Cambridge got another goal back with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining but 60 seconds later Coker’s second goal of the game proved decisive.

He chased a ball over the top and appeared to be second favourite to a defender but, after winning the battle, he emerged to lift his finish over the advancing goalkeeper and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Blues now have a fortnight without a competitive fixture before Milton Keynes Dons arrive at Boots & Laces, but Heath wants the squad to maintain their momentum in the remaining Merit League matches this season.

Southend United U18s: Purcell, Clayden, Kamara, Burkey, Reeve, Taylor ( Droney, 3 (Bolarinwa, 55)), Garzon (Williams, 75), Crowhurst, Quamina (Amir 60), K Coker, Adedoja (Bland 75).