LOUIS Walsh scored a stoppage-time winner for Southend United under 23s in their Essex derby on Tuesday evening to keep the club’s hopes of progression in the Premier League Cup alive. 

Walsh had earlier missed a second-half spot-kick for the Shrimpers, but his late intervention means Danny Heath’s squad are now just two points behind second-placed Stoke City going into their final Group H fixture against the Potters on 14th February at Roots Hall. 

Blues will still need some assistance from table-toppers Fulham in order to reach the last 16, but they will be buoyed by this narrow victory against a Colchester United team reduced to ten men as early as the 17th minute following the dismissal of Samson Tovide. 

Heath was able to call upon some senior experience in the shape of defender John White, a veteran of over 500 professional appearances for both Southend and Colchester, as well as Walsh and Jack Bridge, who were trying to prove their fitness.

Harry Phillips and Rob Howard have also played for the first-team this term. 

At the other end of the spectrum, goalkeeper Fin Purcell is a first-year scholar who was making just his second competitive U23s start, and he was involved in the first action of the game as he was cautioned for bringing down Tovide outside his penalty area in the sixth minute. 

Six minutes later Phillips followed the shot-stopper into referee Tom Bishop’s notepad after being adjudged to have simulated a foul when going down just outside the U’s penalty area.

However, the next time the official reached for his pocket, it would be for a red, rather than a yellow card. 

Wily centre-back White had been involved in a battle with the 18-year-old Tovide, who has played seven times for Colchester’s first-team.

The teenager felt aggrieved when he required treatment following a challenge with White and, when the Blues skipper received the ball shortly afterwards, he was unceremoniously clattered from behind, which the referee adjudged to be serious foul play. 

The first attempt on goal arrived in the 20th minute when Jimmy Wallace nodded straight at Dean Gerken in the U’s goal, and midway through the first half Walsh also drew a comfortable save from the Rayleigh-born custodian. 

Walsh was involved again in the 26th minute when his clever pass following good build-up play by Howard just eluded Cameron Brown, but Colchester then threatened for the first time on the half-hour when Andre Hasanally beat the offside trap to feed Chay Cooper, but he was foiled by White’s anticipation. 

Southend could have edged ahead just before half-time when a Phillips free-kick ricocheted into the path of second-year scholar Tayo Adedoja, but he fizzed a shot across the face of goal.

Then, in stoppage time the U’s were thwarted again by White, who made a fine block to deny Ryan Lowe after Howard had uncharacteristically slipped in his own penalty area. 

Having completed 45 minutes, Bridge was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by youth team captain Jaden Crowhurst, and Southend started the second period on the front foot with Phillips seeing a low strike cleared off the goal-line by Miles Welch-Hayes. 

Gerken was then called into action in the 54th minute after good work from Howard.

He released Jon Benton and the Aveley loanee drew a fine stop from the custodian at the expense of a corner.

That came to nothing, but Blues would have an even better opportunity to take the lead on the hour. 

Arrowsmith made excellent progress into the penalty area and, when his run was abruptly ended by Lowe, the referee pointed to the spot.

Walsh took on the responsibility, but his penalty smacked the left-hand upright and Colchester were able to clear. 

Wallace saw another aerial effort claimed easily by Gerken in the 68th minute, and when Benton sent a shot narrowly wide after a good run in the 77th minute it looked as though it would be a frustrating evening for Southend. 

That feeling intensified when a Phillips shot cleared the crossbar three minutes later and then again when Gerken was equal to a left-footed attempt from Benton from the edge of the penalty area.

The fourth official signalled five minutes of additional time, and it seemed as through Blues would fall just short. 

Then, with just 60 seconds of stoppage time remaining, Southend finally got the go-ahead goal with Walsh on target.

The former Barnsley attacker received the ball after an excellent one-two between Adedoja and Benton and sent a right-footed shot into top corner of the net. 

There were a few anxious moments for the hosts as Colchester earned a late corner, but Blues managed to clear to safety to keep their first-ever Premier League Cup clean sheet and register their inaugural group-stage victory in the competition. 

Southend United U23s: Purcell, Howard, Arrowsmith, Brown, White, Wallace,  Adedoja, Benton, Walsh, Bridge (Crowhurst 46), Phillips.

Subs not used: Williams, Garzon, Reeve & Sandat.