SECOND-HALF goals by Tayo Adedoja and Max Fiddes contributed to a third consecutive victory for Southend United's under 18 side as Danny Heath’s side saw off Oxford United 2-1.

Fiddes netted the winner with his fifth goal of the season midway through the second half to ensure the points returned to Essex after Adedoja had cancelled out a Will Owens finish for the hosts.

Youth team coach Heath made two changes to the team that had swept aside Portsmouth at Boots & Laces in their previous outing with goalkeeper Fin Purcell fit to don the gloves ahead of under 15s shot-stopper Charlie Brown and schoolboy Smai Norman replacing the injured Harrison Clayden in defence.

Blues made the better start to the encounter at the U’s training ground, but they failed to make their early dominance count and Oxford took advantage ten minutes before the interval when Owens converted a pass from Mac Masters to make it 1-0.

Second-year scholar Adedoja led the response just two minutes into the second period when he turned home from close range following a corner to equalise with his third goal in his last four appearances for the under 18s.

The success was secured on 68 minutes when under 16s striker Fiddes made a superb run to latch onto a pass down the right-hand side of the Oxford defence and then dispatched a precise shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

And Heath was delighted with the performance.

“It was a great little run from Fiddesy, and he finished the chance cleanly with placement and power to angle his shot across the goalkeeper,” said Heath.

“In the first 20 minutes, we played really well.

"We created enough chances to be two or three goals up and we forced the Oxford goalkeeper into some good saves, but then they got a foothold in the game for the remainder of the first half.

“We stopped what we had been doing in the early stages and we conceded a goal somewhat against the run of play, but I was pleased with how the boys responded."

And Heath made that point clear at the break.

“At half-time we spoke about how the boys had been excellent in the first 20 minutes, and how we had moved the ball with quality, and we wanted them to get back to doing that," said Heath.

" "Within two minutes of kicking off the second half, Tayo had got himself on the scoresheet.”

“We were playing with the wind in the second half, and I think we were more consistent with our quality. We stood up to some pressure late on, but I think Fin only had one save to make during the second half.”

Southend United U18s: Purcell, Kamara, Bolarinwa, Bland, Norman,  Droney, Amir, Sandat, Adedoja, Fiddes, Garzon.

Subs not used: Brown, Williams, Ebondo, Blake & Bangs