SOUTHEND United's under 18 side defeated Brentford 3-2 at Boots & Laces in their opening EFL Youth Alliance South East Conference fixture of the 2022/23 season on Saturday.

Midfielder Mo Amir put Blues in front after just three minutes, and Max Fiddes had an effort ruled out for offside shortly afterwards.

But Danny Heath’s side were pegged back by a Mekhai Bessasa strike 10 minutes before half-time and were indebted to substitute Omari Williams’ brace after the break to ensure a Yousef Al Shubasi effort was rendered a consolation for the visitors.

Blues made the perfect start to the encounter when second-year scholar Amir scored his 12th career goal for the under 18s.

The hosts had been pinned in their own half for the opening stages, but Fiddes led a breakaway, feeding Fallows – who was overlapping on the left-hand side – and he unselfishly squared to Amir for a composed finish.

It looked like Southend had doubled their lead three minutes later when Fiddes turned home from the close-range after Brentford goalkeeper Marley Tavaziva had spilt an Amir strike under pressure from Jacob Bland, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside.

Droney then headed a left-wing Amir corner wide of the far post and Amir sent a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the right-hand upright with everyone lining up to attack a crossed delivery but, as the half progressed in sapping sunshine, Blues began to lose their impetus.

On the half-hour Leo Sery crafted the first opening for the visitors, drilling his centre across the face of goal, and on 35 minutes the Bees were level as Cameron Hughes crossed from the left-hand side and Bessasa controlled a bouncing ball to divert his shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Blues responded well, with a Fiddes header dropping the wrong side of the left-hand post from a Fallows flick-on and Alfie Terry then sending a 20-yard strike inches over after good work from Fiddes on the left-hand edge of the penalty area.

However, there was another warning sign for the home side on the stroke of half-time when Fin Purcell over-committed to challenging Jenom Nyam on the edge of the penalty area and he teed up Bessasa, with Bragg and Droney required to make a block before Habib Bolarinwa cleared the danger.

Heath responded by making a double-substitution at half-time, withdrawing Bragg and Terry and replacing the pair with Williams and Alfie Bangs.

The changes reaped immediate dividends as Blues restored the lead on 49 minutes with Hatcliff cutting back onto his left foot to deliver a deep cross that Williams nodded into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Hatcliff then failed to convert a Fiddes centre five minutes later before Williams doubled his personal tally and stretched the advantage to two goals with a penalty just before the hour mark. The second-year sub was tripped as he entered the area and stroked the spot-kick into the net via inside of the right-hand post.

It looked as though the teenage Shrimpers might have taken a decisive move towards victory, and Williams was denied a perfect hat-trick on 61 minutes when his right-footed finish from Amir’s floated pass was ruled out for offside, but a drinks break disrupted the hosts’ concentration and they were punished.

Brentford had endured a chastening first encounter after returning to the EFL Youth Alliance for the first time in a decade with a 5-0 defeat to Cambridge United last weekend, but they were right back in this match midway through the second period when Al Shubasi stabbed home for 3-2 from eight yards out following a deep free-kick.

A foul by Bolarinwa gave the Bees another chance to threaten with a set-piece, but Bessasa’s free-kick was swung over the crossbar.

Heath introduced trialist Mackenzie Vincent with five minutes remaining and, after seven minutes of injury time, Blues could finally celebrate a hard-fought three points.

Southend have received a bye in the First Round of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, so their next competitive outing is in a fortnight away to Cambridge United.

The teenage Shrimpers will take on Portsmouth in a friendly this Friday.

Southend United U18s: Purcell, Kamara, Bragg (Williams 46), Terry (Bangs 46), Droney, Bolarinwa, Hatcliff (Mackenzie Vincent, 85), Amir,  Fiddes, Bland, Fallows.

Subs not used: Cerullo & Poxon. 

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