SOUTHEND United's under 19 side claimed their first point of the National League U19 Alliance South Division at Boots & Laces following a rollercoaster 3-3 draw with Oxford City.

Blues had been beaten in each of their opening two games of 2023/24 but, after squandering a two-goal lead provided by early goals from Joe Poxon and Piers Hatcliff, they claimed a share of the spoils four minutes from time when substitute Freddie Miller steered home from the edge of the penalty area.

Youth team coach Danny Heath was able to call upon Zak Hammond and Hatcliff for the first time this season following their recovery from injury, whilst forward Jack Stone was named amongst the substitutes and would make his competitive Blues debut later in the match.

The teenage Shrimpers almost took the lead in the fifth minute when Mikey Faulkner connected with Beau MacDonald’s near post corner but he scuffed his shot into the side-netting, but they wouldn’t have to wait long as Joe Poxon fired a MacDonald pass clinically into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 16 yards out three minutes later.

MacDonald then nodded over from Hatcliff’s hanging cross as Southend sought to immediately extend their early advantage.

On 17 minutes they did double their lead through Hatcliff, who collected the loose ball after Ronnie Blake’s initial effort had been blocked and curled a sumptuous effort into right-hand portion of the goal from the left-hand apex of the penalty area.

Within seconds Blues had almost added a third when Oxford goalkeeper Thomas Russell brilliantly pushed out a Poxon header from Obi Okafor’s right-wing cross, and on 21 minutes Poxon was denied by Russell again as the custodian smothered his attempt to clip home from a Faulkner pass.

Faulkner himself sent a fierce strike narrowly over the crossbar midway through the first half and it came as some surprise on 27 minutes when City reduced their arrears with Mehkai Bessasa-Grant capitalising on a slip in midfield to release Brayden Daniel, who arrowed his shot into the bottom right-hand corner of Charlie Brown’s goal.

Southend were undeterred, and Archie McGonigle thumped over after being located by Hatcliff on the edge of the penalty after half-an-hour before Faulkner forced Russell into an excellent save from MacDonald’s through-ball.

Oxford attacker Bessasa-Grant was starting to become ever-more influential in the game, and on 33 minutes he was unfortunate when his dinked finish beat Brown but clipped the outside of the right-hand post.

Nine minutes later – after Russell had tipped MacDonald’s header over – Bessasa-Grant drilled the ball across the face of goal with no-one on hand to touch home from close range.

It looked as though Southend might make it to the interval with a narrow lead, but with just over 60 seconds remaining Bessasa-Grant crossed from the right and Daniel volleyed home at the back post to make it 2-2.

Heath introduced George Pulham in place of Okafor at the break, but Kian Duggan tested Brown early in the second half and Bessasa-Grant also fired over in the early exchanges.

At the other end McGonigle drew a fine save from Russell, who later tipped Faulkner’s skidding strike against the base of the right-hand post, as the sides wrestled for superiority.

As the half progressed, it appeared more likely that the visitors would gain the ascendancy, with Duggan scuffing wide and Brown thwarting Bessasa-Grant at the near post.

On 74 minutes, Oxford did edge in front as Brayden turned provider to spot the run of substitute Charlie Bacon, who guided his finish into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.

Heath threw on Aiden Shehu and Miller, in addition to Stone, to freshen up the home side, and MacDonald blasted over before another replacement, Pulham, side-footed wide from Faulkner’s floating cross.

Stone nodded into the gloves of Russell from a Miller cross on 84 minutes, but a couple of moments later Blues were level.

Blake’s corner was only cleared as far as Miller on the edge of the penalty area and he connected sweetly to send the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Brown made a crucial save from Aydin Ulas, with Erden Magosha failing to turn home the follow-up for Oxford, within seconds of the equaliser, but it was Southend who almost snatched it in stoppage time when MacDonald’s free-kick was met by a Stone header at the far post and Russell produced an outstanding fingertip save to push to ball over.

“I’m pleased for the boys because it’s a first point on the board,” said Heath afterwards.

“They deserve that for the work they put in, day-in, day-out, and they should be pleased, too, but it’s only a good point if they build on it with performances moving forwards.”

Next week Blues take a break from league action to make their FA Youth Cup bow in Second Round Qualifying with a trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on Friday, 6th October.

Kick-off is at 8:00pm and admission is £4 for adults and £2 for concessions, with concessions gaining free entry with a paying adult.

Southend United U19s: Brown, Jackson, Huet, McGonigle (Shehu 76),  Hammond, Blake, Okafor (Pulham, 46), Faulkner, Poxon (Stone 62), MacDonald, Hatcliff (Miller 76).

Sub not used: Cerullo.