Southend United youngsters make second round of cup after win

Blues had been beaten on penalties in the first round of the competition in each of the previous two seasons, being knocked out by Hampton & Richmond and Woking respectively.

However, goals by Jack Stone and Mikey Faulkner were enough to see the hosts prevail on this occasion, despite Ollie Rawlins equalising in the first half.

Danny Heath made a number of changes to the team that had been defeated 6-2 at Eastleigh in their final league game of 2023, with Ellis Lawson handed a debut in defence and goalkeeper Harvey Gluckstead making his first appearance of the season.

Jake Huet returned to captain the team alongside Joe Poxon, Ronnie Blake and Stone, who were all restored to the starting eleven.

Blues could have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Faulkner’s corner found Stone unmarked at the far post, but his header was directed wide.

Sixty seconds later Faulkner saw his shot blocked before the Dorking defence scrambled the ball away from Stone as he attempted to follow-up.

A bright start for the teenage Shrimpers continued in the tenth minute when the influential Faulkner picked out Poxon at the far post, but the midfielder could only direct his shot against the crossbar.

Even when Dorking attacked and Gluckstead saved from Liam Trevatt, Blues broke down the opposite end and Tyrese Sibanda forced Harry Charlesworth to turn his shot around the post.

Seb Tauta-Caballero dragged a shot wide for the visitors on 24 minutes, but four minutes later Blues were in front as Ronnie Blake’s corner was delivered into a crowded penalty area and Stone planted his header into the left-hand portion of the goal.

But the advantage lasted just four minutes as Dorking equalised quickly through Rawlins.

He seized on apprehension in the Blues back-line to latch onto Trevatt’s delivery from the left-hand side to make it 1-1.

The first-half goalmouth action ended in the 36th minute with Dorking rattling the frame of the Southend goal through Luke Bejashvili, who smacked a right-footed shot against the post, with the ball rebounding into Gluckstead’s grateful gloves.

Having dominated the early stages, Blues would have been frustrated to have gone in level at the interval, and they burst out of the blocks in the second period with George Pulham’s right-wing centre just eluding Poxon and Stone in the penalty area.

Southend would not have to wait long to grab the go-ahead goal.

A foul on Stone just outside the penalty area in the 50th minute led to a quickly-taken free-kick and Faulkner powered his way through the Dorking defence before slamming a right-footed shot past Charlesworth.

Lawson found Stone, who sent his effort whistling past the post in the 53rd minute, and the busy centre-forward also steered a shot into the side-netting just after the hour mark when Faulkner’s tenacity played a pivotal role in the ball finding its way into his path.

In-between Gluckstead saved well from Rawlins to prevent an equaliser.

Charlesworth returned the favour on 63 minutes when Faulkner fired the ball goalwards after a big shout for handball in the penalty area, whilst the goalscorer turned architect with 10 minutes remaining when his clever pass released Pulham, only for Charlesworth to save again.

Blues arrived in stoppage time with a slender 2-1 advantage, and they almost found themselves pegged back when Joshua Jackson gifted possession to Trevatt three minutes into additional time, but he directed his shot wide.

Hearts were in mouths again for the hosts three minutes later when Huet tussled with Tauta-Caballero in the penalty area but, after consulting with his assistant, the referee waved away Dorking appeals for a spot-kick.

Blues held on to progress, and now await details of their second round opponents, with that tie set to be played on Wednesday 24th January.

Southend United U19s: Gluckstead, Jackson, Lawson (Molefi 68), Sibanda (Shehu 77), Bradbury, Huet, Poxon (Okafor 87), Blake, Stone, Faulkner,  Pulham.

Subs not used: McGonigle & Hall.