SOUTHEND United's under 19 suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Maidenhead United in their latest National League U19 Alliance South Division fixture.

Both sides struggled at times on a difficult surface at the Berkshire College of Agriculture, but the hosts eventually prevailed thanks to goals by Enzo Pashraj and Luca Lombardi.

The result means Blues have now lost three of their last four matches.

Louis Bragg and Aidon Shehu were restored to the starting line-up for the encounter, with Joshua Jackson and Joe Poxon the players to make way from the side that had been defeated 5-0 by Woking at Bowers & Pitsea seven days earlier.

A foul by Bragg on Soul Hale provided Pashaj with an early opportunity to shoot, but he curled a fifth-minute free-kick over from the edge of the penalty area.

Five minutes later Luke Cerullo’s throw hit the back of Declan Fleming’s head and spiralled over the custodian before drifting away from goal.

Fleming also skewed a shot wide 60 seconds later, but after an inauspicious start Southend began to establish a foothold in the game and good combination play on the right flank between Bragg and Oscar Jones led to George Pulham nodding over in the 13th minute.

Jones and Thato Molefi were then required in a defensive capacity to stop Pashaj and Hale linking up in the penalty area before Bragg burst to the Maidenhead goal-line in the 26th minute and his cut-back was sent wide at the near post by Beau MacDonald.

Bragg and Archie McGonigle both sent teasing crosses in from the right-hand side as the first half continued, but there was no-one in the penalty area with sufficient desire to run across their marker and get an important touch on the ball to divert it in.

Instead, Southend went close in the 33rd minute through a speculative MacDonald attempt.

The midfielder spotted goalkeeper Oliver Burger-Williams off his line and chipped him from 35 yards out, only for the effort to bounce wide of the left-hand upright.

However, Maidenhead finished the first half strongly, with Jake Huet required to track Pashaj’s run in the 37th minute and Jaydn Dundas then going close with a curling free-kick four minutes later after Cerullo had handled the ball outside his penalty area.

The signs in the second half were initially good for Southend as Ronnie Blake's left-wing cross was glanced wide by McGonigle, but Maidenhead edged in front on 52 minutes when Pashaj fired home from inside the six-yard box after his first effort was blocked.

The instigation for the change in momentum was the introduction of substitute Jamie Davies, and he flashed a shot over from 15 yards out on 57 minutes before then combining with Hale on the left-hand side for a drilled centre that was cut out by Huet and led to Lombardi smashing over from besides the penalty spot.

Blues had a couple of openings shortly afterwards as Bragg crossed for Pulham, who couldn't control at the far post, and McGonigle also sent a delivery in from the right-hand side that Blake could only push into the gloves of Burger-Williams.

Jones made a vital intervention to clear after Davies had robbed Molefi midway through the second half, but Maidenhead duly extended their lead on 69 minutes despite Cerullo smothering a Davies strike and Jones clearing the follow-up off the goal-line, with Lombardi turning home at the third attempt.

Davies then dragged a shot wide of the right-hand post, whilst Josh McMenemy hooked over for the hosts as Southend restricted opportunities late on.

Youth team coach Danny Heath sent on former Barnet youngster Olubiyi Shobowale for the final 20 minutes for his debut, which he marked with a yellow card shown for a foul on Hale.

Blues are back in action on Monday afternoon away to Maidstone United before taking on Dover Athletic and Welling United the following week.

Southend United U19s: Cerullo, Jones (Saponara 70), Huet, Shehu (Hall 83),  Molefi (Shobowale 70), MacDonald, Bragg (Lawson, 62), Blake (Jackson 83), Okafor,  McGonigle, Pulham.