Echo News Blues youngsters finish season with big win against Billericay

[Evening Echo]

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Big win - for Southend United at Billericay Town (Image: ROB CRAVEN)
30th April
Southend United FC
Football.

SOUTHEND United's under 18 side finished their final match of the season at the top of the National League U19 Alliance Division A table, but they face a wait to discover their ultimate fate this term.
Blues swept aside Billericay Town, 5-1, in their last fixture of 2024/25 campaign on Wednesday, but title rivals Chelmsford City were unable to play their final game, reporting that opponents Aveley had called off their clash, leaving the competition to determine how the season will end.

Regardless of whether the squad ultimately claim the title or finish as runners-up, this inaugural campaign has been impressive from Tom Bailey’s charges, who have won 14 of their 18 league games and scored 68 goals in the process, as well as reaching the league cup quarter-finals.

Two of the squad, Ronnie Durussel and Nikolay Zlatev, have also made their debuts in senior football while on dual-registrations.

In this encounter, Southend were two goals up by half-time, with Ibrahim Lima setting the hosts on their way before Mason Hamilton diverted the ball into his own net just before the break.

In the second period, Finley Ledger, Sisanda Maguranyanga and Oscar Miller completed the scoring, with Callum Fisher grabbing a consolation for the visitors.

Blues could have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, but Zlatev’s left-footed shot was saved by Town goalkeeper Kyle Lemming.

Six minutes later, Maguranyanga was unfortunate not to be able to direct his header from a left-wing cross towards the target as the hosts flew out of the blocks.

Drew Saunders sliced wide after being released by Noah Smith-Longwe’s pass for Billericay in the 13th minute, and Smith-Longwe also fired wide with his left foot four minutes later, but the Shrimpers maintained their threat and Zlatev’s powerful effort only marginally cleared the crossbar in between those chances.

Lemming thwarted Zlatev again midway through the opening period, and Lima went close with a 30-yard attempt that was directed narrowly past the post, but the midfielder was soon celebrating his first competitive goal for the club as he nodded home from Miller’s searching cross on 25 minutes.

Prince Chinedum and James Datey combined to snuff out an opportunity for Billericay’s Elliott Upson on the half-hour, and that enabled Blues to double their advantage two minutes before the interval.

Superb interplay between Yobor Sorae and Maguranyanga led to the latter’s cross being turned into his own goal by Hamilton.

Maguranyanga stung the palms of Lemming early in the second half, but Billericay refused to buckle, and Jake Broom nodded inches wide from Sam Bryan’s deep cross in the 51st minute before Frankie Ishmail’s thunderous effort thudded against the crossbar.

Bailey introduced Ledger in place of skipper Durussel shortly afterwards, and midway through the second half the substitute contributed his third goal off the bench this term with an outstanding individual goal, shrugging off a couple of challenges before lashing a right-footed shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Six minutes later, Maguranyanga capped a remarkable debut season in south-east Essex with his 28th goal of the campaign, scoring in typically virtuoso style with his forceful run culminating in a left-footed drive that flew through the legs of Lemming.

On 83 minutes, Brandon Dadson’s free-kick was nodded across goal by Datey, but Miller failed to apply the finish and, instead, four minutes later Billericay had pulled one back as substitute Samuel Gordon went down injured and Fisher capitalised to side-foot beyond Luca Sorrentino.

Sorrentino later made a brilliant save to deny Smith-Longwe, but only after Miller – the sole player to have started every one of the team’s 23 matches – had scored his first goal since the opening day of the campaign by drilling a left-footed finish beyond the reach of Lemming to put the seal on the 2024/25 league season.

Southend United U18s: Luca Sorrentino, Ronnie Durussel (Finley Ledger 56), Oscar Miller, Ibrahim Lima, Prince Chinedum (Samuel Gordon 79 (Dylan Pattison 87)), James Datey, Yobor Sorae, Muhammad Limbada (Jude Morgan 73), Nikolay Zlatev, Brandon Dadson, Sisanda Maguaranyanga.

Sub not used: Harry Carter.