Victory - for Southend United at Billericay Town
(Image: ROB CRAVEN)
Southend United FC.
SOUTHEND United's under 18 side returned to the summit of the National League U19 Alliance Division A table following a 2-1 victory away to Billericay Town.
Blues climbed above Lowestoft Town and West Ham United Foundation in a congested top three after this triumph at New Lodge, with Chelmsford City also handily-placed as the teams enter the second half of the campaign.
Muhammad Limbada’s goal on 27 minutes put the teenage Shrimpers in front before Billericay’s Noah Smith-Longwe levelled in spectacular fashion at the beginning of the second period.
However, Yobor Sorae’s first competitive goal for the club just after the hour mark ensured Tom Bailey’s side claimed all three points.
“It was a very good performance,” Bailey reflected afterwards.
“The game was tighter than it should have been with a wonder goal at the start of the second half but, for all but 10 minutes after the goal, we were really in control of the game.”
“After the second goal, we were controlled, and it was generally a good performance in terms of creating chances, how we won the ball back high up the pitch and how we won it back in transition.
"We built up so much pressure, and in the end it told, but we need to punish teams.”
“Earlier on in the season we’d have three shots and score three goals; we’re probably creating more chances now, but we’re missing chances and it cost us in the first half of the Bishop’s Stortford game, and it’s something we don’t want to get in the habit of doing.
"Overall, it’s a very pleasing performance, and the only thing we’d like is a score-line that reflects that.
Limbada’s inclusion in place of Nikolay Zlatev was the only change to the team that had progressed to the quarter-finals of the National League U19 Alliance League Cup the previous week.
And the midfielder was involved immediately in just the fourth minute, although neither he nor Ibrahim Lima could get a shot away following Oscar Miller’s cross.
Billericay replied with Riley Setters getting in down the left-hand side of the penalty area, but his cross was easily dealt with by Luca Sorrentino.
The visitors were back on the attack in the 10th minute when Dylan Pattison advanced towards the penalty area from midfield, only to have his run abruptly ended by defender Charlie Sutton on the edge of the box.
The hosts were not without their chances, and Callum Fisher could have nodded Town in front after a quarter-of-an-hour, but he failed to make the required connection with Archie Breach’s left-wing cross and in truth it was Southend that were enjoying the greater possession and the territorial advantage.
After 20 minutes, Brandon Dadson set up Limbada on the edge of the penalty area, but a fierce strike was charged down by a combination of two Billericay defenders.
Juts 60 seconds later Sisanda Maguranyanga was denied by a fingertip save from goalkeeper Kyle Lemming after he had hooked Ronnie Durussel’s delivery towards goal.
Southend would not have to wait much longer to take the lead for the first time.
Skipper Durussel was involved again, rolling the ball out to Sorae on the right touchline and his cross was met by an imperious Limbada header at the near post, with the ball flying into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Although Smith-Longwe curled a free-kick wide in the aftermath of the go-ahead goal, Southend grew in confidence and Maguranyanga’s right-footed attempt on the half-hour was brilliantly turned away.
Durussel also sent a searing strike narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards out, but the home side forced Sorrentino into a couple of saves as half-time approached.
Setters scuffed a shot straight at the custodian from close range and Elliott Upson’s fierce effort gathered at the second attempt.
But Sorrentino, and his team-mates, were caught out when Billericay kicked off the second half.
Smith-Longwe spotted the Blues custodian off his goal-line and tried his luck from the halfway line in audacious fashion, with the ball flying into the top left-hand corner of the net to level the encounter.
Despite Durussel almost hitting back immediately with a left-footed attempt that cannoned off the left-hand upright in the 48th minute, the game became much more frenetic as Billericay enjoyed their best period and Southend tried to re-establish control.
Upson set up Fisher, who arrowed a shot straight at Sorrentino, whilst Smith-Longwe dragged an effort wide before Bailey made his first substitution with Zlatev replacing Pattison in the 54th minute.
Shortly after the change, Smith-Longwe fired across the face of goal just before the hour mark, and Setters curled over shortly afterwards as Billericay surged forwards.
Against that backdrop, Southend reclaimed their advantage in the 63rd minute through an unlikely source.
Sorae hadn’t found the net in 12 previous appearances for the U18s, but he strode through midfield and arrowed a superb finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 25 yards out to make it 2-1.
The goal immediately settled any anxiety in the visiting squad, and Lemming did well midway through the second half to turn Zlatev’s cheeky flick around the post.
Lemming was beaten on 73 minutes, but the woodwork came to his rescue as Maguranyanga latched onto the ball and thumped a rasping shot over him and against the crossbar.
Less than a minute later Zlatev stabbed wide from Durussel’s cut-back, and Blues rattled the frame of the goal for a third time on 78 minutes when Maguaranyanga danced around Setters and saw his deflected effort bounce back off the bar.
Sorae flashed a shot wide three minutes later, and Prince Chinedum nodded a Dadson free-kick off-target, whilst Sorrentino did well to save from Fisher with five minutes remaining.
Despite that opportunity for the hosts, Blues were comfortable in the closing stages and Zlatev saw a shot deflected wide before Lemming did well to palm away Lima’s daisy-cutter.
Southend United U18s: Luca Sorrentino, James Datey, Oscar Miller (Jude Morgan 90), Ibrahim Lima, Prince Chinedum, Ronnie Durussel, Yobor Sorae, Dylan Pattison (Nikolay Zlatev 54), Sisanda Maguranyanga, Muhammad Limbada (Kye Munro 67), Brandon Dadson.
