Good win - for Southend United
(Image: ROB CRAVEN)
Southend United FC
Football
Sport.
SOUTHEND United's under 18s progressed to the quarter-finals of the National League U19 Alliance League Cup with a 4-0 win over Basingstoke Town.
Nikolay Zlatev set Blues on the path to victory by opening the scoring in the eighth minute, with Dylan Pattison adding a second after half-an-hour.
Sisanda Maguranyanga netted the third soon eight minutes after half-time before Pattison’s second, as well as a string of fine saves by Luca Sorrentino, ensured the teenage Shrimpers eased through.
Former Rangers and Hamilton Academical forward Maguranyanga returned from a one-match suspension to take his place in the staring 11 at the expense of Kye Munro, whilst Ibrahim Lima was preferred to Muhammad Limbada in midfield in the two changes to the team that had lost 2-0 to Lowestoft Town in their previous outing.
Basingstoke arrived in south-east Essex sitting in second place in their division, but having failed to win in their last three games.
Blues were also licking their wounds following that reverse at Crown Meadow, and it was the visitors who created the first chance in the second minute when Alex Kokoszka fired high and wide.
Three minutes later James Datey did well to clear under pressure following a left-wing cross, and that enabled vice-captain Zlatev to put Southend ahead with their first opportunity of note.
Blues immediately regained possession high up the pitch from Kameron Wise’s goal-kick, and Zlatev sent a powerful right-footed shot past the Town custodian.
Sorrentino made a routine save from Zac Rugman’s acrobatic overhead kick in the 24th minute, and Blues were soon celebrating again after doubling their advantage at the other end.
Oscar Miller’s corner was sent to the back post, and Maguranyanga recycled the delivery to Pattison, who diverted it into the roof of the net from a position parallel to the left-hand post.
The second goal sent confidence coursing through the veins of the hosts, and Zlatev soon sent a shot agonisingly the wrong side of the post before Wise denied Maguranyanga, who fired his follow-up effort over.
Another Maguranyanga attempt was saved by Wise, at the expense of a corner, and Lima nodded over in the 35th minute.
The opening period ended with Sorrentino saving Rugman’s free-kick and Basingstoke’s Charlie North sending a long-range attempt over, and the away team began the second half on the front foot with Charlie Barlow scuffing wide two minutes after the interval.
However, Blues eased themselves back into the ascendancy and Yobor Sorae should have tested Wise after being located by Miller’s raking pass in the 51st minute.
Nonetheless, it was soon 3-0 as Maguranyanga worked himself into a position to beat Wise, and he deftly finished two minutes later to grab his 16th goal of the campaign.
Basingstoke enjoyed more possession following the third goal, and Sorrentino did well to thwart Barlow after a poor goal-kick had presented him with a chance on the hour.
Then, on 73 minutes, Harry Bowden failed to find the target for the visitors from a free-kick.
Despite those openings for the away team, it was Southend that completed the scoring 12 minutes from time when Miller delivered a right-wing corner to the near post and Pattison rose to nod home his second goal of the game from six yards out.
There was still time for Sorrentino to make a brilliant point-blank save to deny substitute Will Carroll-Baigrie, and to keep out Barlow’s penalty after Prince Chinedum was adjudged to have handled in the area.
The gloveman made another impressive stop from the ensuing corner, and Rugman nodded over in stoppage time, as Blues capped their triumph with a clean sheet.
After defeating Dagenham & Redbridge, Barking, Lowestoft Town and now Basingstoke, Southend have made it into the last eight of the league cup, with the quarter-finals set to take place in mid-February.
Southend United U18s: Luca Sorrentino, Ronnie Durussel, Oscar Miller, Ibrahim Lima (Muhammad Limbada, 63), Prince Chinedum, James Datey, Yobor Sorae (Samuel Gordon, 85), Dylan Pattison, Nikolay Zlatev, Brandon Dadson (Jude Morgan, 79), Sisanda Maguranyanga (Finley Ledder, 66). Unused substitute: Kye Munro.
