SOUTHEND United's under 18 side moved to the top of the National League U19 Alliance Division A table with a 4-0 win away to Dagenham & Redbridge.
Nikolay Zlatev grabbed a hat-trick with two goals in the first ten minutes and another early in the second period before Sisanda Maguranyanga took his total for the season to nine goals for Tom Bailey’s team, who have now won their first three league games of the campaign.
And Bailey was pleased with the role both forwards played in the success at May & Baker Sports & Social Club.
“I’m delighted for Nikolay,” he said.
“I thought he was outstanding against Lowestoft with his contributions. He got one goal and three assists in that game, and his link-up play is outstanding.”
“As a striker, he wants to score goals, regardless of how well he is playing and what he is contributing to the team.
"For him to get a hat-trick today is great for him, and they were three different goals.”
“It’s pleasing for both strikers to have scored more than a goal a game, and that’s a really good sign for us.
"They will both get goals, and there were more signs that they are combining well together,” Bailey continued.
“Against Lowestoft every goal was one of them assisting the other, and here again they were finding each other in dangerous areas, and that will only help us because they are two fantastic forwards, and what they offer us is so unique as a front two compared to a lot of other sides.
"What they bring as individuals is important, but as a pair, they are a real asset to us.”
“Nikolay was outstanding in the last game, and as long as we are scoring, that is what is important to us.
"It doesn’t matter if it’s forwards or midfielders or whoever getting on the scoresheet, we want the team to be producing goals.”
That is certainly the case currently as Blues took their tally to 17 in the first four matches of 2024/25.
They wasted no time in breaking the deadlock against the Daggers as midfielder Kye Munro earned a corner in the third minute and then delivered a pinpoint cross to the near post for Zlatev to glance home.
Maguranyanga had already fired wide for the visitors by that stage, and he was involved alongside Munro as Southend made it 2-0 soon afterwards. Munro’s penetrating run ended with a high cross to the far post, where the forward teed up Zlatev for a clinical finish into the bottom left-hand corner from seven yards out.
Skipper Alfie Humphrey unfurled a 25-yard shot straight at Dagenham goalkeeper Ronnie Challis as the teenage Shrimpers attempted to ensure their early dominance was reflected still further, but when Southend’s levels dropped, they were indebted to goalkeeper Joshua Barrett for keeping them on top.
Barrett, one of two changes alongside midfielder Riley Sykes from the side that had defeated Lowestoft a fortnight earlier, made his first save in the 24th minute, pushing a Jacob Webb free-kick over the crossbar, and Southend were relieved when Catlin Harut swept a shot against the left-hand post from the resultant corner.
There was good work from Humphrey as he prevented Harut from latching onto an Aaron Greene pass just before the half-hour mark, before Barrett took centre-stage on 32 minutes, brilliantly thwarting Greene from point-blank range with his legs before leaping up to push the volleyed rebound away.
Two minutes later, Barrett was off his line to smother a low Harut finish one-on-one after the Daggers forward had got in down the left-hand side.
But, after a concerning ten-minute period, Blues were soon back on top and Maguranyanga saw a shot deflected into the side-netting after collecting Oscar Miller’s pass from the left touchline.
Sykes then set up Maguranyanga for a shot that was hooked over from the edge of the penalty area before Munro picked out the run of Yobor Sorae on the right flank and he cut inside before curling past the angle of post and crossbar.
Southend burst out of the blocks at the beginning of the second period and made sure of the victory within six minutes of the restart.
The first goal was gifted to Zlatev when Challis’ clearance dropped to his feet in front of goal inside the penalty area, and he had the simple task of side-footing home into an unguarded net.
Sykes saw a low shot saved by Challis before setting up Zlatev, who hit the upright as he attempted to add a fourth goal.
However, Blues would not have to wait long and, on 51 minutes, it was 4-0 as Sykes slid the ball underneath Challis and, despite the Daggers defence clearing off the line, Maguaranyanga’s effort trickled over the line via the inside of the right-hand post.
Bailey emptied the bench on 63 minutes to make full use of his squad, with Brandon Dadson curling a free-kick inches wide midway through the second half before another replacement, Muhammad Limbada, steered a 30-yard shot wide on his Southend United debut, with Humphrey also nodding a Dadson corner over.
Zlatev saw an attempt deflected wide eleven minutes from the end and Lima struck the crossbar with a looping effort from a Dadson corner, but Blues were made to play the final eight minutes with ten men after George Riches was dismissed having committed two cautionable offences since his introduction.
Alfie Hales fired wide for the hosts and Barrett denied Shay Scott to protect his clean sheet as the ten men registered a big win ahead of next week’s cup tie against Barking.
Southend United U18s: Joshua Barrett, Ronnie Durussel, Oscar Miller (Joseph Buck 63), Alfie Humphrey, Samuel Gordon (Ibrahim Lima 49), James Datey, Yobor Sorae (Muhammad Limbada 63), Kye Munro (George Riches 63), Nikolay Zlatev, Riley Sykes (Brandon Dadson 63), Sisanda Maguranyanga.
