Narrow defeat - for Southend United's youngsters at Hullbridge Sports
(Image: ROB CRAVEN)
By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.
SOUTHEND United’s youth team coach Danny Heath believes the squad will be “better for the experience” following a 2-1 reverse at Essex Senior League outfit Hullbridge Sports in their latest pre-season friendly.
Blues were beaten 2-1 by Hullbridge at Lower Road on Tuesday evening, despite forward Sisanda
Maguranyanga netting his second goal in as many games to put Southend in front.
The hosts scored twice before the break to turn the match around before a goalless second period.
But Heath believes the game will prove to be of benefit for Blues
“I thought we were fortunate to take the lead in the first half,” Heath admitted.
“They had numerous attempts on our goal and Luca [Sorrentino] made some great saves as well, so we were fortunate to go ahead.
“But it was a learning curve for the boys playing against a men’s team.”
And Heath was able to pick where improvements could be made.
“Playing against a men’s team, you’ve got to make sure the detail on the pass is spot on, and that you’re working hard to create the space so that it’s not always a physical battle,” said Heath
“Because the quality wasn’t there, I felt we started to go more direct, which played into their hands and they won a lot of first contacts, so the ball was coming straight back and we were defending.”
Blues took a surprise lead in the 32nd minute when Dadson progressed through midfield before sliding Maguranyanga clear for a clinical finish beneath the goalkeeper.
However, the advantage lasted less than 60 seconds as Hullbridge levelled straight from the restart.
The ball was worked into the penalty area and an attacker did well to take it wide before gently lifting his shot over Sorrentino.
Southend almost hit straight back as Harrison Lamb side-footed at the goalkeeper from Yobor Sorae’s pass.
But Hullbridge edged ahead in first-half stoppage time when a free-kick was charged down before a home player recycled possession and found an attacker at the far post, who slotted beyond Sorrentino.
Blues should have equalised ten minutes into the second half. Lamb spread play to Sorae on the right and his centre found Muhammad Limbada. His attempt from eight yards out was saved, and Maguranyanga’s follow-up was also repelled before Limbada had two further opportunities to force the ball over the line denied.
Just before the hour mark, Heath made eight planned changes and, although Hullbridge went close with a couple of shots and Josh Barrett was forced to tip another over, the performance improved.
Woolland’s clearance in the 69th minute was chased down by Nikolay Zlatev, who saw his fierce strike pushed out by the goalkeeper before Joe Poxon’s follow-up was deflected into the side-netting. Later, Julius Nwike’s header was saved on the goal-line before Lamb flashed a shot wide of the right-hand post in stoppage time as Blues suffered a narrow defeat.
