SOUTHEND United's under-18 side completed their season with a 2-1 victory at Brentford, leaving the Shrimpers in a respectable mid-table position after a seven-match unbeaten run.

The unbeaten sequence at the end of the campaign has seen many of the club's second-year scholars return from spells on work experience.

But at the same time, the likes of Stuart O'Keefe and Ronnie Jones, who scored the goals in the weekend win, have made excellent strides this season.

Fellow first-year scholars Nathan McDonald and Jack Morris have also ended the term strongly.

And they again impressed against the Bees in a match which began brightly as O'Keefe and Rhys Henry linked up to set up Jamie Forshaw, but the winger's effort was too close to the Brentford custodian.

The opening goal arrived just after the half-hour mark when Dan Harvey found O'Keefe on the right.

The promising midfielder exchanged passes with James Lindie on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce shot with his left-foot that bounced off of the underside of the crossbar and into the net to hand Southend the lead.

Henry could have added a second five minutes later with a free-kick that missed the target by inches, and at the break, Brentford decided to test another goalkeeper and change to a 4-3-3 formation in an attempt to tame the visitors.

The Bees posed a more physical threat in the second period, and again McDonald had to be on his toes to keep out an early shot.

The keeper made another decent save from a long-distance attempt before Brentford's keeper dived at Lindie's feet to stop him converting O'Keefe's through-ball.

Spurred on by the save, the home-side equalised with 18 minutes remaining as a hurried and mis-hit clearance from David Obaze led to a leveller as the grateful Brentford youngster evaded two challenges before driving the ball across McDonald into the corner of the goal.

Southend rode the storm and inside the final 10 minutes deservedly edged back in front when a Harvey's free-kick hit the far post and bounced out to Jones, who reacted quickest to turn the ball home in clinical fashion to secure victory for his side.

Southend: McDonald; Harvey, Jones, Obaze, Morris; O'Keefe, Abalimba, Abbey, Forshaw (Marcus 50), Lindie, Henry (Osifuwa 60). Unused substitutes: Ljungström, Adeyinka and Rieck.