A LATE header from striker Henry Sandat saw Southend United beat Bowers & Pitsea 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup tonight.

Aidan Brown fired Bowers into a deserved lead four minutes into the second half at the Len Salmon Stadium.

But goals from Max Fiddes and Sandat saw the Shrimpers advance into the first round of the competition before the matchwinner was sent off after being shown two yellow cards in stoppage time.

After an even start to the game, Blues registered their first shot on target when Sandat curled a 25 yard free-kick straight at Bowers goalkeeper Oscar Baines.

But after surviving the slight scare, Bowers soon came even closer to breaking the deadlock when Will Hayes rose high to head Rohan Hague’s free-kick against the left post.

However, chances were few and far between during a first half which saw neither goalkeeper required to make a save.

After the break, Sandat fired wide of the right post from long range before Bowers went in front in the 49th minute when Brown sent a clinical shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Moments later, the shell shocked Shrimpers saw penalty appeals waved away by referee Craig Wood after Sandat had gone to ground in the box.

But Bowers immediately replied and almost made it 2-0 when Alfie Osbourne saw a close range effort tipped over the crossbar by Blues goalkeeper Finlay Purcell.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Romeo Ebondo headed over a left wing corner from Ibrahim Kamara before the Shrimpers drew back level in the 61st minute, with Fiddes on target.

Fiddes’ strike partner Sandat saw his long range shot parried out by Bowers goalkeeper Oscar Baines.

And it was Fiddes who reacted quickest to the rebound as he nodded the ball home from close range.

Blues soon made their first change of the night with Alfie Terry replacing Alfie Bangs and the midfielder was immediately involved as he sent a low 25 yard shot straight at Baines.

But Blues went in front in the 84th minute when Kamara did well to beat his man down the right hand side before fizzing over a cross, Sandat headed home from eight yards out.

The Shrimpers came close to adding a third late on with Fiddes seeing a low shot impressively pushed wide of the left post by Baines.

However, the evening ended on a sour note as Sandat was shown two yellow cards in stoppage time and reacted angrily to the decision before making his way off the pitch.

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