Southend United youngsters bag draw with Northampton Town

Neither team could break the deadlock in bright autumnal sunshine at the club’s training ground, extending Blues' unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions and leaving lead professional development phase coach Danny Heath pleased with his side’s defensive performance.

“It’s a massive positive that we’ve kept our first clean sheet of the season,” said Heath.

“To do it against Northampton is a compliment to the boys because they’re a good side.

"It’s a positive for us to build on because they could’ve come in two- or three-nil up with the chances they had.”

Northampton were on the front foot from the outset and Fin Amidi twice had opportunities to open the scoring inside the first three minutes.

The first chance came when he was found by Kai O’Keeffe from the left-hand side, but his effort was charged down, and seconds later he raced through and found his run impeded by Romeo Ebondo.

Blues almost took the lead in fortuitous circumstances in the sixth minute when Ibrahim Kamara hit the crossbar with an inswinging corner and Patrick Droney couldn’t turn home at the far post.

But the Shrimpers skipper was soon called upon in a more familiar defensive capacity in the 10th minute when he blocked another Amidi attempt on the goal-line following a Brad Smith-Howes free-kick.

Within a minute O’Keeffe had been presented with an excellent opportunity from a square Rico Duggan pass, but he squandered the opening at the far post by smashing over with just Fin Purcell to beat.

As the first half progressed, Southend did begin to establish a foothold in proceedings, with Omari Williams becoming more influential in the middle of the pitch, but chances remained at a premium and Smai Norman nodded into the gloves of Cobblers custodian Marcus Bald in the 34th minute.

Northampton’s play had begun to break down, with both teams turning the ball over in midfield, but O’Keeffe could had nudged them in front in the 38th minute when he drifted inside from the left flank before curling over from 20 yards out.

The first half ended with Alfie Terry doing well to win possession in Northampton territory as Blues benefited from a well-executed high press, but they couldn’t make the chance count as Williams fired over from the edge of the ‘D’.

The second half started with Purcell getting a crucial fingertip to Ayo Lekuti’s left-wing centre and taking it away from Duggan at the far post, and Blues began to build some momentum with Max Fiddes drilling a free-kick into the defensive wall after being brought down himself and then combining with Williams and Mitch Fallows to set up Terry, who was quickly closed down.

An injury to O’Keeffe meant Heath could impart further knowledge into his charges, but it also halted the home side’s rhythm and O’Keeffe’s replacement, Jamari Hart, set up Duggan at the far post, with Norman partially charging down the attempt and Purcell making the save.

Midway through the second period Blues could have edged in front through their trialist forward, who was inches away from connecting with a Fallows cross before meeting Terry’s recycled ball at the far post, only for Bald to make a point-blank save.

Heath made two changes, introducing first-year scholar Alfie Bangs in place of namesake Terry and schoolboy Louis Bragg for Ebondo with a little under 20 minutes remaining, and Northampton almost took advantage of the reorganisation when Duggan fired straight at Purcell in the 73rd minute.

Fine defensive work by Northampton’s Lekuti meant Fiddes was not permitted to latch onto a delightful chipped pass from Jacob Bland, and when the forward was located from Kamara’s knock-down in the 87th minute he steered his shot from the edge of the penalty area narrowly over.

In-between, Purcell had made an outstanding stop to parry out Rueben Wyatt’s close-range attempt from a Hart cross, with Williams getting back to win the ball from Dylan Hill as he tried to turn in the follow-up.

As the match entered stoppage time, it was the visitors who looked more likely to score with Josh Tomlinson heading over and Harry Guess screwing a shot wide from a Duggan lay-off, but Blues stood firm to pick up a well-earned point.

“I didn’t feel we looked like scoring,” Heath added.

“The trialist had a header at the back post and the keeper has done well to get across and save.

"There was Fiddesy at the end off of Ibrahim’s set on the edge of the box, but apart from that we didn’t create many chances and, because of that, it was important we kept a clean sheet.

Blues have now lost only one of their last 13 youth team fixtures since the end of March and, with a rearranged EFL Youth Alliance Cup tie against Milton Keynes Dons to come next Saturday, Heath is pleased with the start the squad have made in 2022/23.

“It was an enjoyable 0-0 to watch,” he said.

“Our second half play in general was much better than the first half, but they looked to press us and we needed to be a bit more confident to break the press.

"That’s something we can learn from and take into next week.”

“We’ve only lost one of our first eight games and that’s a good start to the season.

"It’s probably the best we’ve started in my four years as youth team coach, so although we’re a bit disappointed with how we played in the first half, I was pleased with the second half performance.”

Southend United U18s: Purcell, Ebondo (Bragg, 71), Norman, Bland,  Droney, Terry (Bangs, 71), Kamara, Williams, Trialist, Fiddes, Fallows.

Subs not used: Cerullo, Hatcliff & Macdonald.

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