SOUTHEND United's under 19 side were left frustrated after Mikey Faulkner's first-half finish was cancelled out by Keanu Flemming's goal for Boreham Wood in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday afternoon.

Blues dominated before the break, with Faulkner sweeping home midway through the opening period, but they were pegged back when defensive deficiencies enabled Flemming to level four minutes after the interval and, despite creating further opportunities, they couldn't force a late winner at the Len Salmon Stadium.

Competitive matches had been restricted in recent weeks, with Bromley failing to fulfil the last league encounter at Bowers & Pitsea FC and then last week's fixture away to Dorking Wanderers postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Redhill FC's Kiln Brow ground.

However, Blues showed few signs of rustiness in an impressive opening to the match, with Faulkner's through-ball almost releasing Jack Stone in just the second minute, only for Wood defender Adam Bisikri to step in and make an important challenge in the penalty area.

Stone continued to cause problems with runs down the channels, but he found himself marshalled well by Bisikri and a couple of passes were over-hit as the forward sought to get in behind the Boreham Wood defence. Indeed, the defender was omnipresent and he got an important block in to stop Stone firing home Faulkner's pass in the 13th minute.

Three minutes later, excellent build-up play from Poxon and Aidon Shehu led to Beau MacDonald finding Ronnie Blake on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was flashed over. On 20 minutes Faulkner's 25-yard attempt also cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches as Southend looked to get in front.

The go-ahead goal eventually arrived three minutes later, with Poxon's shot charged down at the expense of a corner in the lead-up.

MacDonald and Faulkner intelligently created space on the edge of the penalty area by darting into the box and then drifting back out, with MacDonald stepping over Blake's corner to enable Faulkner to caress his shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Faulkner's cross curled away from Stone on the half-hour mark before Bisikri again thwarted the Blues forward as he blocked another vicious shot. From the resulting corner Stone rose highest at the back post but couldn't send his close-range header on target.

As the first half drew towards its conclusion, Southend lost their fluency and Boreham Wood were able to push up the pitch.

They gained a number of free-kicks in Blues territory, but they couldn't capitalise and the hosts went in at the break a goal to the good.

Initially it seemed as though the second half would follow the pattern of the first as MacDonald combined with George Pulham to set up Stone in the penalty area, but he couldn't shake off Bisikri and turn to get a shot away.

Instead, Boreham Wood hauled themselves level as Blues made heavy weather of playing out from the back, enabling Flemming to loop the ball over Cerullo.

The Shrimpers custodian raced back to try to clear the effort off the goal-line alongside defender Hammond, but neither could avert the equaliser.

Faulkner arrowed a shot into the gloves of Kojosollana Abayemi in response, and Poxon also believed he had a claim for a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Adam Morley, but the referee decided that the Blues midfielder was the offender and gave the visitors a free-kick.

Heath introduced Obi Okafor in place of Poxon to try to turn the momentum around, and on 72 minutes Blake went close to a second goal for Blues when MacDonald sent in a right-wing centre and the cultured midfielder nonchalantly side-footed wide from 12 yards out.

At the opposite end Issac's lofted finish was deflected over before Miguel saw a half-volley cleared off the goal-line, but Blues went even closer on 74 minutes when Stone tested Abayemi with a shot on the turn. The Wood goalkeeper managed to push the shot away before gathering the loose ball ahead of Pulham.

Joshua Jackson replaced MacDonald, and he almost made an instant impression on 80 minutes when Huet's long throw was helped into his path by Stone and his angled strike was saved by Abayemi. Okafor also dragged a shot wide before Stone nodded over with six minutes remaining, but there was to be no way through for Blues.

Southend United U19s are next in action on Wednesday 21st February when Aldershot Town visit south-east Essex in the quarter-finals of the National League U19 Alliance Academy Cup.

Southend United U19s: Cerullo, Jones, Huet, Shehu, Zak Hammond, Beau MacDonald (Jackson 79), Pulham, Blake, Stone, Faulkner, Poxon (Okafor 62).

Subs not used: McGonigle, Miller & Molefi.

Goal: Faulkner (23).