JACK Stone’s second goal of the season helped Southend United's under 19 side to record a 1-1 draw away to Dorking Wanderers.

Stone scored five minutes into the second half to put Blues in front, but Ollie Rawlins levelled seven minutes into stoppage time to prevent Danny Heath’s side from claiming victory.

But Heath was pleased to see Stone contributing again with his fourth goal involvement in three games.

“Stoney has come in, and where he is now from where he was when he arrived, it’s not just about his goals, but also his hold-up and link-up play. His decision-making has improved massively,” said Heath.

“When he came in, he felt he was judged on goals, but now he is making positive decisions and if someone is in a better position and you make the pass, that’s good for the team. He can be very proud of that.”

Blues made just one change from the team that had been defeated by Oxford City in their previous National League U19 Alliance Academy South Division outing as Freddie Miller replaced Nathan Woodley in the starting line-up, and they started the game well at Meadowbank after Charlie Brown had made a second-minute save from Mason Myles.

The visitors saw an early effort saved by Dorking goalkeeper Harry Charlesworth before another attempt was angled across the face of goal in the eighth minute.

At the other end, Liam Manby’s header drifted wide after a quarter-of-an-hour before Brown made a comfortable save from Jay Richardson.

The teams went in at half-time all-square, but the Shrimpers wasted little time in edging in front through Stone in the 50th minute.

Joshua Jackson’s delivery was perfect for the front man to send a header into the net.

Dorking responded with a raft of substitutions, and Rawlins almost levelled in the 55th minute from a Myles knock-down, but Brown made a stunning point-blank save to thwart the Wanderers forward.

With 20 minutes remaining, Donny Daniels sent Rawlins clear, but Brown this time made an excellent save with his legs before Rawlins nodded the resultant corner wide.

Another effort by Manby was blocked before Dorking were forced to complete the game with ten men due to a player injury having made their quota of five substitutions.

It looked as though Blues had done enough to secure the success, but a final roll of the dice from the hosts saw Thato Molefi head a long throw clear before the ball was looped over the back-line and Rawlins did well to steer his finish past the advancing Brown and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

“We work on our set-plays, so it was really pleasing to see that come off and, after we took the lead, I felt we were in control of the game,” Heath reported.

“They didn’t look like they were going to get back into it, although they were unfortunate to play the final ten minutes with ten men.”

“We could see from their shape how they were going to look to play.

"They were direct, but we dealt with it well and we didn’t give them any chances.

"But with 30 seconds to go they got a throw-in and, although Thato defended it well initially, they then got the first contact, and our marking wasn’t the best, so they were able to score.”

Southend United U19s: Charlie Brown, Julius Nwike, Thato Molefi, Olu Shobowale, Joshua Jackson, Freddie Miller (Obi Okafor, 62), Johnny Gurie, Joe Gurie, Mitchell Ward, Joe Poxon, Jack Stone. Unused substitute: Joshua Barrett.