SECOND half goals by Joe Poxon and Jack Stone helped Southend United's under 19 side record a 2-0 win over Slough Town at Garon Park this afternoon

Blues maintained their position in fifth place in the National League U19 Alliance Academy South Division with this latest success, and a third consecutive victory means the squad are now just one point behind second-placed Maidstone United.

It is the first time since April 2022 that Danny Heath’s side have claimed three straight wins, and the youth team coach was delighted with the display.

“I’m really pleased with the performance, and the players can be pleased and proud of their performance," said Heath.

"It’s always nice to get the win to go with it as well.

“Their team target after 10 games was to be within the top three as a minimum.

"We’re going to Dartford next week with a chance of achieving that target, and I don’t think last year we got as high as fifth, let alone third.

“The boys are buzzing, but how they are performing, week-in and week-out, is a testament to the work they put in, day-in and day-out, on the training pitch, but also off the pitch in terms of their camaraderie and togetherness, which is pleasing.

“That goes a long way, because when you step on that pitch and you are playing the game, you want to fight for each other.

"This group also want to fight for the badge, and that is the bare minimum that you can ask for."

Blues made just one change to the starting line-up from the previous game, against Aldershot Town, with matchwinner Obi Okafor rewarded for his goal by replacing Freddie Miller.

Skipper Poxon dropped back into midfield to accommodate the attacker’s presence.

It was the visitors that delivered the first shot on goal, in the third minute, when Brian Nelson’s 25-yard strike was deflected into the gloves of Luca Sorrentino, although that would be the only time Slough would test the Shrimpers shot-stopper in the opening period.

Southend were playing into a strong wind before the break, and they initially struggled to get a grip on conditions.

Jack Stone was outmuscled as he challenged defender Aaron White for an aerial pass in the fourth minute, whilst Zevieyan Makangu’s 25-yard off-target attempt failed to reach the goal-line.

However, a delay for treatment to White enabled Heath to speak to the players, and Blues stepped up their intensity, with Mitchell Ward spotting Nathan Woodley on the overlap in the 20th minute.

His cross was chipped into the gloves of Ryan North by George Pulham at the back post.

Woodley threaded a pass in behind the Slough defence for Okafor in the 26th minute, but North sprinted off his line to gather at his feet just inside the penalty area, while White did well to track another Okafor run after Poxon had won possession on the halfway line.

The eventual shot was partially charged down and North was able to make the save.

Blues were organised behind the ball and the away team struggled to make any inroads into opposition territory.

Instead, the first half action ended with Pulham’s cross being nodded out to Makangu on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder curling into North’s gloves.

After the interval, Southend managed to make some forays into the Slough penalty area, but North wasn’t initially called into action.

Stone tripped on team-mate Makangu’s toes as he tried to turn in the box in the 49th minute, while Okafor and Rio Thomas saw attempts blocked shortly afterwards.

The game began to become more stretched, and Thomas did well in his own area to dispossess Wyatt Marin in the 57th minute before North over-committed at the opposite end and Stone almost caught him off his line, but the Slough defence was able to cover and clear.

Molefi’s long ball then released Stone shortly after the hour mark, but his attempt was deflected wide before Marin whipped a shot over from 20 yards out for the visitors.

Alfie Humphrey was introduced in place of Julius Nwike on the right-hand side of defence on 63 minutes, but it would be down the left that Blues would find success seven minutes later.

Thomas switched play to Ward on the left-hand side of defence, and he quickly moved the ball on to Woodley inside him.

The same combination had led to Okafor’s goal last week, but this time, instead of Woodley delivering the cross, Ward continued his run and received the ball back before sending a centre to the back post, where Poxon was able to tap home.

The celebrations had barely finished when Southend doubled their advantage.

A mistake in midfield enabled Blues to capitalise, with Stone arcing his run to beat the offside trap and receive a pass before lobbing the advancing North to score his eighth goal of the season from the edge of the penalty area.

Stone glanced a header onto the roof of the net seconds later as Blues sought to confirm their dominant position, while Okafor curled wide from Ward’s pass in the 79th minute.

But Slough also went close when midfielder Reece Mather sent a swerving strike against the crossbar, whilst Sorrentino did well to win the ball from Alex Vick with his feet six minutes from time.

Ward arrowed a shot into the gloves of North two minutes later, and Woodley smashed over in stoppage time, but Southend’s work had been completed. “

Southend United: Luca Sorrentino, Julius Nwike (Alfie Humphrey 63), Mitchell Ward, Zevieyan Makangu, Rio Thomas, Thato Molefi, George Pulham (Olu Shobowale 76), Nathan Woodley, Jack Stone, Joe Poxon, Obi Okafor.

Subs not used: Joshua Jackson, Freddie Miller & Jared Nana Asare.