Southend United 2 Barking 0

FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, Tuesday September 28th

I decided to stay local on Tuesday and take the short bus ride to Roots Hall to watch an FA Youth Cup contest between Southend United and Barking, and it saw the hosts prevail in a tough contest after second half goals from skipper Jaden Crowhurst and Brian Garzon enough to take the win.

Barking had beaten Cheshunt to get to this stage but it was always going to be a tough assignment against a pro clubs youth side, and they almost found themselves behind early on when the hosts sent a header against the bar, and then Barking nearly gifted the home side the lead when keeper Callum McEvoy gave the ball straight to Sam Ratcliff, but with the goal at his mercy he saw his effort heroically blocked and the chance had gone.

McEvoy to his credit did make up for that afterwards by making three superb stops to keep the Blues at bay, whilst the visitors only real effort at goal saw Mekhi Stanford-Clarke fire a decent effort just high and wide of the far post/crossbar, but it had been a competitive opening forty five minutes and no doubt the visitors would have been pleased with their work so far.

It looked as though they would fall behind early in the second period though when Omari Williams was fouled inside the visitors box resulting in a penalty for the home side, but skipper Crowhurst saw his spot kick saved by McEvoy who continued to keep his side in the contest, but, eight minutes into the second period Crowhurst made amends for his missed spot kick by producing a lovely drag back, taking him into the box before firing across McEvoy into the far corner, a very good goal and one which was probably deserved.

Barking tried to respond and Peter Angelov, who had a decent second period down the left, fired a warning shot across goal and just wide of the far post, but just before the midway point of the second half Southend doubled their lead when Garzon struck home a powerful effort into the bottom corner from twenty yards or so, and you felt that was probably game set and match.

Barking did their upmost to try and force a way back into the tie, but they could not and although they competed well in this contest, they were beaten by the better side on the night, as was expected, and so the young home squad are through to the next round of the competition.

Full time Southend United 2 Barking 0