Southend United 0 Crystal Palace U21 3

Pre Season Friendly, Friday 29th July

Friday night saw me over at Roots Hall as the Blues continued their warm up to the Vanarama National League Season but fell to defeat to Crystal Palaces youngsters on another bright evening on the Essex coast.

This was The Blues penultimate game ahead of the the new season and they had early openings as they started brightly with Shaun Hobson heading an early chance off target before a Dan Mooney effort from distance almost caught out Palace keeper Own Goodman, and then Chris Wreh got a shot away which was straight at Goodman.

In the 20th minute though a flowing move from the visitors saw them take the lead, which was started and finish by Scott Banks, he spun away inside his own half before carrying the ball forward, played a one two with Killian Phillips, before Banks slotted home from inside the box, and although The Blues had a wonderful chance to level when Wreh beat the offside trap, only for Goodman to come off his line to thwart him, and then Callum Powell glanced wide a Tom Clifford centre, Palace were to double their lead before the break.

It all came from The Blues trying to play out from the back but messing it up and conceding a corner, a corner that Banks played into the box which was headed back across goal by Jake O'Brien and then nodded home from close range by Rob Street, and it saw the hosts go into the break two goals behind.

Kevin Maher's side looked very lively after the break and could have easily been level within ten minutes of the restart, Clifford saw an effort cleared off the line before Hobson then sent a header against the bar, and then Clifford crossed for Mooney whose effort was also cleated off the line by Noah Wilson, but any revival was put to bed when Palace made it three around the hour mark.

This occurred when Steve Arnold managed to pull off a smart save to thwart Street, but the ball fell to Banks who smashed home his second of the evening and sealed a 3-0 win for the visiting side.  

Full time Southend United 0 Crystal Palace U21 3