Old Southendians are never on the Academy must win list. Always a tough side that have been unfortunate over the past few seasons to miss out on promotion. You wouldn’t have chosen this fixture to start with. But the fixture computer does what it does and so on a day more suited to a day at the beach (not Southend beach, it isn’t a beach, it isn’t as it claims ‘on sea’ it is on the muddy banks of the river Thames which just so happens to be tidal – this is a hill I’m prepared to die on) we had to take the misery road of the A127 and get on with it.

As is always thus we come up against a serious team. Players who all are dripping with experience, competitive and simply not willing to give an inch, and nor should they. What you have to do in these circumstances is either win the physical battle or be better at the basics. Dear reader the final scoreline tells you that we did neither of these things.

So back to the start. The first game for the Academy is always and interesting experience. Which of the boys have shot up/bulked out – Jake Sanders is the answer to that question (Max & Doug in close proximity) and which interesting new talents have reached the age of 13 and ready to go forward – we’ll come to them later. If you are a new reader to these match reports they are not an exercise in brevity. More is very much more, trust me. It’s a bit like visiting the dentist if you relax and just get on with it, it hurts a lot less.

Due to the unseasonal weather quarters were played which was a sensible decision but did add a slight air of not quite yet a serious league fixture to proceedings. I think it’s fair to say that the Academy had the better of the first quarter. Personally, in the unusual position of defence everything felt fairly comfortable. We saw off what they threw at us and in a quarter with little incursions into either D and no short corners all was well with the world. However, I refer you to the second paragraph above (the one about experience) Old Southendians made some positive changes, more men in midfield and spotting our weaknesses out wide. The longer ball through the middle was put away – it would make an unwelcome return later on when we were on the ropes doing our best Anthony Joshua impressions. Two well worked goals in quarter two. A word here for our ‘new’ goal-keeper Scott Parsons. 6-0 is a tough start but it certainly isn’t a reflection on his shot stopping skills or his ability to get quickly off his line – as we all know goal keeping is an unforgiving place and I don’t think any of the six were due to any mistakes he made. If anything, I can think of a few goal keepers that have graced the Academy net that might have let in a few more. Whilst there were a few struggling with fitness and the intensity of the game half time was ok. 2-0 down fine but there was still a game to play. We had some good moments. A nice quick move off a long corner, Chris to me, into Rob trying a deflection was enterprising and Jake Sanders demonstrated intelligent movement and good skill to get two efforts on target which required good saves from their experienced keeper. We had one short corner.

The second two quarters were less even. Old Southendians basically piled it on. It became wave after wave of attack. The 3rd quarter was using the vacant wings, and in the fourth quarter as the wings were a little bit more manned was just direct through the middle. Four goals followed of various quality, perhaps the Old Southendians match report will give you descriptions. The moments of respite were limited to a short corner, a few long corners and one further Jake effort working the goalkeeper.

Fundamentally we were out experienced. I thought the new players (Aiden, Sam and Charlie) acquitted themselves really well in what was a clear step up and hopefully they will all take some individual learning from it. Ball pace must be improved, and we have as a team to seek out space be that in our movement or where we are playing the ball. There probably will be a few tests as tough as this as the season wears on but that is certainly the upper quartile of what we will face in the season ahead. Old Southendians will be gunning for promotion, a nice mid table finish will do us very nicely thank you.

What else needs to be said? Well, the pasta was perfectly passable, Doug seemed to think it was the greatest food he had ever eaten judging by the carb loading he got through, Roffe’s face at the IPA that looked suspiciously like a larger was another treat. The journey home allowed me time to muse on one of life’s greatest unanswered questions. I can understand the ques leaving Southend but not the ones going in. What are they all doing there?

The Team: Scott Parsons, Fraser McLauchlan, Simon Roffe, Gary MacDonnell, James McKay, Chris Minor, Rob Sanders, Issac Minor, Aiden Pass, Jake Sanders, Max Bakal, Sam Severn, Charlie Sanders, Doug Muncey

Man of the Match – Fraser picked up votes and was excellent throughout, never let his head drop but Jake Sanders got one more and well deserved.