SOUTHEND United’s under-18 coach Danny Heath was impressed with the contribution of the club’s schoolboy talent after seven under-16s featured in a 3-1 victory against Leyton Orient.

Two of the schoolboys – Kenny Coker and Jaden Crowhurst – scored during the opening period, while Crowhurst also played a part in setting up first-year scholar Tommy Lambourne for the third.

And Heath was happy to see the quartet play such an integral role in the success.

“I’m very pleased for the boys,” said Heath.

“We had four under-16s starting and another three came on, so we’ve had seven schoolboys feature in the game, which is a massive positive.

“Throughout the week, and especially in the team meeting, we spoke to the first-year scholars and the second-years that were involved about the importance of them being leaders on the pitch and their communication to organise the under-16s.”

Blues: Taylor, Clayden, Biler, Crowhurst, Wallace, Shala, Anyadike (Arrowsmith 89), Yeboah (Garzon 72), K Coker (Adedoja 89), Lambourne, Unwin.