A 1-0 Roots Hall defeat against Cambridge United destroyed Southend reserves' four-match unbeaten run in the Avon Insurance Combination League yesterday afternoon.

Eye on the ball -- Barrington Belgrave battles with Cambridge at Roots Hall. Picture: LUAN MARSHALL 7JE8X15C

Blues' second-string were the superior team over the 90 minutes, with makeshift frontman Ben Smith and busy midfielder Marek Szmid oozing quality for the Shrimpers.

The Southend duo, who are pressing hard for a first team spot, were head and shoulders above anybody else on the park, rarely wasting a pass and demonstrating impeccable control.

The Shrimpers also fielded two trialists -- Great Wakering Rovers midfielder Dan Trenkel and Colchester winger Matthew Hearn.

Trenkel, who has been training with Blues for two weeks, had a quiet game and will learn at the end of this week if he has a future at Roots Hall.

And fellow 18-year-old Hearn, who will be assessed by Southend's coaching staff over the next three weeks, flitted in and out of the game.

Cambridge hitman David Bridges poached the only goal of the game after just four minutes, stabbing home Colin Alcide's right-wing cross from ten-yards.

Blues goalkeeper Daniel Gay prevented Bridges from doubling his account soon after, making a fine save at the foot of his right post.

Southend's first sight of goal came via the boot of Trenkel, who was just off target with a scorching 25-yard effort on the half-hour mark.

Straight after the break, Cambridge custodian Shaun Marshall made a great reflex stop from just three yards out to deny Smith, following good link up play between widemen Hearn and Scott Forbes.

Smith was in the thick of the action again on 63 minutes, releasing Mark Beard with a superb reverse pass which allowed the full-back to find Hearn, who rattled the Cambridge crossbar from 12 yards.

Ten minutes from time, Smith's lobbed pass released striker Barrington Belgrave, who picked out substitute midfielder Sean Coburn, but his header was cleared off the goal-line by Graham Rush.

And in the very last minute, Belgrave was set up by Forbes, but Marshall denied the Blues forward with another solid parry.

More on Southend United FC

What are your views on Southend? Have your say on our Views on the Blues bulletin board

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002