Posh under 18s suffer 3-1 defeat at the hands of Southend United.

The Peterborough United under 18s suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of their counterparts at Southend United as their recent good of form was ended by the Shrimpers.

Dave Robertson's men found themselves 3-0 down, but created a host of opportunities in the second half to get back into the game but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept Posh at bay.

Liam Marshall did convert from close-range late on, but despite penning their hosts back, they couldn't set up a grandstand finish and the Shrimpers held on for the win.

Robertson said: 'We beat Southend quite convincingly earlier in the season with a very good performance, but Southend are a good side and to be fair to them, they have worked extremely hard and came into this game all guns blazing with a big point to prove.

'We started the game poorly, I was worried about complacency after five wins on the bounce and I could sense it in training. Southend got a foothold in the game and we found ourselves 1-0 down at half-time.

'After a very sterm half-time team talk, we came out in the second half and we created seven chances that I would have put my mortgage on the players' scoring, but we didn't. When Liam took a chance with 15 minutes to go, I still felt we would go on and get something from the game.

'Southend were on the back foot, but we couldn't get that second goal. Bottom line and the boys are all aware of this, we didn't fulfil our potential and as long as they learn from that and get back to winning ways, then that is the main thing,' Robertson said.

The Posh Academy Manager also confirmed that the following players have accepted scholarships from the under 16s group; Leo Da-Silva-Lopes, Harry Baldry, Hugh Alban-Jones, Luke Noble, James Goode, Michael Ford, Glen Ferrier and Dan Jarvis.

Posh: Ravas, Anderson, Adebayo-Rowling, Robinson, Humphrey, Ward, Keating, Marshall, Da-Silva-Lopes, Phillips, Friend.