SOUTHEND United's under 17 side survived a huge scare as they edged out Lowestoft Town 4-3 in the National League U19 Alliance League Cup first round.
The Shrimpers appeared to be making serene progress after 40 minutes, by which point a Leo Filomarino brace had been added to Matthew Blake's opener.
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But Corbyn Dixon pulled one back before the break for the Trawlerboys and Luca Upton and Archy Gore goals made it 3-3 nine minutes into the second half before Thomas Telford notched the winner shortly after the hour mark.
"For 40 minutes we were brilliant and it was one of the best performances you could ask for," said Blues coach Tom Bailey.
"We were full of control and full of quality, and we got the three goals that we probably merited.
"Some of the link-up play and combination play, to play through their block, was superb.
"We have to be far better than what happened in the next part of the game; we know that as a group.
"It shouldn't have been a game where we have had to fight for our lives but, after it went 3-3, Lowestoft would've fancied a winner as they had the momentum.
"The character we then showed to get back control in the game was huge."
Blake took the place of Logan Hamlet in the only change to the team that had defeated Enfield Town, 1-0, in the opening match of the season.
Neither team was able to settle during the opening ten minutes, with Upton firing over for the hosts from the edge of the penalty area as he delivered the first shot of the game.
An ambitious attempt by captain Dylan Lovely bounced wide of the right-hand post for Blues before a clearance by Emmanuel Onuh set the visitors away on the counter-attack in the 11th minute.
Blake located Filomarino, but he smashed over with just goalkeeper Korey Beevor to beat.
Telford drew the first save of the encounter from Beevor after a quarter-of-an-hour, while Harry Carter in the opposite goal had to be alert to tip over Dixon's headed flick from a deep Callum Kemp cross midway through the opening period.
On 26 minutes, Telford failed to direct an Alfie Elliott cross goalwards, but 60 seconds later the visitors to Crown Meadow were ahead.
Hyams spotted Blake to his left-hand side and the forward fired home emphatically from inside the 'D' to leave Beevor with no chance.
Lowestoft, who like Southend play in Division A of the National League U19 Alliance, posed plenty of problems with their set-piece delivery and, just before the half-hour mark, defender Ashton Blogg nodded wide from a right-wing corner.
Two minutes later a throw was worked to Aiden Chirimunjiri, who saw a close-range finish blocked by Carter's legs.
Hyams chipped the ball over Beevor after latching onto Telford's diagonal pass in the 34th minute, but the angle was too tight to score, before Gore fired into the side-netting for the home side.
Blues then burst clear on the counter with Lucas Johnson releasing Blake.
He squared to Filomarino but Beevor was off his line quickly to smother the shot.
Southend did manage to double their advantage in the 39th minute, shortly after another Filomarino attempt had been tipped over by Beevor.
Blake retrieved the ball on the left-hand side following the resultant corner and hung up a cross for Harry Day, who nodded downwards to enable Filomarino to stab home from inside the six-yard box.
A minute later the lead had been stretched to three as Telford saw his ferocious strike parried out by Beevor.
Again Blake picked up the loose ball and this time a superb cross from the left-hand edge of the penalty area was headed powerfully into the net by Filomarino, who had ghosted in between two defenders.
However, Lowestoft had not given up hope and they scored a crucial goal of their own three minutes before half-time.
Gooch provided the delivery from the right-hand side and Dixon was on hand to turn a shot into the top right-hand corner.
Within four minutes of the start of the second period, the Trawlerboys had reduced their arrears still further after Upton impressively won a corner on the left flank.
Samuel Howell sent the dead ball delivery into the heart of the penalty area and Upton was on hand to force home.
Southend needed to reset, but appeals for a penalty for handball after Lovely's run into the area had been stopped were waved away and Blake then curled over.
Instead, Lowestoft drew level when Howell found Chirimunjiri at the end of a mesmerising run, and his cross was thrashed in by Gore at the back post.
The hosts had all the momentum at this stage, but a break in play for goalkeeper Beevor to receive treatment enabled Blues to recover their focus, and in the 57th minute Hyams saw a side-footed finish repelled by Beevor after a purposeful run by Filomarino.
Gooch fired narrowly wide for Lowestoft a few moments later, but the game's decisive moment arrived on 64 minutes.
Elliott played the ball inside for Blake, who flicked it on to Telford, and he beat Beevor to hook home from 15 yards out.
Substitute Logan Hamlet saw his shot pushed around the left-hand post by Beevor, but Blues would still need to work hard to see the game out.
Dempsey was cautioned for handball on 73 minutes, with Gooch nodding the ensuing free-kick over, whilst Sammy Tipple also volleyed wide for the home side with four minutes remaining.
Four minutes of injury time were added, but with Lowestoft becoming ever more desperate for an equaliser, the Southend defence stood firm, dealing with any deep deliveries and clearing set-pieces to book a spot in the second round, which is scheduled to take place in November.
Last season Blues reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup, and Bailey is keen to see the squad continue to progress this term.
"With The FA Youth Cup going really well and now getting into the next round of the League Cup, it means there are more games available for the boys," said Bailey.
"You learn more about each other from competitive games, and a cup run can build momentum."
Southend United: Harry Carter, Alfie Elliott, Lucas Johnson (George Howard 63'), Daniel Dempsey (Michael Jolaosho 82'), Emmanuel Onuh, Harry Day, Leo Filomarino, Dylan Lovely, Matthew Blake, Thomas Telford (Max McGovern 70'), Olly Hyams (Logan Hamlet 63').