By Tim Dudding

Albion's under-18s got back to league action with a bang on Saturday morning as they ran out emphatic 5-1 winners at league leaders Southend United.

Jordan Woodley bagged a brace on his first start of the season, as did striker partner George Barker, while Conor Wilkins was also on target for the Seagulls.

It was Albion's first run out in the Youth Alliance for two months, and their performance won glowing praise from boss Steve Brown.

He told seagulls.co.uk, "The boys were outstanding. We used a diamond system which we had only started working on last Wednesday, and from the first minute we dominated affairs.

"The only disappointment was that we conceded a goal, and the players themselves are disappointed with that because it was such a dominating performance we would have liked to have won it with a clean sheet.

"But that was a minor point on what was otherwise an outstanding display of passing and movement, especially through midfield."

Download the Youth Alliance newsletter for full results and league tables.

Albion: (4-4-2) Walker; Cooper, Sheriff, Hall, Bolwell; Hayward (Cumming-Bart 87), Wilkins (Goodwin 84), Thomson, Smith; Woodley (Hider 70), Barker. Subs: James (GK), Shonk.