Danny Marney returned to haunt Southend and hammered out a message to Mark McGhee: Don't forget me.

The versatile frontman, who played 17 times for the Essex club on loan last season, scored both goals and hit the woodwork twice as Albion Reserves fought back to win 2-1 at Roots Hall.

The Seagulls, who included 14 youth team products in their 15-man squad, fell behind after only a minute when Adam Virgo gave the ball away to Michael Husbands who beat Chris May with a low shot.

Marney levelled with a neat chip over keeper Carl Emberson after eight minutes, despite a desperate attempt at a goal-line clearance by defender Mark Warren who hit the ball off the inside of a post only to see it rebound into the other corner.

Sixteen minutes later, the impressive Marney curled a 20-yarder onto the bar with Emberson well beaten.

But it was only a temporary reprieve for the Shrimpers as Marney pounced on Dan Beck's inviting cross to double Albion's lead after 39 minutes.

The tireless Ben Watson created another opening for Marney with a piece of skill on the left but Emberson saved the forward's 25-yarder.

Although May saved well from Daryl Plummer, it was Albion who looked more like scoring again after the introduction of 17-year-old striker Jake Robinson on the hour.

Emberson thwarted Robinson after Albion's youngest first-team scorer caught Stuart Williams in possession, scenting the tenth goal of his breakthrough season.

Robinson showed great vision with a defence-splitting pass, but Emberson may have got a touch to deny Marney a hat-trick as his shot hit a post.

Albion's youngest scholar, Dean Cox, who was 16 in August, made his debut for the reserves as a substitute.

Albion: C. May, Breach, Harding, Budd (Cox 86), Virgo, Hinshelwood, Beck, Pitcher, Marney, Windsor (Robinson 60), B. Watson. Subs not used: G. Elphick, Carey.