Mustapha Carayol was on target for the Dons Reserves but Southend came from behind to win the opening Pontins Holidays Combination game of the season.

Carayol put the Dons into a deserved lead five minutes before half time to cap a solid performance in the opening period, where trialist Matt Carbon also made his comeback from a knee injury.

But after an earbashing at the break, the Shrimpers came back to force home an equaliser through Gary Hooper on 62 minutes before Jamie Forshaw's magnificent strike, a goal fit to win any game, settled it five minutes later.

The game was also notable for a superb performance by goalkeeper Laurie Walker - the Dons scholar pulling off a string of fine saves to keep the visitors in the game.

The young Dons side, taken by Director of Youth and Community Mike Dove, started the game superbly and nearly got a dream start on four minutes. Carayol's cross from the left reached Stephane Koffi at the far post and having seen his first effort cannon back of the post, the young striker's follow-up was scrambled off the line.

Walker was called into action for the first time on 25 minutes, making a fantastic double save to deny the Shrimpers attack after a dangerous cross from the left.

Walker showed a safe pair of hands again 10 minutes later, holding on tight to a piledriver from distance before the Dons took the lead through Carayol.

Moving cleverly inside from the left as he likes to do, the 18-year-old winger found shooting space on the edge of the box and shot firmly beyond Shrimpers 'keeper Steven Collis.

The home side heeded the warning and started the second half strongly, Carbon having been withdrawn in a planned substitution, and Walker was again drawn into action. Just before the hour mark, he made another fine double save - the first from point blank range before scooping the rebound away from the onrushing forward.

But Walker was left helpless shortly afterwards, taken out of the game as Jarrett lobbed a ball across the box from the left and Forshaw headed it back across goal allowing Hooper to head home from close range.

The young 'keeper hardly deserved to be picking the ball out of his net once, but five minutes later he was there again as Forshaw hit a brilliant winner from long-range.

The Dons were hard pushed to come back into the game as Carayol saw a tired-looking shot saved and Liam Kelly delivered a corner late on that Sam Page reached but was judged to have fouled Collis.

Mike said after the game: "It was a very good first half performances from the players with plenty of good football played but some of them tired a little bit towards the end.

"It was good to have Matty Carbon out there in the first half, a player of great experience that held the back line together excellently. It was good for the young lads to have played with the likes of him, John Hastings and the other pros involved, and good for them to get some time on the pitch.

"Laurie Walker had a superb game, he made some great saves and really kept us in the game at times. It was a top-drawer performance from him and a game he will take a lot out of.

"Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives to take out of the game. It was a predominantly young side we had out there today and there was plenty for them to learn and to take into their next game."

Dons: Walker, Mitchell-Coop (King 63), Collins, Kelly, Carbon (c) (Thorne 46), Page, Byrne, Williams, Hastings, Koffi, Carayol (Delderfield 84).

Subs not used: Fox.