February 17, 2024
Today’s visitors to Court Place Farm were another former Football League club making their first ever visit, in the shape of Southend United, as bottom faced 20th in the table.
Oxford City started the day in desperate straits. Following their 1-0 victory over Ebbsfleet United covered in these diaries in January, they had fallen to three consecutive away defeats to relegation rivals, Kidderminster Harriers ( 2-3 after being two goals up ), Woking ( 0-2 ) and Dagenham & Redbridge ( 1-7 after having to field an injury decimated team ).
Now sitting 7 points from safety and having played more games than most of the sides around them, they really were in need of stringing together a run of good results if they were to have any hope of staying in the division for another year.
Southend United
As recently as 2006/07 Southend were playing in the Football Championship, but they were relegated from League Two at the end of 2020/21. In their two seasons in the National League so far they finished 13th in 2021/22 and 8th in 2022/23.
Home is the 12,392 capacity Roots Hall, and they have a nickname of The Shrimpers.
On several occasions recently they have looked on the verge of going out of business due to winding up orders for debt to the HMRC, and transfer embargos were placed on them due to non-payment of salaries to staff. However, the embargo was lifted in December and the completion of the sale of the club is reportedly imminent.
There has been much praise for manager Kevin Maher, who played nearly 400 games for the club and has been in charge since October 2021, who despite the difficulties in fielding sides this season won the Manager of The Month award for October. For the home match again Bromley in December, Southend were only able to name one substitute, and when keeper David Martin was injured, full-back Gus Scott-Morriss had to go in goal. In the circumstances, it wasn’t a surprise that they slipped to a 1-2 defeat.
Southend started the day in 20th position in the table with a 13-5-12 record but had suffered a 10 point deduction due to their financial irregularities, without which they would have been in 10th place. Their position in the table might be a little further misleading as they had played two or three games less than the other sides around them at the bottom of the table, but they need to take points from those games in hand to move away from trouble. Southend had the best defensive record in the division with only 33 goals conceded but had scored fewer goals than Oxford City !
The Shrimpers’ recent form had been patchy, with three consecutive defeats, but they had won at Eastleigh ( 1-0 ) and at home to Halifax ( 3-0 ) prior to that. In their last 9 matches they had 3 wins and 6 losses.
The average home attendances this season have been an impressive 6,311, which incredibly is only the third best in the National League after Chesterfield and Oldham. The highest attendance was the 8,275 for their 2-1 win against runaway leaders Chesterfield, and 6,075 watched their mid-week 2-0 home win over Oxford City in October.
Ex-Grimsby and Stockport Country Scottish striker Harry Cardwell was the top goal-scorer with 12 goals, followed by ex-Northampton and Carlisle midfielder Jack Bridge and full-back Gus Scott-Morriss with 5.
Midfielder James Morton was in the Bath City side that beat Oxford City at home last season in a game covered by these diaries, and defender Jason Demetriou has been with the club since 2016. Ex-Accrington Stanley, Stevenage and Notts County midfielder Noor Husin has 20 caps for Afghanistan and left-back Nathan Ralph played for Southend in League One, as well as for Dundee and Yeovil Town.
I have seen Southend on three previous occasions, all of which were in 1987/88 against Brighton and Hove Albion when I was a Seagulls season ticket holder. First was a visit to Roots Hall in a paltry crowd of 3,789, when a late diving header from centre-back Shane Westley gave Southend a 2-1 victory in Division Three. Former Brighton keeper Eric Steele was in goal for The Shrimpers with Martin Ling , Roy McDonough and Glenn Pennyfather also being in their line-up. Ex-Brighton midfielder Paul Clark was player-manager and was on the bench.
Southend then frustrated Albion on Boxing Day to earn a 0-0 draw at the Goldstone Ground, but Brighton got revenge of sorts in the Freight Rover Trophy with a 4-2 win, when ex-Southend winger Garry Nelson scored twice for the Seagulls on his way to 36 for the season. Brighton were promoted at the end of the season as Southend finished in 17th.
Matchday Information
The distance between Southend and Oxford is around 110 miles via the M25 and down the M40, which would normally take just over two hours outside of peak traffic delays.
The match was all-ticket with no cash entry on the day. Southend had been allocated a huge total of 1,200 tickets, meaning the attendance would easily be the highest of the season for Oxford City. It was a good job I arrived an hour before kick-off, as I bought the last programme available for sale in the home end !
Bet365.com made Southend 1/2 odds on favourites, with Oxford City at 5/1 and the draw at 10/3.
On a dry day, the forecast temperature for the 15.00 kick-off time was for an unseasonally warm 14 degrees, but it felt much colder than that and I regretted not wearing my woolly hat !
Southend made two changes to their side that started in the 0-1 home loss to York City, with on loan Hull City striker Henry Sandat and midfielder Wesley Fonguck coming in for Danny Waldron and James Morton, who dropped to the substitutes bench.
Oxford City made five changes from the side thrashed at Kidderminster, with Andre Burley, Renny Smith and Josh Parker returning from injury, and with debuts for keeper Tom Watson on loan from Wigan Athletic, and centre-back Brooklyn Kabongolo, who played 13 times for Southend earlier this season, and scored in the game against Bromley mentioned above.
Southend were in a change kit of pink shirts, white shorts and light blue socks, whilst Oxford City were in their usual blue and white hoops with blue shorts.
Match Report
Oxford City made a bright start and with just over a minute played Southend captain Ralph was shown a yellow card for a nasty foul on Greenslade near the corner flag. Ashby’s free-kick was well headed away by Miley.
A nice move from the Hoops between Ashby and Parker put Smith in space inside the Southend area, but again Miley did well to avert the danger with a timely tackle.
With 5 minutes played Southend had their first attempt on goal but Fonguck’s long-range shot was blocked by Fleet. Three minutes later Husin played a lovely through ball for Cardwell to run onto but the striker’s shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper, who gathered at the second attempt.
Shortly after, following a scramble in the six yard box, Fonguck had a shot blocked and from the rebound Ralph saw a close range shot bravely blocked at the back post by Phillips. The Southend players appealed for a handball but the referee though, was having none of it.
The Shrimpers were looking threatening and after three strong tackles kept possession the ball reached Fonguck inside the Hoops area on the left and his low left-footed shot saw Watson produced a good one handed save, but no-one was on hand to tap into the empty goal and the home defence cleared.
At this point the barriers segregating the crowd were moved to allow the visitors more space next to the main stand.
City carelessly gave away a possession when a pass was intercepted close to the half-way but with Fonguck getting into a dangerous position, Ashby produced a fine tackle to end the risk.
Roddy was the first player from the home side to receive a yellow card, after being dispossessed by Husin a stray arm brought down the Afghan international.
Southend continued to dominate and in the 19th minute Bridge flashed a low drive across the goal-mouth but the ball went off for a throw-in to Oxford City.
The home side responded with a nice passing move that gave Burley the opportunity to run at the Southend back-line but an excellent ball winning tackle sent the St Kitts and Nevis international flying in the air, but play continued with Burley prone on the ground. Southend counter attacked but lost possession on the edge of the Oxford City box, and when The Hoops looked to break, the referee stopped play to allow treatment to the injured Burley
When play eventually resumed, a neat City spell of passing inside the Southend half end when Smith passed to Burley, who was waiting permission from the referee to return to the action, so the ball rolled out for a throw-in to Southend.
Williams-Bushell played a good ball forward to find Smith running into the Southend area but when he attempted to turn inside, Kensdale stopped him with a fine tackle.
With 30 minutes on the clock Miley tried his luck from distance, but his effort sailed over the clubhouse.
The game’s first moment of controversy came a minute later. Fleet’s short pass through the heart of the Southend defence was not cut-out by Crowther so Parker was able to run onto it for a 1 vs 1 on the keeper. Parker unselfishly squared the ball for Smith to roll into the empty net. Unfortunately for the home supporters the linesman’s flag was raised, presumably for off-side against Parker and the goal was chalked off. I would like to see the replay of this as it looked like Parker had run past a couple of defenders to get to the ball………
The game was now end to end, and in the 32nd minute Crowther managed to get ahead of keeper Watson to met a right-wing cross from Scott-Morriss, but the header went just over the bar.
Hulin then produced a delightful cross-field pass to give Cardwell the chance to run at the Oxford City defence, but his first touch was a fraction heavy, enabling Burley to take the ball off his toes.
The referee was trying to let the game flow, not giving fouls when City players hit the deck on a couple of occasions after robust challenges which other refs might have blown for, but I had no problem with this.
In the 37th minute, Williams-Bushell produced a good piece of skill to get past Bridge, but his cross was too high for Parker. A minute later Parker looked up to see Williams-Bushell in acres of space on the right, and from the pass, a fierce shot produced a top class one-handed diving save from Cameroonian keeper Andeng-Ndi.
The next contentious moment occurred in the 39th minute. Burley played a tremendous long ball forward from close to his corner flag. Kensdale tried to intercept with a header but the ball went over his head and Parker latched onto to run clear on goal only to halted by the linesman again raising his flag for offside. To me this looked to be an appalling decision as Parker had been at least two yards on side when the ball was played, I was right in line..…..
The Hoops were enjoying a good short spell, but when Parker played a through pass to put Greenslade clear on the left Scott-Morriss made a good slide to win the ball and concede a throw-in.
However, Southend ended the half strongly. A nice move down the right saw a cross just a fraction too high for Cardwell who could only head high into the air, and Williams-Bushell cleared the lines for The Hoops.
Another ball behind the City defence gave Cardwell a chance but his shot on the stretch was partially blocked by the keeper and Phillips cleared to safety. Scott-Morriss then played a ball down the right channel for Husin to get to the by-line but his low cross was excellently put off for a corner by Phillips, sliding to intercept in front Sandat at the near post. When the corner was pumped into the mixer, the defending from the home side was unconvincing, but they were eventually able to clear and to go into the dressing room with the game still scoreless.
The Shrimpers had looked the better side for most of the half, but The Hoops had twice been denied by the linesman’s flag and by once by a world class save.
The second half started quietly with the only action being Kabongolo nearly being caught out by Sandat when trying to escort the ball out of play but he recovered to win the goal-kick. Bridge then ran into a good position on the left but his ball into the Oxford City area was cleared by Fleet.
At the other end Oxford City had a 3 on 2 break but the pass from Parker was poor and intercepted for a throw-in, after which Bridge delivered a quality ball from the right but Greenslade made a good defensive header at the far post just when it looked like Scott-Morriss should score. From the corner, City had at least 5 opportunities to clear but failed, and when the ball fell to Crowther, the centre-back’s shot from just inside the 18 yard line slammed against the bar.
Southend were again in the ascendancy and a quickly taken free-kick Sandat teed up Cardwell, but his effort went a few feet over. Another flowing move involving Scott-Morriss and Husin on the right gave Fonguck the chance to go for goal from 12 yards, but his shot was tame and blocked by the keeper’s body.
Although Oxford City keeper Watson was looking to be a good shot-stopper, he seemed reluctant to come off his line to claim crosses, putting pressure on his defence, and another scramble was hacked clear.
Scott-Morriss continued to feature prominently as Southend pressed for the opening goal, and his right-wing cross was met by Sandat, but the forward could only volley over the bar from 6 yards.
In the 64th minute, The Shrimper’s keeper sliced a clearing kick which Parker was able to control. He laid the ball back to Ashby, who unleashed a 30+ yard piledriver which crashed against the bar and over. A minute later Southend again sloppily gave away possession in their own half and Roddy was invited to run into space on the left, but his low ball across goal was just ahead of Williams-Bushell.
Fleet then delivered a lovely through pass for Greenslade to run onto but again the offside flag was raised, and this time it may have been the correct decision !
In the 70th minute after good build-up involving Burley, Fleet engineered a delicate chip over the visitors’ back-line for Williams-Bushell to run on to, but again the winger was denied from the angle of the six yard box by another tremendous save by Andeng-Ndi.
Although the corner was defended, when it was played back across the goal-mouth it was missed by everyone until it reached Roddy beyond the back post, but his first time right footed effort went just wide from 8 yards.
Bridge was now seeing a lot of the ball for Southend and his floated cross from the left found Morton, but the substitute’s header was at the keeper and easily saved.
Southend’s Kensdale and City’s Ashby both saw yellow for bad fouls before Husin horribly sliced a long range shot. However, it stayed in play and Scott-Morriss’ low cross was well defended by Kabongolo at the expense of a corner. Ashby needed to head well away for another corner, but when the ball was again played into the 6 yard box, Parker bravely attempted to head away, only to receive a kick in the head from Ralph who was attempting a spectacular overhead kick.
Whilst there was no intent to hurt Parker, under the current guideline’s the kick from Ralph was reckless and without due care for the players around him, so it was an obvious card, and having already being shown yellow in the first minute, he saw the red card. The only talking point should have been if it should have been shown a straight red rather than a second yellow. Play was held up for several minutes for treatment for Parker, and although he continued for a minute or so, he was quickly substituted.
Unfortunately, a few of the dozen or so Southend fans who had been allowed to sit in the main stand in front of me by the stewards were outraged by the referee’s decision, clearly ignorant of how games have to be refereed these days, and I hope the chants from behind the goal of “You don’t know what you are doing” were frustrated ironic banter. We can discuss whether the current guidelines are appropriate, and whether the game has gone soft, but given they are in force as they are, it was perhaps one of referee Mulligan’s easiest decisions of the season.
Ironically, despite going a man down with 10 minutes remaining, it was The Shrimpers who looked more likely to nick a goal at the death. Cardwell showed good pace to get away from Kabongolo but his low cross-cum-shot was well held by Watson, and in the 90th minute a free-kick headed across goal found Scott-Morriss, but his close-range shot was bravely blocked by Ashby.
With 6 minutes added time to be played, a long ball out of the Southend defence wasn’t dealt with by the Hoops defence but Dackers’ attempt was too close to Watson who made a regulation save. With their last roll of the dice Southend sent a cross towards the far post, but Williams-Bushell was back defending to make an important defensive header.
Both sides would have felt frustrated at the final whistle. The point for Oxford City keeps them at the bottom of the table, seven points from safety and with games running out. However, they could perhaps be pleased with a second consecutive clean sheet at home, and they were denied by two outstanding saves from the Southend keeper, the crossbar, and raised flags from the linesman.
The point keeps Southend fifth from bottom, and whilst they kept another clean sheet, for all their promising approach play, they would be disappointed by their failure to convert their possession into more clear-cut chances. They have now gone 4 games without scoring a goal.
Southend Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw1qHu3IiMQ
Oxford City Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=758MqeyIeQY
Oxford City : Watson – Burley, Phillips, Kabongolo, Roddy ( Coyle ) – Williams-Bushell, Fleet, Ashby, Smith ( Potter ) – Greenslade, Parker ( Fonkeu )
Southend United : Andeng-Ndi – Scott-Morriss, Crowther, Kensdale, Ralph – Husin, Miley, Fonguck ( Morton ), Bridge ( Demetriou ) – Sandat ( Dackers ), Cardwell
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment