Tough to take - Southend United midfielder Keenan Appiah-Forson shows his pain
(Image: Lucy Copsey)
By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.
A SICKNESS bug led to Southend United making enforced changes for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie with Sittingbourne.
But come the final whistle everyone connected with the Shrimpers would have been left feeling rather unwell.
Put simply, the 1-0 defeat to the Isthmian League South East Division part-timers is one of the most embarrassing setbacks in the club’s entire history.
And, even though I have delayed putting this piece together, it is still incredibly difficult to stomach.
Following the fortunes of the Blues, regularly brings up a wide range of contrasting and conflicting emotions.
But, on the pitch at least, losing to a Step 4 side is as bad as it has been in recent memory.
Statistically speaking, it is indeed the worst home defeat the Shrimpers have ever experienced and the first time the club have lost to a team three leagues below them since 1979.
However, the immediate aftermath must now focus on how did it happen and where do Blues go from here?
Southend enjoyed long spells of possession in the fifth round tie but were punished for not being good enough in the final third.
The Shrimpers were often too slow and predictable when on the ball and found it tough to break down a defence brilliantly marshalled by Sittingbourne centre-back Jack Steventon.
Blues rarely got in behind their opponents and, in truth, visiting goalkeeper Roco Rees was not forced into anything spectacular between the sticks.
Of course, Sittingbourne deserve credit for their defensive display.
Ryan Maxwell’s side sat deep and made it as difficult as they could for a side 61 places above them in the football pyramid.
But the bottom line is the Shrimpers should have been able to break them down.
In contrast to Saturday’s showing however, Blues had triumphed in five of their last six games and had won their last two being front firmly on the front foot.
Those showings made the weekend’s woes even tougher to take and the Shrimpers should certainly have had enough about them to win, even without the players sidelined through illness.
The tie was ultimately decided in the dying seconds when Southend substitute Macauley Bonne inexplicably tried an intricate trick just outside his own six yard box before seeing his attempted clearance hit Anthony Church and rebound into the back of the net.
It was something of a fortuitous effort for Sittingbourne but you make your own luck in football and it was their reward for defending well and still being able to push forward late on.
For Blues and Bonne it was certainly unfortunate but the decision for someone of the striker’s experience to attempt such trickery so close to his own goal was simply mind-boggling.
The late strike saw the Shrimpers knocked out of the FA Trophy.
And, while some may scorn the importance of the competition, it represented a genuine chance of reaching Wembley and keeping the season alive.
As it is, Blues’ sole focus will now be on the league and that brings us onto what happens next.
The Shrimpers can either wilt and and let Saturday's woe kill the remainder of the campaign or they can dig deep and fight to restore some pride.
There is still plenty to play for and, before the weekend’s matches, Blues sat fourth in the National League form guide with only goal difference keeping them below the teams above them.
Kevin Maher’s side may have played more matches than some of the sides above them but they do remain just three points from the play-offs.
A top seven finish is still unlikely but it is within reach if enough consistency can be found.
The season so far seems to have constantly been a repeat of one step forward two steps back but there is still time to turn things around.
For that to happen, the Shrimpers simply have to be better at creating and converting chances, especially at home.
Blues have only the 16th best home record in the National League right now and improving that should also be a big target between now and the end of the season.
However, the targets right now should not be looking beyond Saturday’s trip to Maidenhead and ensuring the right kind of reaction.
Nothing can now be done about the outcome of the FA Trophy tie and the pain it has caused to the club’s long-suffering supporters.
But the road to redemption can still reach a pleasing final destination if the right lessons can be learned.
I'm upto 48yrs but will never change
