JOB done would be the simplest way to describe Southend Unitedâs FA Trophy success against Southport on Saturday.
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Heading home - Keenan Appiah-Forson scores for Southend United
(Image: Lucy Copsey)
By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.
JOB done would be the simplest way to describe Southend Unitedâs FA Trophy success against Southport on Saturday.
In truth, the performance was not particularly pretty or overly entertaining but it did not need to be.
Making it through was all that mattered.
And, thanks to a second half header from Keenan Appiah-Forson, the Shrimpers achieved that main objective.
Southport came with a clear plan to frustrate their hosts and it worked for large spells.
Boss Jim Bentley â who often upset the Shrimpers when in charge of Morecambe â packed his players behind the ball for the majority of the match and it made it tough going for Blues.
Kevin Maherâs side certainly were territorially on top but clear cut goalscoring opportunities were few and far between until Appiah-Forson netted just before the hour mark.
The midfielderâs attacking instincts meant he was not an unlikely goalscorer.
However the manner of his match-winner was certainly unexpected as the smallest player on the pitch netted his first headed goal in nine years.
Appiah-Forson was one of six alterations to the Shrimpersâ starting line-up.
And that could also have affected the rhythm of the performance early on.
Maher had been expected to hand certain squad members a chance to impress.
But illnesses to both Gus Scott-Morriss and James Golding meant more alterations than initially planned.
And, with Josh Walker and Adam Crowther also sidelined by injuries, the Shrimpers were only able to select five substitutes.
George Wind again looked solid on his return to the team at right wing-back but the most impressive performer was James Morton who was cool and composed in the centre of the park.
Morton also produced the gameâs main piece of quality as he delivered a pin-point cross into the penalty area for Appiah-Forson to head home.
Other than that, the match will not really live long in the memory.
But, similar to the JPT Trophy in years gone by, this is a competition which does not really come to life until the later rounds when reaching Wembley becomes a more realistic proposition.
With only two of the four stands open, the early rounds at Roots Hall can often seem far less intense.
But it was another solid display from the Shrimpers who have now secured three victories in succession.
That means Blues have triumphed in five of their last seven outings and have been beaten just once in nine outings which was a 3-0 reverse at table-topping York City.
The run of improved results sees Southend fifth in the National League form guide and, while they sit 14th in the table, Maherâs side are now just three points from eighth.
For me, it shows the season is starting to move in the right direction and that a greater level of consistency has been created.
However, I seem to have been taken to task on social media where that is concerned.
Fans have pointed out how the victories have come against struggling sides and have often been less than convincing.
Each to their own where that is concerned and the beauty of football is that we all see the same game in a completely different way.
I see it as a side who had previously been battling to find their best form, digging deep to turn things around by being solid at the back.
The Shrimpers now have three clean sheets in a row and six shut-outs in their last eight games.
That offers encouragement for the second half of the season and provides a good platform to build on.
Further forward, it is somewhat obvious that Bluesâ destiny this season will ultimately be decided by how much their play can improve in the final third.
Bim Pepple and Charley Kendall have the makings of a good front two but others must also start to impress in attack.
Noor Husin and Jack Bridge have yet to hit top form this season but both could still make a big difference if they got back to anywhere their best.
Fingers crossed, the improved results will increase confidence and lead to more risks and less touches being taken when pushing forward.
That is likely to pose more problems for opposing defences and increase the likelihood of the Shrimpers moving up the table.
Yes, there are frustrations and it is tough going for Macauley Bonne who has now gone 23 games without scoring since signing for Blues.
But, despite the reaction in some sections online, the Shrimpers are currently enjoying their best winning run in nine months.
And, while there is little room for error, there could still be plenty to play for this season.
.. but yes I get the fact life wonât always be fun & games supporting Southend but unless weâre winning and playing well people will ALWAYS moan (even then). Itâs been like that since I watched my first match .. some wag would be shouting abuse at whichever player theyâd decided was at fault that week, way before football forums were a thing. Youâll never get a 100% happy fanbase., there's a game going on and yes it's nice to win, it is rare that in my 40 odd years you get truly entertaining football, even the Webb era of back to back promotions wasn't always entertaining a.lot of target man ball off of Benji and Brett. The tilly/Eastwood era was the most 'entertaining' period and even then it was often down to one man.
