Jumping for joy - Southend United striker Charley Kendall
(Image: NICKY HAYES)
By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.
SOUTHEND United surged back to winning ways with a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Halifax Town at Roots Hall tonight.
The Shrimpers went into the game having suffered back to back defeats against Sittingbourne and Maidenhead United.
But second half goals from Gus Scott-Morriss, Tom Hopper and Charley Kendall saw Blues recorded a morale boosting triumph.
Halifax threatened first with Max Wright having a goalbound effort blocked by Shrimpers defender Harry Taylor before Blues registered their first effort on target when James Morton’s deep free-kick was headed down by Hopper into the path of Josh Walker.
The Blues forward brought the ball down well before unleashing a powerful volley Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson parried to safety.
Goalscoring chances remained few and far between before the recalled Charley Kendall sent a left footed shot over the crossbar from a narrow angle.
But, on the stroke of half-time, the Shrimpers went even closer to taking the lead when another Morton free-kick was headed down into the path of unmarked Scott-Morriss who saw his effort clip the top of the crossbar on its way over.
Southend changed to light blue shirts at the break after the first half was ridiculously allowed to start with both teams wearing similar coloured kits.
And it was the hosts who pushed forward first with Scott-Morriss sending a low, left footed shot straight at Johnson from 25 yards, However, Scott-Morriss was not to be denied for long and, in the 54th minute, the wing-back headed Blues in front following an excellent right wing corner from Morton.
The midfielder’s delivery picked out Ben Goodliffe at the far post and his goalbound header found Scott-Morriss who nodded home from close range for his 12th goal of the season.
The goal also made it three seasons in a row Scott-Morriss has netted against Halifax at Roots Hall but Blues were soon back on the front foot with Kendall having a 20 yard shot deflected inches over the crossbar.
But the let off was only temporary for the Shaymen as the resulting Morton corner, again from the right hand side, found Hopper at the far post who scored with a well-taken first time volley.
The goal was Hopper’s first since returning to Roots Hall and gave the Shrimpers an important two goal cushion.
Blue stayed on top and opted to make their first change of the night in the 71st minute with Macauley Bonne taking the place of Tom Hopper in attack.
Six minutes later, Leon Parillon replaced Josh Walker for his home debut but Halifax soon started to get back into the game.
Zak Emmerson sent a low shot straight at Blues goalkeeper Nick Hayes before Jack Evans came within a whisker of scoring as his well-struck shot flew inches wide of the right post.
Seventh placed Halifax made their pressure count in the 84th minute when a poor pass from Noor Husin started a counter-attack which led to Luca Thomas firing home a low, left footed shot which seemed to squirm through the legs of Hayes The visitors threatened an equaliser with Jack Jenkins firing wide of the left post from 20 yards.
But the Shrimpers stood firm and made it 3-1 in the 86th minute when Kendall raced clean through on goal before scoring with a powerful left footed shot from 14 yards.
The goal was Kendall’s first for Blues and enabled Kevin Maher’s side to see out the closing stages and secure a welcome return to winning ways.
