Gary Johnson’s men are back on the road this weekend, when they travel to Essex to take on Southend at Roots Hall.
Following four successive defeats, United will be looking to return to winning ways in Essex on Saturday, a few months on from where Johnson’s side concluded the 2021/22 campaign with a 1-1 draw.
Who’s the Boss?
Following a 22 year playing career, amassing 585 first team appearances, Kevin Maher moved into coaching and management and had previous managerial experience with National League South side Chelmsford City, and during his time in the coaching staff at Bristol Rovers, had two spells at caretaker manager. Maher also spent time as The Shrimpers Under 21 manager in 2015.
Roots Hall is a familiar place for Maher, as it is where he spent 10 years of his career as a midfielder. He captained the side to successive promotions in 2005, and 2006, and was part of the Club’s famous League Cup victory over Manchester United.
Maher returned to Essex to take the helm at Southend last October, with his deal seeing him remain with the Shrimpers until the conclusion of the 2023/23 campaign.
How have they been doing?
The Shrimpers have had a mixed start to the season so far with two wins, two draws, and two defeats. Southend currently reside 14th in the National League table.
After an opening day defeat to Boreham Wood (1-0), Maher’s Shrimpers saw out draws against Solihull Moors (1-1), and FC Halifax Town (0-0), and have won two out of their last three, with victories over Oldham Athletic (1-0), and Maidenhead United (2-0), only slipping to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Eastleigh last Saturday.
Player to Watch
Kacper Łopata enjoyed a successful loan period at Roots Hall from Sheffield United last time out, which saw the centre-back make 18 appearances, and help the side keep four clean sheets. Kacper was also a key component in Southend’s 14-game unbeaten run, during which he started nearly every game.
The 20-year-old penned a two-year deal on Friday to return to Roots Hall on a two-year contract, which includes an option for a third.
Kacper spent time in the youth systems at Southampton, Bristol City, and Brighton & Hove Albion, after arriving in the United Kingdom from Poland aged nine.
In August 2020, the defender signed for Sheffield United on a three-year deal, where he went on to make two EFL Cup appearances, before then enjoying his loan spell at Southend, which he has since made permanent.
Despite only penning his deal a matter of days before United head to Roots Hall, Maher told the Club Media that “Kacper’s got to fight for the shirt like anyone else”, and is in contention to play tomorrow afternoon.
Played for Both
Elliot Benyon was a fan-favourite during his two stints at Plainmoor, and was part of the side that won promotion to the Football League via the Play-Offs in 2008/09.
Benyon tallied 15 goals in all competitions in United’s first season back in the EFL, and at the halfway stage of the 2010/11 campaign, had netted 14 times, before departing for League One Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee in January 2011.
During his first spell at Plainmoor between 2007 and 2011, Benyon had already surpassed 100 appearances for the Gulls, and scored 39 times after signing on from Crawley Town.
The forward then spent time at Wycombe Wanderers before arriving at Roots Hall. During his time in Essex, he scored 4 goals in 12 appearances, before returning to Plainmoor in 2013.
Following his second stint in the English Riviera, Benyon went on to play for the likes of Hayes & Yeading, where he was top goalscorer and player of the season in 2015/16, before also featuring for Wealdstone, Whitehawk, Leatherhead, and Oxford City. He currently plays for National League South side Slough Town where he signed on in June this year.
Previous Encounter
Southend United 1 – 1 Torquay United, Saturday 15th May, National League.
It was a goal a piece the last time the two side’s met, on the closing day of the 2021/22 campaign. Chiori Johnson put Gary Johnson’s side ahead on the verge of half time, before James Dunne levelled the scores with 14 minutes left on the clock.
After a period of end-to-end play inside the opening stages, it was United who took charge for most of the half, and in the fourth of five additional minutes, they got the lead they deserved.
With defender Ollie Kensdale initially doing well to fend off the attentions of Lemonheigh-Evans, his teammate Dunne failed to respond in a similar manner, seeing a loose ball picked up on by Johnson midway inside the Southend half, before the midfielder clipped the ball over the advancing Arnold to make it 1-0 at the break.
The hosts responded following the change of ends, and were quick out of the blocks in the second half.
On 57 minutes the home side went down to ten men after a dangerous challenge on Ben Wynter by Jason Demetriou saw the Southend skipper shown a straight red card.
Rather than seizing upon the initiative though, The Gulls were forced back as the home side rallied.
Despite their one-man deficit, The Shrimpers levelled matters up on 76 minutes.
Dunne, whose earlier mistake had gifted Torquay the opener, somehow found himself left free in the centre of midfield, allowing him to pick up a loose ball and drive towards the edge of the 18-yard box, before sending his low diagonal shot past Halstead and into the bottom far corner of the net.
The were to be a couple more moments of promise for the Yellow Army to enjoy before the season was out though, with young prospect Alex Moyse stepping up from the bench to make his senior bow, moments before another former youth team player Olaf Koszela darted into the area to force Arnold to make a goalline smother in stoppage time.
That was just about that for 2021/22, however the Club remain indebted to their wonderful fanbase for the loyal support they have shown the side – home and away throughout the course of the season.