Southend 1
(Wreh 86′)
United 2
(Hanson 4′, Goodwin 61′)
United produced a performance full of heart and desire to take maximum points at Roots Hall, as The Gulls triumphed 2-1 against Southend.
Ryan Hanson fired United ahead from close range in the 4th minute, before Will Goodwin doubled the advantage in the second half. Substitute Chris Wreh got a goal back for the home side in the final few minutes of regular time, but Gary Johnson’s men battled on to ensure the 3 points travelled back to Plainmoor.
Manager Johnson named one change in the starting 11 from Bank Holiday Monday’s defeat against Woking, with Kieron Evans coming in for Shaun Donnellan. Meanwhile on the bench, striker Aaron Jarvis took his place in the matchday squad for the first time.
After being forced to defend a free kick just outside the left edge of the box in the first minute, with Lovett having to punch clear, good pressing play by United on 4 minutes saw Gary Johnson’s men opening the scoring.
Picking up the ball down the left flank, Ben Wyatt drove forward before launching a cross into the box, which found Corie Andrews beyond the far-post, with the forward heading the ball across goal, where it was met by Hanson, whose header from close quarters put United ahead.
Forced to respond to their early setback, Southend enjoyed the territorial advantage for a period thereafter, although they rarely threatened to pierce a resolute Torquay backline.
In fact, the next chance of note fell the way of The Gulls, as Kieron Evans pounced on hesitancy on the edge of the box, before drilling a low left-footer narrowly wide of the upright.
In the 27th minute, a neat move created a half-chance after some good play down the left, with the ball teed up for Callum Powell just inside the left edge of the United penalty area, but his shot was off-target.
Ten minutes later, the hosts went close again. A corner from Dan Mooney curled dangerously towards Scott-Morriss who was able to rise and get a header away, however United stopper Rhys Lovett was alert and able to get down to make the save.
Having limited their opponents to very few clear-cut openings, it was with a fair degree of comfort that Johnson’s men headed into the dressing rooms a goal to the good at the change of ends.
The pattern of the game continued in much the same vein following the restart, with The Shrimpers rarely able to seriously test Lovett in between the sticks for Torquay, such was the organisation and endeavour shown by the men in yellow.
When Mooney did break free of his shackles, United’s goalkeeper darted out of his goal swiftly to smother his close shot, and as the clock ticked past the hour mark, Johnson’s side struck decisively once again.
Having worked so hard during the first 61 minutes of the game – just as he has done in the opening six games – Goodwin drove towards Southend’s penalty area in a bid to open up a defence beginning to throw more and more bodies into attack. With his options blocked off, and the goal coming into a view, the on-loan striker’s 18-yard effort took a slight deflection off a retreating defender, leaving the ball to spin past the despairing dive of Collin Andeng-Ndi, onto the post, but then just over the line.
Just reward for United’s ever-willing frontman.
Far from sitting back on that lead, eight minutes later, it nearly got even better.
On the counter, another Goodwin burst down the right saw the ball switched left for his strike partner Andrews, who fired his curling right-footer narrowly wide of the far post from the edge of the D.
Sensing that the game was running away from them, Southend nearly halved the deficit on 74th minute, as a downward Wreh header bounced just wide of the left hand post.
With five minutes remaining, the home striker did eventually break through from six yards, from Jack Bridge’s cross from the left – it was just about the only header of note that The Gulls’ defensive backline lost all afternoon.
A final chance of collective redemption saw Mooney fire over once more in amongst five additional minutes of time added on, but Johnson’s men held firm, and held on, to secure three big points at Roots Hall for the first time since 2004.
I wonder what happened that year?
Southend: 30. Collin Andeng-Ndi, 2. Gus Scott-Morriss (24. Jason Demetriou 78′), 4. Louis Lomas, 5. Shaun Hobson, 6. Ollie Kensdale, 10. Dan Mooney, 11. Callum Powell, 12. Tom Clifford (7. Jack Bridge 65′), 17. Cavaghn Miley (c), 18. Wesley Fonguck, 20. Aaron Cosgrave (19. Chris Wreh 65′).
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Kacper Łopata, 28. Oli Coker.
Yellow Cards: Kensdale 87′
United: 22. Rhys Lovett, 2. Dylan Crowe, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall, 7. Ryan Hanson, 10. Corie Andrews (9. Aaron Jarvis 78′), 11. Kieron Evans (8. Asa Hall 70′), 14. Brett McGavin, 15. Ben Wyatt (3. Dan Martin HT’), 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 26. Nelson Iseguan.
Yellow Cards: Wyatt 41′, Crowe 43′, Moxey 47′, Lovett 74′
Attendance: 5,177 (120 away)