Report: Iron 1-3 Southend United

The Iron welcomed Southend United to Glanford Park for the final home game of the season. Jimmy Dean made three changes from the side that faced Aldershot a week ago, as Will Smith, Cameron Wilson and Colin Daniel all came into the starting line-up.

In the eighth minute, United got their first chance of the game. Sean Shields managed to beat his man on the edge of the Southend penalty area and this opened up some space for him. He spotted Danny Elliott on his left, darting into the box, and he chose to slot the ball into the box for the Iron striker to run onto. Elliott controlled before he unleashed a dangerous shot from 10-yards-out. His shot had the power and the direction to end up in the back of the net. However, a defender threw themself in the way of the shot and turned the ball behind for a corner. Nothing came from the resultant corner.

After this, Southend stepped up the pressure on the Iron and they began to dominate proceedings.

The visitors had a great chance to take the lead in the 22nd minute. The ball looped up inside the Iron penalty area and it found its way to Jason Demetriou. He had all the time in the world to think about what he was going to do when the ball fell to him; he chose to volley the ball towards the bottom-right corner and the effort had Owen Foster worried. The strike had power but lacked a bit of direction and it went just inches wide of the target.

Harry Cardwell was the next Southend player to test their luck on goal. Jack Bridge was dominating the left-hand side of the field and he once again beat his man before whipping a dangerous cross into the Iron penalty area. Cardwell darted into the area to try and meet the ball at the near post. He managed to get his head to it and direct it towards the target. His effort narrowly went over the crossbar. It was another warning sign for United.

In the 33rd minute, Southend were awarded a penalty after Callum Powell was brought down by Reagan Ogle. The Iron fullback knocked the striker off balance and the referee deemed this to be a foul. There were no shouts from the away side but the referee had a different opinion on the situation and he saw it as a penalty. Bridge took the responsibility and he coolly slotted his penalty down the middle to give the visitors the lead.

Powell almost grabbed a goal for himself in the 43rd minute. He cut inside on his left foot and had to beat several defenders before getting his shot away. From eight-yards-out he tried to cut the ball back and into the bottom-left corner but he dragged his effort just wide of the target.

The visitors got the second period underway and immediately they looked to put a lot of pressure on the Iron.

In the 51st minute, Southend got themselves a second goal. The ball was drilled across the box and it found Bridge at the back post. He was unmarked and this meant that he had a lot of time to decide if he was going to take on the shot or lay the ball off to his teammate. He chose to be unselfish and he cut the ball back to Noor Husin; the Southend number eight was also unmarked and from eight-yards-out he drilled the ball past Foster and into the back of the net. This gave the visitors some breathing space.

Substitute Jacob Butterfield almost made an instant impact when he beat his man inside the penalty area and directed a shot goalward. Neat footwork got him past his man and opened up some space for him to take the shot. The Iron midfielder took the shot on from a very tight angle and this made it easier for Steve Arnold to make the save. 

Several minutes later, Foster was called into action once again. Again the ball was drilled along the ground into the penalty area and the pass found the feet of a Southend player. A first time shot was taken on and this caught the Iron keeper off guard. It was heading straight into the top corner but Foster managed to redeem himself and turn the ball over the bar.

Shaun Hobson grabbed a third goal for the visitors. He picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, then managed to turn a United defender and break into the area. Foster rushed off his line to try and deal with the situation but Hobson simply took the ball around him and slotted it into the back of the net.

United continued to try and search for a way back and Elliott almost grabbed a goal back for the hosts. He got in behind the defence and found himself in a one-on-one situation with Arnold. He took the shot on from a fairly tight angle and this narrowed his chances of finding the back of the net. However, his shot looked dangerous and it was heading towards the bottom corner. Arnold made himself as big as possible and he got his leg to the ball and turned it away from danger. It was a good chance for United.

In the late stages of the game, Southend were simply trying to run the clock down and they allowed Scunthorpe to have the possession.

The away side had another penalty shout in the final minutes. The ball was said to have struck the hand of an Iron player; However, the referee waved play on and dismissed the penalty shouts.

Elliott got a goal back for United in extra time. Marcus Carver drove down the right-hand flank before directing a cross into the area and towards Elliott. The Iron striker was unmarked and this gave him time to bring the ball down. His first touch was good and this allowed him to get his shot away with his second touch. He powered the ball into the bottom corner of Arnold’s net. The Southend goalkeeper was completely rooted to the spot.

The referee then brought proceedings to a close and the game finished 3-1 to Southend.

IRON: Foster, Ogle, Elliott, Boyce, Carver, Wilson (Feeney, 71), Shrimpton (Butterfield, 55), Daniel (Robertson, 84), Smith, Rance, Shields.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Young, Sembie-Ferris.

SOUTHEND: Arnold, Lomas, Hobson, Kensdale, Bridge, Husin, Powell (Wreh, 75), Miley, Fonguck (Taylor, 75), Cardwell (Sandat, 85), Demetriou.

SOUTHEND SUBS NOT USED: Scott-Morriss, Mooney.

ATTENDANCE: 3,169 (396 away).