Shots disappointing in defeat against an impressive Southend side.
With the Shots having their National League status confirmed on Saturday, the home side made a few changes to the starting 11. With Southend needing a win to confirm playoffs, it was the visitors who looked a lot more lively during the opening exchanges.
Southend were rewarded after 35 minutes when a spectacular free-kick from Keenan Scott-Morriss broke the deadlock. With the first half coming towards a close, the visitors doubled the lead through Charlie Kendall, leaving the game all but won.
Despite a much improved second half performance from the Shots, testing goalkeeper Colin Andeng Ndi on a number of occasions, the goal never came and Southend ran out deserved winners.
Southend got us underway at the EBB, but it was the Shots who had the first meaningful chance of the game. In the third minute, Cameron Hargreaves saw his shot from just outside the six-yard box deflected past the post by teammate Tyler Frost.
After this early chance from the Shots, the game entered a cagey patch with neither side being able to get control over the game and as a result, no clear cut chances were created until the 18th minute, when Southend saw an effort from range easily claimed by Pat Nash.
In the 23rd minute, the Shots found themselves on the attack once again through Ryheem Sheckleford on the right-hand side. He delivered an inviting ball into the back of the six-yard box, however Kwame Thomas’ header back across goal couldn’t find a teammate
On the 26-minute mark, the visitors had another chance on goal after a corner that the Shots failed to clear, found Southend skipper Gus Scott-Morriss, whose effort from range flew into the Eastbank.
The first booking of the game came on the half hour mark when Shots captain Ryan Hill pulled down Appiah-Forson. The resulting free kick was played short into the opposition’s penalty box, Southend’s Charlie Kendall, but his shot ricocheted off multiple players and eventually wide of the target.
The visitors opened the scoring after 35 minutes after Sheckleford gave a way a free-kick 25 yards from goal, the resulting free-kick found its way into the top left corner, despite Pat Nash’s despairing dive, the young Shots keeper couldn’t keep out Scott-Morriss’ fantastic effort.
The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime when Oli Coker slipped through Charlie Kendall, who made no mistake when he went 1-on-1 with Pat Nash, slipping the ball underneath the Shots keeper.
The scoreline stayed the same going into the break, with the visitors going in as deserved leaders.
HALF-TIME
In response to the first half’s performance, the Shots made a triple substitution with Brody Peart, Charlie Warren and Callum Stewart for Kwame Thomas, Dejan Tetek and Ryan Hill.
The Shots got the game back underway, however, it was the visitors who had the first shot when Oli Coker dragged his volley wide of the target in the 46th minute.
The opposition continued to apply the pressure, forcing a spectacular save out of Pat Nash after Oli Coker’s strike from outside the box was heading towards the top right corner in the 49th minute.
In the 58th minute, the Shots came close when Brody Peart delivered an inviting ball into the box, finding Callum Stewart, who flicked it off his chest into the path of Tyler Frost. Unfortunately, Frost couldn’t quite keep his effort down as it flew over the bar.
Stewart continued to cause Southend problems, managing to draw a foul from a promising position, unfortunately the free-kick led to nothing.
After a positive spell from the Shots, Southend responded by making a double substitution in the 65th minute, with Tom Hopper and Charlie Kendall being replaced by Harry Cardwell and Sam Austin.
However, the Shots continued to search for a way back into the game when Tyler Frost tried his luck in the 69th minute from 25 yards out, but his effort couldn’t find the target.
It took until the 72nd minute for the second booking of the game to be handed out, but the ref was left with no choice after Brody Peart made a late challenge.
The Shots had their best opportunity of the game so far in the 73rd minute when Tyler Frost saw his curling effort smartly saved by Adeng Ndi, calling him into action for the first time in the second half.
The Shots made another change in the 78th minute, with Tyler Frost being replaced by Josh Barrett.
Southend made a further two changes in the 81st minute as they looked to see out the game with Oli Coker and Gus Scott-Morriss with Ben Goodliffe and Harry Cardwell.
With time running out, the Shots continued to apply pressure and in the 85th minute, Charlie Warren came close, forcing a fantastic stop out of Adeng Ndi, After he found himself on the end of a well delivered corner. The rebound fell to Theo Widdrington, but his tame effort was easily claimed by the Southend shot stopper.
In the 87th minute, Callum Stewart was pulled down a few yards outside of the box, unfortunately Josh Barret couldn’t quite get his effort over the wall.
Josh Barrett thought he was in on goal after Theo Widdrington played a perfect pass into his stride, however, the assistant referee deemed Barrett had made his run too early.
With little time remaining, Southend made their final substitution of the evening with Leon Chambers replacing Keenan Appiah-Forson.
With just over a minute of stoppage time remaining, Sam Inwood saw red after a late challenge on Southend’s Sam Austin.
In the last action of the game, Pat Nash made yet another fantastic save, denying Southend from adding a third, with the game finishing 0-2.
FULL TIME
ATTENDANCE: 1992 (561 Away)
Aldershot Town Lineup: 16. Pat Nash, 6 Theo Widdrington, 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost (78′ Off For 10. Josh Barrett), 9. Kwame Thomas (45′ Off For 11. Brody Peart), 19. Ryan Hill (C) (45′ Off For 20. Callum Stewart), 25. Will Nightingale, 31. Ryheem Sheckleford, 33. Sam Inwood, 34. Dejan Tetek (45′ Off For Charlie Warren), 42. Matt Penney.
Unused Substitutions: 41. Coniah Boyce-Clarke, 12. Keane Anderson, 21. Ashley Akpan.
Southend United Lineup: 30. Colin Andeng Ndi, 2. Gus Scott-Morriss (82′ Off For 6. Ben Goodliffe), 14. Tom Hopper( 65′ Off For 21. Harry Cardwell), 15. Joe Gubbins, 16. Harry Taylor, 22. Keenan Appiah-Forson (90+1′ Off For 19. Leon Chambers-Parillon), 23. James Morton, 24. Charlie Kendall (65′ Off For 10. Sam Austin), 26. James Golding, 28. Oli Coker (82′ Off For 21. Harry Cardwell), 33. Harry Boyes.
Unused Substitutions: 7. Jack Bridge, 17. Cav Miley, 9. Andrew Dallas.
Referee Lineup: Referee: Sam Mulhall | Assistant Referees: Ivan Stankovic, Isabel Chaplin | Fourth Official: Ryan Head
