Southend United CSC 2 Silver End United 3

Essex County Womens League Premier Division, Sunday 1st November 2020 

Sunday saw me pop up to the Garon Park 3G for my first Women’s match of the season as Southend United CSC hosted Silver End United in an Essex County League Premier Division contest, and it saw the visitors hold of a second half comeback from the hosts to take a hard earned three points.

 For anyone wondering what the CSC part stands for on the hosts name, it’s Community Sports Club, and they had played two leagues games so far this term and were still without a win in those two encounters, those had been a 2-2 draw against Chelmsford City, whilst their last game resulted in a heavy 7-2 loss at Barking. 

The hosts cup exploits saw them lose in the Tiptree Charity Cup to fellow Premier side Billericay Town Development 2-0, but they had picked up a win this season as they defeated Division One North side Beacon Hill Rovers 6-3 at Garon Park in the BBC Essex Womens Cup.

Silver End United themselves had only played one league game so far this term, a narrow 3-2 home defeat to Rayleigh Town, but there only other game this campaign came in a BBC Essex Womens Cup tie at home to fellow Premier Division side Billericay Town Development, and they had won that 5-2, so they did have a win in the locker this term at least.

The sides sat third and second bottom respectively in the division and a win for either could propel them into the top four, but it is very early days so league positions at this stage are not really that meaningful, but still both teams would of wanted to win this one to at least get themselves up the table at least.

The visitors started the game very well, going two goals up in five minutes, firstly seeing a ball squared across goal tapped home by Rosi Webb after just three minutes, and then two minutes later doubling that advantage when Ella Tooley put the ball over the line after a scramble inside the six yard box.

And when Silver End made it 0-3 after twenty five minutes after Lynsey Bowman curled a brilliant free-kick over the keeper into the top corner (slightly wind assisted too) you did fear the hosts would be on the end of a very heavy loss once again (they had lost 7-2 at Barking last time out).

Thankfully for the hosts no further damage was forthcoming and towards the end of the half they began to show signs of life going forward and did force a save from keeper Amy Vernon, who had to tip an effort onto the bar.  The visiting keeper had barely seen the ball in the first period as was the visitor’s dominance, and Silver End did reach the break with a three-goal lead.

The only positives Southend could take from the opening half was it was only a three goal deficit and they had ended the half well, and also had the wind with them second half too, but they needed to improve quite a bit to get themselves back into this contest.

Half Time Southend United CSC 0 Silver End United 3

The hosts, now with the strong gusty wind behind them, continued were they left off at the end of the first period and were straight onto the front foot, and suddenly Silver End were now having to do a lot of defending.

The hosts were now having most of the possession and also the chances, but they found a visiting keeper in Vernon in top form., and she made three unbelievable saves to keep the hosts out, and as the half went on you felt it just wasn’t going to be Southend’s day, and that such a slow start was ultimately going to cost them.

Southend kept going though and to be fair to them never gave up, and with eighteen minutes remaining finally broke the door down and grabbed one back with eighteen minutes to play when a lovely corner from Ellie Wood caught the wind and saw it go over keeper Vernon and find Kate Wiseman on hand to smash the ball home from close range, and the hosts could now sniff a remarkable comeback.

And when Cristina Fragnito drilled a wonderful effort beyond Vernon with two minutes of normal time remaining, suddenly Silver End were now in danger of throwing away that three goal cushion they had at the break, and it was very much game on with some stoppage time to come too.

Silver End though managed to cling on to grab the points but the hosts most certainly deserved something from the game after a brilliant second half showing, but ultimately the opening twenty five minutes cost them in the end, but many positives to take forward for the hosts no doubt.

The result sees The Blues remain third bottom with one point from their three games so far, whilst the win for Silver End sees them claim their first points of the campaign and go above their opponents to fourth bottom with three points from their two games played.

Full Time Southend United CSC 2 Silver End United 3