Southend United 2 Darlington 1

Isuzu FA Trophy Fourth Round, Saturday 14th January

The Isuzu FA Trophy continued on the second weekend in 2023 and I was at Roots Hall to see a stoppage time winner from Harry Cardwell help send Vanarama National League Southend United through to the Last 16 of the competition at the expense of National North leaders Darlington. 

The Blues were having a good season on the pitch at least, they’re off the pitch antics thanks to their chairman were sadly rearing their ugly head again, but the players at least were giving their fans something to cheer about, sitting sixth and in those coveted play-off places and dreaming of a return to the football league perhaps.

And they were unbeaten in 2023 too, defeating Solihull Moor convincingly at Roots Hall, this after a battling goalless draw at Bromley, a team they had lost narrowly too at Roots Hall on Boxing Day, so a good start to the new year and they were now focusing their attentions to a decent Trophy run and maybe a day out at Wembley in May.

The Blues had come into the competition in the last round where they saw of fellow National League side Boreham Wood at Roots Hall to set up this clash against Darlington who reside from the National League North, a step below the hosts, but don’t let that fool you, as Darlo currently sit top of their division on goal difference having won over half their league games this season in a North division that sees them only five points clear of sixth placed Scarborough Athletic in what is a very tight top six.

Darlo actually played Athletic twice over the festive period, losing at home to them 2-3 before responding with a thumping 5-2 in the reverse fixture in Scarborough in the new year, and they do actually come into this contest off the back of a 0-3 reverse against Chorley at home, so they were looking to cause an upset here and get back to winning ways.

The visitors had begun their trophy run two rounds previously to their opponents today, defeating Alfreton Town and Spennymoor Town to set to today’s fixture, both those sides were fellow National North outfits so this was the first time Darlo were facing someone from a different division in this season’s competition, how would they get on against their higher league opponents?

On arrival at the ground around 2pm it seemed the game may be in doubt, a lot of overnight rain and quite a bit of rain in the lead up to the contest had made the pitch soft at best, and a downpour at around 1pm left some patches of the surface in need of some work and after the match officials had had a walk around the pitch, they were happy to continue with preparation for the game and it was deemed ON, which was a relief for all who had arrived at the ground, especially those who had travelled in numbers from the North East.

And a crowd of around 3,000, most of them crammed into the main stand due to the club not opening two sides of the ground for this one, causing carnage when everyone arrived just before kick off and just ending up sitting anywhere they could, including on the stairs and around the exits, and with not one steward around to help and sort out, it was a big chaotic, but anyway, everyone could see the game, which was the main thing!!!

Over 300 of those were in the away end from Darlo, a brilliant effort from them indeed, and with less than a minute on the clock they were jumping around with joy as the visitors as after a big appeal for offside fell on deaf ears, Jack Lambert found himself clear on goal to fire an emphatic finish beyond Blondy Nna Noukeu into the top right hand corner and the Blues were immediately on the back foot and having to find a response.

The hosts were adamant the flag should have gone up and continued their appeals after the goal, but it was not going to change the situation, so the Blues had to roll up their sleeves and go again, and in the sixth minute found a leveller when Demetriou beat his man |before crossing into the box for Cardwell who got across his marker to send a diving header beyond the keeper and into the far corner, it had been an electric start to this cup tie that was for sure!!!

Midway through the half the atmosphere was turned up a notch after Taylor was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge by visitors defender Adriano Moke, resulting in some pushing and shoving, and ended in yellow cards for Moke and also Felix and Lopata who had continued the pushing and shoving afterwards, but despite both sides going close before the half was out, the game was poised on a knife edge going into the break.

After the break though the Blues spent most of the half on the front foot but just could not find that goal to take control of the tie, Miley saw an effort pushed away by the keeper before another effort was somehow cleared off the line, and whilst a defender was being treated inside the penalty area an altercation broke out between a photographer behind the goal and some of the Darlo players who were upset at the photographer trying to take pics of the stricken defender who was vomiting on the pitch, it didn't please the visiting players that's for sure. The defender being treated (Paddy Almond) was eventually rushed to hospital after being taken off for suspected concussion, so will have a precautionary brain scan this evening, so all the best to him and hope he comes through ok.

It had certainly ramped up the atmosphere and tension inside the stadium that was for sure, with the Blues continuing to put the pressure on those Darlo defensive players, seeing a deflected shot hit the post, before the keeper pulled off a great save before Miley curled wide, and then Powell somehow failed to score when he headed straight at the keeper at the back post when it looked easier to score.

It certainly looked as if it was not going to be The Blues day when further chances came and went, Murphy flicking wide at the near post before Cardwell connected with a corner but could only send over the bar, and then the post and bar came to Darlo's rescue once again, unbelievable stuff and kind of summed up the Blues luck in front of goal in this half.

The danger of the hosts not being able to take their chances was that the visitors would create one, maybe two big ones themselves and could steal the win, well Griffiths saw a decent effort smothered by Blondy, and as the game became end to end in the last few minutes Hazel had a golden chance to net what could have been an 87th minute winner, but after seeing his effort saved by Blondy, his follow up attempt was cleared off the line by Kensdale, it was a golden chance for the visitors!!!

It had been a terrific cup tie and it looked like it was headed for penalties, that was until three minutes into seven minutes of stoppage time when a quality ball in from Husin was poked home into the far corner by Cardwell for his second of the game and the winning moment in what had been at times a breathless contest, and to be honest it was a deserved winner for the hosts after the amount of chances they had created in the second period.

It was heartbreak for Darlo and there superb travelling fans who sang all game and really added to what was a brilliant atmosphere inside Roots Hall, they were a credit to their club, but they will now concentrate on getting promotion to the National League, whereas the hosts can continue to dream of an appearance at Wembley in May after getting into the Last 16 hat on Monday.

Full time Southend United 2 Darlington 1