Vanarama National League, Tuesday February 18th
I was back over at Roots Hall to see if Southend could continue their play off charge after picking up some results over the last few games which had left them only six points off the top seven places with fifteen league games remaining, they welcomed relegation threatened Aldershot Town to the Essex Coast in this occasion who themselves were looking to continue a decent run themselves.
The Shots recent run had taken them out of the relegation places and a point above the drop zone, there unbeaten run going back a month was finally ended at Eastleigh last time out, but they were sure to give The Blues a good run in this contest, a contest many expected the hosts to win though, although you can never be so sure in this game of football.
Another decent crowd were in, over 6,500, with 192 hardly soles making the trip from Hampshire, the game was actually delayed to 8pm after the visitors had traffic issues getting to the Essex Coast, and early on it seemed they were still getting to grips with the evening as The Blues had chances to grab an early advantage, however, Shots keeper Dewhurst was not really tested despite the hosts possession, and in fact the best save of the half came from hosts keeper Hayes who had to be smart to palm away an effort after a mistake at the back.
The Blues though were getting up a head of stream in the early exchanges of the second period, and seven minutes into it Southend grabbed the lead when a ball from Jack Bridge into the path of Noor Husin saw the latter control the pass and slot nicely into the bottom corner from inside the box, and the hosts were on their way.
The Shots though then had a decent spell as they tried to level the contest up and prevent themselves from having back to back losses, and on one such occasion somehow failed to net when they struck the inside of the post before the ball was somehow kept out and bundled away from goal, Hayes also had to make a decent save to stop The Shots on another occasion, but Southend managed to survive this spell, and then doubled their money.
It came when a ball into the danger zone saw Macaulay Bonne get a touch to send the ball across the penalty area towards the back post where Gus Scott-Moriss stretched to divert the ball into the bottom corner of the net, and The Blues seemingly were heading towards the three points with relative comfort with just under twenty minutes to go.
It was anything but though as the visitors refused to go away, and with twelve minutes to go they grabbed a goal back with a loose ball fell into the path of Woodhouse and he rammed home a powerful effort to give his side hope with twelve minutes to go and see a nervy end to the contest for the home side.
You could feel the tension in the stadium as the clock ticked down, The Blues were playing on the counter when they could but they could not get out of their half at times as Aldershot were doing all they could to salvage something from the contest, they probably should have done as well when somehow heading wide in the five minutes added on at the end, but The Blues managed to survive and edge to the points after a very hard fought victory.
That's now four wins in their last six league games, a run that has given them a real chance of making the end of season play-offs, they are five points off the top seven now in eighth spot, whereas for Aldershot that's back to back losses now which sees them just above the drop zone still, a point clear in 20th position, an important couple of months to come for both for differing reasons for sure.
Southend United 2 Aldershot Town 1
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