Match Report: Yeovil Town 0 Southend United 1

Yeovil Town were on the wrong end of a 92nd minute sucker punch as Southend United scored in the dying minutes of the game to stretch Yeovil’s winless run to seven.

The Glovers failed to register a single shot on target and Jed Ward pulled off multiple saves to keep the visitors at bay.

An improved performance from the home side, but another defeat and another blank in front of goal. 

First half

There were three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United last weekend with Finn Cousin-Dawson, James Daly and Junior Morias returning to the starting XI. There was no place in the squad for defender Kyle Ferguson, who started in Lincolnshire, but on loan Exeter City winger Andrew Oluwabori returned on the bench alongside midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain, who signed on loan from Watford during the week.

Daly lined up in the middle of a front three alongside Morias and Josh Sims, not exactly your archetypal number nine. The opening exchanges at Huish Park were dominated by Southend and when Yeovil got hold of the ball they looked to try and hold on to possession. There was also an early booking for Southend captain Nathan Ralph, who had a spell at Huish Park around a decade ago, for a foul on Sims after just ten minutes.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to open the scoring on 14 minutes when Jake Wannell totally misjudged a header back to goalkeeper Jed Ward and presented Southend top scorer Andrew Dallas with a glorious chance which he inexplicably put wide. The Glovers had another let off seconds later when a loose pass out by Ward almost let Southend in, but fortunately Cousin-Dawson was there to clear it up. Almost a fatal mistake of our own making – twice!

There’s lots of energy and running from Yeovil’s front three, but there’s definitely not a focal point. There’s definitely a desire to try and keep the ball as much as we can, but James Daly is struggling to get much change out of the visitors’ giant defence.

With 35 minutes, great pressure from Max Jolliffe won possession and a good turn by Morias in the middle of the pitch saw him feed Josh Sims who burst forward down the right side but lifted his shot over the bar. Better intent from Yeovil.

Moments later, Dallas had another good opportunity after jumping on a sloppy attempted pass from Luke McCormick gifted the on loan Barnsley striker a chance, which he put straight in to the hands of Ward. Then it was Morias’ turn to have a shot at goal, he thundered a dipping shot in from 25 yards just over the bar with 36 minutes played,

Two minutes later there was another good chance for Yeovil. Morias broke away down the left and fed it in for McCormick whose shot was blocked by Ralph and broke to James Plant who had an open goal to shoot in to but Ralph got a fantastic block in to deny him.

Yeovil’s tails were up and again it was the tenacity of Jolliffe which won possession, Morias was involved feeding Sims and he managed to get it out to McCormick on the right of the box but his angled effort was blocked by Ralph again.

With four minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil almost became masters of their own downfall – again – when Cousin-Dawson’s poor pass saw Dallas set away, his effort was well saved by Ward who got up in time to push Oli Coker’s follow-up shot out. Four great opportunities for Southend in this match and they have all come from our mistakes.

A big improvement from the disappointing displays in the last outing at Huish Park against Wealdstone and the last match at Scunthorpe United. Our biggest threat seems to be ourselves with sloppy passes gifting Southend all their opportunities, but there’s some energy going forward and it is creating chances.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Southend United 0

Second half

It took just two minutes for the first chance of the second half and it came from another (yes, another) loose pass this time from Cousin-Dawson which gave Southend the chance to float a ball in to Dallas who rose highest to head it down in to the six yard box who was joined by Cousin-Dawson who managed to get it away. Big appeals for hand ball from the away end, but the referee uninterested.

McCormick had his own penalty appeal after 52 minutes following a run the full length of the pitch which ended with him tumbling under pressure inside the box. Three minutes later, we were grateful to Ward again when Guss Scott-Morriss’ superb cross found James Walker inside the area, but his header was superbly kept out by the on loan Bristol Rovers man. 

With an hour played, Andrew Oluwabori came on replacing Alex Whittle with Plant going to the left wing-back with Sims going right wing-back and the substitute moving in to the forward line. On 72 minutes, Aaron Jarvis replaced Sims.

There’s not been much for either side since the opportunity for Walker earlier in the half, but Southend are certainly dominating possession. On 76 minutes, Southend substitute Keenan Appiah-Forson had a shot saved by Ward, before Jarvis spun his man from a long ball forward, got past keeper Nick Hayes, and had a huge shout of a handball as he tried to shoot towards goal.

Some great defending from Harry Taylor denied Jarvis with nine minutes of the match remaining. A great run and cross from Oluwabori down the right saw him play it in to the middle, but Taylor won out over the Yeovil substitute.

With time ticking, Southend continued to be comfortable on the ball, but for all their possession, numerous blocks and tackles kept the Shrimpers at arm’s length.

Junior Morias was replaced by Harvey Greenslade for the final couple of minutes, the front man feeling the effects of a busy afternoon and a couple of robust challenges.

Jarvis entered the book for a ‘strikers challenge’ before the sucker punch landed.

Jed Ward made his umpteenth save of the game but instead of keeping the ball safe in hands, the effort from Leon Parillon squirted out to Slavi SPASOV who made the telling touch to break Yeovil hearts.

A final minute corner for the Glovers was calmly claimed by Nicholas Hayes in the Southend goal. 

With players stretched, Chambers-Parillon skied a breakaway chance. 

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Alex Whittle, 60), Aaron Jarvis (for Josh Sims, 72), Harvey Greenslade (for Junior Morias, 90), Dan Ellison (not used), Ramirez-Espain (not used), Tahvon Campbell (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Southend United: Nick Hayes, Guss Scott-Morriss, Nathan Ralph, Ben Goodliffe, Andrew Dallas (for Tom Hopper, 90+3), Josh Walker (for Slavi Spasov, 64) , Harry Taylor, Cav Miley, Sam Austin (for Leon Parillon, 78), Oli Coker (for Keenan Appiah-Forson, 64) , Harry Boyes.

Substitutes (not used): Collin Anden-Ndi, Jack Bridge, Joe Gubbins.