Yeovil Town suffered late heartbreak as they were forced to settle for a draw by a late Southend United equaliser at Huish Park.

The Glovers had the worst start when poor defending gifted the visitors Charley Kendall the lead with around 30 seconds – yes, seconds – on the clock, but they roared back with Kyrell Wilson’s composed finish drawing them level on 13 minutes before Frank Nouble put them in front with his third goal in as many games.

The second half was all about the hard work of the home side, led by an outstanding Charlie Cooper who dropped in to a back three for the second period, as Southend struggled to break them down – but defender James Golding’s stunning strike with four minutes of five added on at the end game saw the game finish even.

First half

The home side could not have started worse as they went behind after 30 seconds against a Southend United who have scored the fewest away goals in the National League Premier Division. A ball bouncing around in the midfield and Leon Parillon was allowed to get away down the left side, the cross came in under no pressure from the Yeovil defence and Charley KENDALL was able to take a touch and fire past Aidan Stone.
 
The visitors could have doubled their advantage when Michael Smith struggled with Jack Bridge running at him down the left side and fell to Parillon on the half-volley on the edge of the box and fortunately his effort went wide. Three opportunities and they have all come down the left side.
 
But, having been up against it for the opening 13 minutes, Yeovil pulled level out of nothing. A looping ball over the top from Charlie Cooper found Kyrell WILSON who did superbly to control it and lift it over the on-rushing Southend keeper Nick Hayes to draw his side level. Good composure from the Swansea City loanee and a nice finish.
 
Four minutes later they were ahead. Michael Smith’s ball down the right was perfect to find McGuckin he took his defender to the byline and his cross was perfect to find captain Frank NOUBLE who took a touch and fired in his third goal in as many games.
 
 
Southend have had by far the better opportunities, but Yeovil have reacted superbly to going behind. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?! As for the celebration, let’s say the former Colchester United man enjoyed his celebration in front of his old Essex rivals.
 
A word for Frank who has been reborn since half-time in the 2-1 home win over Tamworth. From a player on the transfer list to three goals in as many games to add to some outstanding work-rate, that is some response.
 
On 27 minutes, Southend threatened when Kendall had a shot blocked before it was played back in to the danger area by Tom Hopper who found the dangerous Gus Scott-Morris. Alex Whittle did superbly to flick the ball away from his fellow full-back, who has 14 goals already this season.
 
Two minutes later Nouble proved a hero at the other end, clearing off the line when Goodliffe headed goalwards at the back post. A minute later, Aidan Stone pulled off a superb reflex save to deny Bridge who had been found by Scott-Morris who had got past McGuckin too easily. A superb save by Stone.
 
McGuckin appeared to roll his ankle moments before Scott-Morris went past him and on 43 minutes he went off injured and was replaced by Harvey Greenslade with 43 minutes played.
 
The first half finished with Charlie Cooper playing in the middle of of a three-man defence alongside Finn Cousin-Dawson and Dom Bernard with Whittle and Smith in the wide positions. It was something of a backs to the wall display from Yeovil after they went ahead – but ahead at the interval they are.
 
Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 1

Second half

Yeovil came out for the second half with the same defensive unit as a back five with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Brett McGavin as a midfield two. In front of them, Greenslade and Wilson appear to be playing higher with Nouble dropping a little deeper in to a freer role which has seen him impress in recent weeks.
 
The visitors had to make a change with Oli Coker going off injured with seven minutes of the second half played, he was replaced by Keenan Appiah-Forson.
 
The opening 20 minutes was quite in terms of opportunities with neither side seemingly wanting to do anything too risky. The first opportunity came on 63 minutes when visiting defender James Golding headed a free-kick just wide.
 
With 20 minutes remaining, there was a moment when Cousin-Dawson slipped on the byline and there was a spell of about five crosses in to the Yeovil box. Nothing came from any of them for Southend, but the Glovers don’t seem to be able to get out. 
 
On 73 minutes, Josh Sims replaced Kyrrel Wilson off the bench. The goal will have done the 20-year-old the world of good and he has put in another high-energy performance. There was a lot of effort from everyone in green-and-white, even if they have not done much to threaten Nick Hayes in the visitors’ goal.
 
As the game drew on, Yeovil sat very deep and made themselves hard to break down. Southend had plenty of the ball, but could not find a way past their hard-working hosts. 
 
But, after piling on the pressure, the visitors grabbed an equaliser with four minutes of the five additional minutes played. Great work by Kendall to hold up the ball and found defender James GOLDING on the edge of the box, he showed some superb technique and rocketed a shot past Stone. 
 
A point is a good result against a decent Southend side, but the way it happens – with a goal in the first 30 seconds and the last 30 seconds – is absolutely gutting.
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 1st March, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Charlie Kendall 1 (0-1), Kyrrell Wilson 13 (1-1), Frank Nouble 17 (2-1), James Golding 90+4 (2-2)

Pitch: Looking better than it has in recent weeks, a bit bobbly
Conditions: A glorious Spring day

Attendance: 3,508 (354 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Southend United: Oli Coker 50

Referee: William Davies

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes: Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 43), Josh Sims (for Kyrrel Wilson, 74), Corey Koerner, Lewys Twamley, Sean McGurk, Matt Gould.

Southend United: Nick Hayes, Guss Scott-Moriss, Jack Bridge, James Golding, Leon Parillon (for Josh Walker, 78), Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper (for Macauley Bonne, 84), James Morton, Charley Kendall, Oli Coker (for Keenan Appiah-Forson, 52).

Substuitutes (not used): Anssi Jaakkola, George Wind,  Daniel Waldron, Joe Gubbins.

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