Two second-half Aldershot Town goals inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Southend United at Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Rhys Murphy’s first goal of the season had given Blues the lead, but Tyler Frost levelled, and a Joe Partington penalty seven minutes later sealed victory for the Shots.
Kevin Maher made one change to the side that was beaten 1-0 by Boreham Wood in midweek, as he was forced to replace the injured Noor Husin.
Dan Mooney was the man to come in for the Afghan international, while Murphy continued up front. Jason Demetriou returned to the bench.
Kick-off
Aldershot had the better of the opening 10 minutes. After Murphy’s adamant appeals for a penalty were waved away following a tangle with Myles Kenlock, and Mooney volleyed wide, Ross McNeilly’s side created a few chances in quick succession.
They all came through Jack Barham and Justin Amaluzor’s strike partnership. Barham first turned over an Amaluzor cross, before the latter had a shot deflected into the hands of Steve Arnold. Amaluzor then pulled the ball back for Barham, whose close-range effort was well-blocked by Shaun Hobson.
Five minutes after that, Blues took the lead. Mooney played in Murphy, and the striker finished into the near post for his first goal in 15 months. Ryan Glover didn’t threaten an equaliser on 18 minutes with a tame shot, before Barham was found by former Blue Tyler Cordner. The ball bobbled just as he struck it and a one-on-one chance for the visitors went begging.
A quieter 15 minutes followed that frenetic start, and at the end of that, Murphy went down injured. He was okay to continue, however. Despite Southend having more of the ball, the Shots managed to get more shots off in the latter part of the first half.
Frost couldn’t control a ball over the top and the ball trickled through to Arnold, before the wing-back attempted to finish off a counter-attack by cutting inside and shooting from 16 yards. His effort went just wide. A couple of further Aldershot strikes in first-half stoppage time were both blocked.
HALF-TIME: Southend United 1-0 Aldershot Town
Blues started the second half positively as a couple of potential chances were interrupted by the referee’s whistle. Olly Pendlebury then struck a long-range shot well, but it didn’t have enough power on it to beat Arnold.
On 55 minutes, Cordner put in a dangerous ball which almost fell for an Aldershot player, only for Wes Fonguck to put a vital foot in.
We came close to doubling our lead when Harry Cardwell poked a left-sided free-kick over the bar. Immediately after that, goalscorer Murphy was substituted for Callum Powell, with Harry Taylor also coming on.
The Shots levelled after a purposeful run from Amaluzor brought them up the pitch. The ball fell for Frost, who didn’t hesitate and converted the chance from 12 yards. Blues went up the other end, but Dan Mooney put his shot into the side netting.
Our number 10 then curled over the crossbar from 20 yards. The visitors were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes remaining when Arnold brought down Amaluzor at the edge of the area. The goalkeeper was booked, but couldn’t do much about keeping out the spot-kick as Partington fired high into the roof of the net.
Taylor had the first chance to equalise but sliced an effort into the Jonathan Rhys Recruitment South Stand. Jack Bridge then put in a teasing ball that was just about shepherded back to Luca Ashby-Hammond despite pressure from Cardwell.
Good work from Powell fashioned another chance for Mooney, but the attacking midfielder missed his kick. That saw Mooney substituted for Chris Wreh moments later.
Blues had a couple of half-chances in stoppage time but never really looked like getting back into the game.
FULL-TIME: Southend United 1-2 Aldershot Town
The result means Southend drop to 10th in the Vanarama National League ahead of a triple-header of away games against Altrincham, Dorking Wanderers and Yeovil Town.
Southend United: Arnold, Scott-Morriss, Ralph (c), Hobson, Kensdale, Bridge, Murphy (Powell 61’), Mooney (Wreh 87’), Miley, Fonguck (Taylor 61’), Cardwell. Unused substitutes: Lomas, Demetriou.
Aldershot Town: Ashby-Hammond, Kenlock, Jordan, Cordner, Frost, Glover, Partington (c), Ochieng (Klass 46’), Pendlebury, Amaluzor (McQuoid 84’), Barham (Hutchinson 72’). Unused substitutes: Thomas, Anderson.
Referee: Scott Simpson
Assistants: Harley McKittrick & Robert Evans
Fourth official: Michael Scott
Scorers
Southend United: Murphy (16’)
Aldershot Town: Frost (63’), Partington (70p')
Yellow cards
Southend United: Hobson (29’), Arnold (69’)
Aldershot Town: Ochieng (4’), Amaluzor (81’)
Attendance: 5,990 (420 away fans)