Southend’s struggles continued as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Dorking Wanderers with Seb Bowerman scoring the winner for the home side at Meadowbank.
Bowerman’s powerful strike from inside the area came just before the half-hour mark in the first half and gave Dorking a much-needed second straight win as they fight for survival in their first season in the National League.
Blues on the other hand will be happy to see the back of March, a month in which Southend have lost all seven of their league games – all by a single goal – as Kevin Maher’s side have slipped down the table.
Following the defeat at Altrincham on Saturday, Southend made their first-ever trip to Meadowbank hoping to end the month on a high and boss Maher made four changes to his side as Collin Andeng Ndi, Louis Lomas, Jason Demetriou and Dan Mooney were drafted in.
Dorking’s fight for survival received a huge boost at the weekend as they picked up a big three points against Maidenhead on Saturday and they almost came flying out of the blocks against Blues at Meadowbank with Luke Moore seeing a good effort blocked inside the opening minute.
Southend were then indebted to goalkeeper Andeng Ndi for keeping the home side out with a couple of brilliant saves. The young stopper first denied Jason Prior’s looping header, tipping it away superbly, before saving an effort from Seb Bowerman from almost point-blank range.
The visitors started to settle and had a spell of possession which led to Mooney having a couple of chances. The Blues winger was picked out by a cross from Nathan Ralph but could only slice his volley, while seconds later Mooney shifted the ball onto his left before curling an effort wide.
Dorking though would take the lead just before the half-hour mark as a long ball forward from the back caused problems for the Southend defence. A low cross from the right ran perfectly for Bowerman who powered home the opener in the 29th minute.
Kevin Maher’s side started to enjoy plenty of the ball after Bowerman’s opener, but they were struggling to cut through the Dorking defence. The closest the visitors came before the break was when Shaun Hobson headed a Jack Bridge cross straight at Dan Lincoln.
The Blues boss made an attacking change at the interval to try and turn the tide as Jon Benton came on in place of Ollie Kensdale, but it was the hosts that came up with the first chance of the second half as Jimmy Muitt got goal-side and stung the palms of Andeng Ndi.
Maher’s men though did start to pick up the pace and rattled off a string of chances with Mooney cutting in from the flank to see his low shot blocked. Benton then chanced his arm from distance, firing over, before seeing his free-kick hit the wall and his rebound fly wide.
Blues though couldn’t find a way through as Dorking had the better of the chances in front of goal. Andeng Ndi was twice called upon in a matter of minutes, stopping Josh Taylor’s low strike before clawing away Bowerman’s curling effort brilliantly to keep the deficit to one.
Dorking threatened again when a ball in from the left found the run of Moore who was unable to divert the ball on target on the stretch and they came even closer to a second when a scramble in the area led the ball to fall to sub Harry Ottaway who couldn’t prod home.
Southend huffed and puffed to try and find their way to an equaliser and had a late shout for a penalty turned down for a challenge on Callum Powell, but it wasn’t to be as Dorking picked up a second straight win. Southend remain in 12th ahead of another road trip to Yeovil.
Dorking Wanderers XI: Lincoln, Muitt (B Taylor 88’), McShane (Ottaway 56’), J Taylor, Moore, Prior, Gallagher, Craig (C), Bowerman, Cook (Fuller 56’), Francomb. Subs Not Used: Seager, Kuhl
Blues XI: Andeng-Ndi, Ralph (C), Lomas, Hobson, Kensdale (Benton 46’), Bridge (Sandat 85’), Mooney (Powell 76’), Taylor, Miley, Cardwell, Demetriou. Subs Not Used: Scott-Morriss, Fonguck
Referee: Scott Tallis
Assistants: Conall Bartlett & David Nicholson
Fourth Official: George Warren
Scorers:
Dorking Wanderers: Seb Bowerman 29’
Southend United: None
Yellow Cards:
Dorking Wanderers: Daniel Gallagher 62’
Southend United: None
Attendance: 2,230