Match Report: Blues 5-0 Solihull

By Nathan Williams

Daniel Kanu made it a home debut to remember with his four goals inspiring Southend United to a 5-0 win over high-flying Solihull Moors.

The Charlton Athletic loanee opened his Blues account after just 15 minutes when he was on hand to tap home into an unguarded net after Ollie Kensdale had headed the ball back across goal.

Then on the stroke of half-time a Solihull attempt to play out from the back resulted in goalkeeper Tommy Simkin gifting the ball to the 18-year-old who gleefully converted into the top corner.

In the second period there were three goals in the space of five minutes with a Noor Husin volley being followed up by a further two goals from Kanu.

Kevin Maher made two changes from last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Yeovil Town with Husin returning from international duty in place of Dan Mooney, and Kanu coming in for Jack Wood to make his first start.

Kick-off

The visitors did threaten early on with a Richard Stearman header forcing Nick Hayes into a save down low.

However, it was Blues who struck first with Kanu introducing himself to the Roots Hall faithful with a goal.

A deep Harry Taylor cross was headed back across goal by Kensdale where it fell to the feet of Kanu who tapped home from a couple of yards out.

Brooklyn Kabongolo and Oli Coker both went close to scoring before Kanu doubled his and Southend’s tally for the afternoon just before the interval.

Teenage goalkeeper Simkin played the ball straight to Kanu in the Moors’ penalty area who struck brilliantly, lashing home into the top corner.

HALF-TIME: Southend United 2-0 Solihull Moors

Kabongolo, like Kanu, was making his home debut and he too almost marked it with a goal just prior to the hour mark.

An out swinging Jack Bridge corner picked out the Frenchman whose towering header had to be turned behind by Simkin.

Two minutes later Kabongolo would again be denied by Simkin with a carbon copy of his first attempt.

However, Blues weren’t be denied of a third with Husin adding some breathing space after 61 minutes.

A Bridge corner was only cleared as far as the Afghanistan international who chested the ball down and unleashed a dipping volley that flew past Simkin and in for his third goal of the campaign.