Report: Magpies 1-0 Southend United

A Will de Havilland header paved the way for a fantastic three points as Maidenhead United beat Southend at York Road on Saturday, 8th February. 

 

Alan Devonshire made two changes to the side which played Barnet a fortnight ago, with Miles Welch-Hayes returning from injury. Kane Ferdinand also made his first start of the season in a Maidenhead shirt, replacing Bradley Keetch in midfield. 

 

United got the game underway on a gloomy afternoon at York Road, but it was the visitors who had the first opportunity. The slippery pitch caused an error in the United backline, giving Josh Walker the chance to shoot, but his effort was blocked well by Kevin Lokko. 

 

It took nearly half an hour for either goalkeeper to be tested, it was Nick Hayes to be called into action first. A surging run from Casey Pettit threatened the Southend goal, with the challenge ricocheting into the path of Shawn McCoulsky, but the forward’s effort couldn’t squeeze past Hayes’ out-stretched leg. 

 

As the game began to ramp up, Gus Scott-Morriss drilled his shot low across the goal, but Craig Ross was more than equal to his effort, with Will de Havilland eventually clearing any danger. 

 

Southend again were applying pressure, but United’s defence was holding strong. Noor Husin this time tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his shot was deflected out of harm’s way by Nathan Ferguson. 

 

The Shrimpers came close again just before the break, Ben Coker’s cross from the left was headed against the crossbar by Scott-Morriss and eventually cleared away to see the sides go in the interval level. 

 

 

Coming out for the second half, the Magpies’ brightest spark was still Shawn McCoulsky. The number nine did brilliantly to take the ball under, with his back to goal, before turning his defender inside out – but his eventual shot couldn’t quite squeeze under Hayes. 

 

This time it was McCoulsky’s strike-partner causing havoc. Tristan Abrahams delivered a beautiful free kick from deep landing perfectly on the head of Will de Havilland. The centre-half got in front of man before glancing a beautiful header over Hayes and into the far corner to give Maidenhead the lead. 

 

McCoulsky again proved to be a brilliant attacking outlet for United, this time taking a beautiful first touch to turn his man before looking to slot between Hayes’ legs. The Southend ‘keeper reacted just in time to close the gap and stopped United doubling their advantage. 

 

The game had become much more open following de Havilland’s opener, Southend nearly levelled through Tom Hopper, but he diverted Scott-Morriss’ cross wide from just over six yards out. 

 

With all the Southend players camped in United’s half, the ball breaks for Abrahams who turns to see Hayes off his line, the striker tries the speculative effort only to see his shot go narrowly passed the post. 

 

As we approached the full-time whistle, Southend still probed for a late equaliser but as it had done all afternoon United’s defence stood strong and dealt with anything that cam their way. 

 

 

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross ©, Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (Cochrane, 90’), Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky, Kane Ferdinand, Casey Pettit (Johnson, 79’), Miles Welch-Hayes, Tristan Abrahams (Barratt, 90’), Manny Onariase 

 

Southend United: Nick Hayes, Gus Scott-Morriss, Nathan Ralph ©, Noor Husin, Josh Walker (Bonne, 72’), Harry Taylor, James Golding, Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper (Kendall, 85’), James Morton (Appiah-Forson, 85’), Oli Coker (Chambers-Parillon, 64’) 

 

Attendance: 1,978