Southend United, the lowest-ranked EFL side, go into tonight’s match still searching for their first win of the season. As neither side can progress into the next round of the newly named Papa Johns trophy, both sides are experimenting with their starting line-ups.
Blues boss Mark Molesley has named John White as captain. The centre-half has been out with an injury since August. Colchester United manager Steve Ball has made four changes from the side that lost on penalties to Marine in the FA Cup at the weekend. Southend also lost to non-league opposition in the form of Boreham Wood.
The result may not mean anything but a confidence boost for either side in the first Essex derby of the season, Leon Imber will take you through the action as it happens.
Starting Line-ups
The average age of the Shrimpers’ squad tonight is 20.7 years old.
Kick-Off
1′ – Shocking first touch by Tom Eastman there. Tried to switch the play to his central defensive partner and whacked it straight out of play for a Southend throw-in. The away side couldn’t make anything of it though.
5′ – Positive start for the winless Shrimpers. Brandon Goodship, the striker who seems to be operating in the centre of midfield finds space and played it wide to Terrell Egbri who got a decent cross in but no one could get on the end of it.
7′ – Naïve defending by Southend saw a ball played through to Jevani Brown, he tried to dink it over Harry Seaden but he was equal to it. Bit of a mad moment for Southend. It’s clear that the side is a very young one.
9′ – So close! Shamal George hit a poor clearance straight into the feet of Kazaiah Sterling. The striker’s touch was too heavy and his attempt at goal was saved by the scrambling goalkeeper. Plenty of action here so far.
13′ – You’d have to say that the home side look the more likely. Had a couple of dangerous low crosses into the Southend box and Seaden has awkwardly dealt with them.
16′ GOAL – JEVANI BROWN
As expected, Colchester take the lead. There must’ve been four Southend players battling for that header and it was the striker who won it. Poor defending but an accurate header. The Shrimpers have struggled from set-pieces this season and that has been evident so far tonight.
20′ Southend’s throw-in from a good, attacking area was wasted by an awful first touch by Emile Acquah. Colchester cleared with ease but Southend have had the share of the play since the goal.
22′ – Close. Very close. An excellent ball by Shaun Hobson sent Sterling through and he hit a powerful shot straight at Lewis. Much better by the away side. They win a corner for their efforts.
25′ – A deep free-kick for Southend saw the ball fall kindly for Matt Rush. He decided against shooting first time and took the touch. Yet another poor one. Someone needs to give these players the confidence to shoot first time.
28′ – Goodship’s pot-shot from 25 yards goes well wide. It’s been much better by the men in yellow though. They have kept Colchester penned into their third for the last 10 minutes, pressing very effectively
31′ What a save by Seaden. Kwame Poku hit a great shot from the edge of the box. The Southend keeper was there to make the save. The 19-year-old shot-stopper has waited patiently for his chance to impress and he is doing just that.
35′ – Good passing move by the Shrimpers opened up an opportunity for Egbri to whip in a cross. The attempt was blocked and ricocheted off the winger and went out for a throw for the home team. Bad luck.
38′ GOAL – JEVANI BROWN
The Shrimpers were too busy appealing for a foul that was never given. In all of the madness, Brown is slipped through and hits a delightful chip over the head of Seaden. As usual, Southend’s good play counts for nothing. White booked for his protests.
42′ – Good, probing play by the hosts. Played the ball in and around the Southend box before Tom Clifford knocked it out for a corner. All of a sudden Southend look horrendously disjointed and can’t get anything flowing.
45+1′ Good spell of pressure in favour of Southend saw two free-kicks from either side of the box. Colchester deal with them awkwardly but no real chance was carved. Some decent play by the young Shrimpers but no real cutting edge.
HALF TIME – COLCHESTER UNITED 2-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
Another glum half-time score-line for Southend fans.
I really never thought I’d ask this about any team as a genuine question, but will Southend win a game this season? It’s hard to see where three points could come from.
Embed from Getty Images45′ KICK OFF
46′ – Excellent save by Seaden. Brown raced through yet again and was denied brilliantly by the legs of Seaden. Great work by the young keeper. Brown wants that match ball.
50′ – The visitors’ first patch of pressure in the second half. Acquah tried to unleash a strike from 20 yards but it hit Eastman, Reiss Chandler on his senior debut tried to press the Colchester defence but they found a way out. Lots of effort, little reward.
55′ – Egbri in the referee’s book and the resulting free-kick threatened the youthful Shrimpers. Brown won the header but Southend clear. The ball isn’t sticking up top for the away side and it is leaving them under constant pressure.
57′ GOAL – JEVANI BROWN
Hat-trick for Brown. He’s been excellent this evening. Hobson brought down Josh Bohui for the penalty and only one man was going to take it. Shocking second half so far by Molesley’s men.
62′ GOAL – MICHAEL FOLIVI
More awful defending by the away side. Michael Folivi got in behind Richard Taylor, Seaden got a hand to the effort but could not stop the ball from going in. This is a thrashing.
67′ Egbri is clattered by Marley Marshall-Miranda (what a name!) Colchester dominating this match, Southend just aren’t threatening. The away side are rolling over against their fierce rivals.
70′ GOAL – NOAH CHILVERS
Samsom Tovide hit a wonderful strike off the crossbar and when the ball is recycled Noah Chilvers converts with a low strike from the edge of the box. Now I know the game means nothing, but this is becoming quite embarrassing for Southend.
74′ – Ryan Clampin battled through the fragile backline of Southend and hit an attempt way too high. Luckily for Seaden he wasn’t threatened this time. You have to feel for him being thrown into this game.
75′ – An inch-perfect ball was played across the box and Oliver Coker was in the perfect position. He hit over. One of the key differences between the two sides is that one has an accomplished goal scorer and the other doesn’t. Hat-trick hero Brown would’ve converted that chance with ease.
80′ – Both sides have settled here now. They know the result isn’t going to change. It has been an accomplished performance by the U’s but in all honesty, they haven’t even had to get out of second gear. Southend’s search for a first win continues.
83′ GOAL – KWAME POKU
Horrific defending. Seaden is furious. Poku has been great tonight and gets a goal for his efforts. A ball was played through the passive, timid defence and Poku found space way too easily to convert.
87′ – Good save by Seaden. The onslaught is never-ending. Folivi struck from 25 yards and it looked a decent hit. It will certainly be interesting to see what Molesley has to say after the game, he can’t be at all happy with his side’s performance today.
90+2′ GOAL – KAZAIAH STERLING
Colchester made a mess of a clearance from a Southend corner and, despite looking offside, Sterling converts. A mere consolation for Southend, but Colchester boss Ball will be disappointed that his side couldn’t get the clean sheet, especially against such a poor side.
90+3′ FULL TIME – COLCHESTER UNITED 6-1 SOUTHEND UNITED
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