Smash and grab raid by Shrimpers

SKY BET

LEAGUE ONE STANLEY........................ 1 SOUTHEND.................... 2

ACCRINGTON Stanley suffered their third straight league defeat after they were beaten at home to strugglers Southend United on Saturday.

Goals from Charlie Kelman and Jason Demetriou were enough for Southend at the Wham Stadium, despite a strike from Dion Charles for the Reds.

It was a memorable win for Southend, as not only did they manage to condemn Stanley to defeat, but it saw Sol Campbell earn his first league win as manager at the 12th attempt of asking.

It has left the Reds in 17th place in the League One table,

Striker Tom Hopper managed to square the ball to his team-mate, who fired home from the edge of the area to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

They weren’t ahead for long though, as Stanley equalised in the 17th minute. Sam Finley’s ball towards the far post was met with a powerful header from Mark Hughes, with Charles getting on the end of it to turn it home and make it 1-1.

The hosts created plenty more chances as the first half progress, but they were wasteful with them, as

Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley denied Joe Pritchard and Finley.

Pritchard then went close again when he had an attempt cleared off the line, while top scorer Colby Bishop headed over the bar when he should have done better.

The score remained 1-1 at the break, but Southend had a golden opportunity to re-take the lead shortly into the second half when they were awarded a penalty.

Pritchard was judged to have clipped substitute Brandon Goodship in the box, with the referee pointing to the spot and Demetriou fired the spot-kick beyond Joe Bursik to put his team into a 2-1 advantage.

Coleman turned to his substitutes as he tried to get his side back into the game, making an attacking switch by bringing on Offrande Zanzala.

There were opportunities for Accrington to level things up throughout the remainder of the half, but Finley shot over the bar and Pritchard was again kept out by Oxley.

Bursik was then required at the other end to prevent Sam Barratt adding a third goal for Southend, but in the end it didn’t matter for the visitors as they were able to hold on to earn the 2-1 victory and hand Stanley a defeat.