MOLESLEY ‘DEFLATED’ BY LATE LEVELLER
BOSS Mark Molesley admitted Southend were running out of time in their bid to preserve their Football League status after a late equaliser gave them one point rather than three at ten-man Scunthorpe.
Ashley Nathaniel-George looked to have earned the Shrimpers a first win in six matches from the penalty spot ten minutes from time, only for Alfie Beestin to break into a crowded box and slot home as a largely tepid contest entered stoppage time.
The result leaves Southend seven points from safety with ten games remaining. “It feels like a defeat. It was a disastrous end to the game for us, a game we’d done more then enough to win,” Molesley said.
“Scunthorpe scored with their only shot on target and we had enough bodies to defend and deal with that situation like we had done so well all game. It was the same against Stevenage and against Oldham, we end up drawing games that we should have won. That’s why we find ourselves where we are.
“We all feel pretty deflated because the games are slipping through our fingers at the moment, and we have to try to make every one count.
“We fluffed our lines unfortunately, so we’ve got to be big, strong and brave now.
“The league table doesn’t make great reading and it’s going to be a big challenge for sure, but it’s one we can’t shy away from.”
Chances were at a premium at both ends, with neither keeper having a save to make until the second half, when the Iron’s Mark Howard tipped over a speculative effort from Alan McCormack. Abo Eisa went close for the hosts when firing against a post in the 72nd minute, before the game sparked into life in the closing stages.
Referee Rob Lewis sent off Jordan Clarke and pointed to the spot when the Scunthorpe skipper shoved TimotheeDiengoff theball,andsubstitute Nathaniel-George ended the Shrimpers’ goal drought of more than 500 minutes by firing home the resulting penalty.
The visitors had to settle for a point when Beestin forced his way into the box and slotted in from ten yards.
“Relief is probably the over-riding emotion. Sometimes it’s not about how you play, it’s about getting results and we’re four unbeaten now,” said Scunthorpe boss Neil Cox.
“It wasn’t a great game. We weren’t very good, they weren’t very good. People didn’t hold the ball up, or pass it well and our set-pieces were awful. I don’t take any positives other than the ‘Beest’ scores a great goal and we get a point.
“I can’t defend players, even the experienced ones were making the wrong decisions. I’ve had a go at them, but now we’ll throw this one away and move on to the next game.”
SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Howard 5, Rowe 6 (Howe 88), Clarke 5, Bedeau 6, Brown 6, Gilliead 6, Karacan 6, Beestin 7, Green 6 (Hippolyte 88), van Veen 6 (McAtee 71, 6), Loft 6 (Eisa 63, 6). Subs not used: Watson, Spence, O’Malley.
SOUTHEND: Oxley 6, Demetriou 6, Hobson 6, White 6, Hart 7, Holmes 6 (Nathaniel-George 61, 6), McCormack 6 (Taylor 61, 6), Ferguson 6, Hackett-Fairchild 8 (Mellis 83, 6), Dieng 7, Akinola 6 (Goodship 71, 6). Subs not used: Seaden, Cordner, Acquah.