SPITFIRES PILE ON RON’S WOE
FRUSTRATED Southend United supporters staged a pre-match protest against chairman Ron Martin before Eastleigh compounded their misery by snatching the points at Roots Hall.
Fans are cranking up the pressure on underfire Martin who has until the start of March to save the club by paying off a large HMRC bill.
In recent weeks, their frustrations have been eased by performances on the field but this wasn’t one of those occasions as Kevin Maher’s men failed to break down stubborn Eastleigh resistance.
“It’s another one of those games we need to try and overcome,” said Maher. “Teams want to kill the game from the first minute and look to nick something from a set-piece or a counter attack.
“I’m not going to play that way. We will try and play the way we play but the goals we conceded are poor.
“We wanted to give the fans something and get a victory for them. They were applauding us even at the end and the support they give the players is brilliant.”
Eastleigh opened the scoring on 34 minutes when Southend goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu completely missed Jake Hesketh’s freekick into the box and, in the ensuing scramble, Alfie Lloyd poked the ball home.
Southend came close to equalising at the start of the second half when Jack Bridge sent a 20-yard shot against the top of the crossbar.
But the Spitfires stood strong and made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute with Charlie Carter on target after the hosts had failed to defend a long throw into the box.
The Shrimpers got a goal back in the 77th minute with Harry Cardwell scoring his fourth goal in three games.
Moments later, Southend striker Rhys Murphy stabbed the ball wide from close range before the Spifires sealed only their second away win of the season when a long shot from substitute JJ McKiernan somehow squirmed through Nna Noukeu to send Lee Bradbury’s side ninth in the table.
Shrimpers boss Maher will now be seeking the right kind of reaction and will be firmly focused on matters on the pitch.
“We’ve got to get on with the football,” he added. “The lads come in every day and they’re brilliant.
“They come in every day with a smile on their face and the staff, with the energy they bring, make it a great place for the players.
“I can’t comment on anything else.”
STAR MAN: Oscar Rutherford (Eastleigh)
ATT: 5,735
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
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