KEV GETS BACK IN THE GROOVE
SOUTHEND United bounced back from midweek disappointment to rediscover their winning formula at the expense of Altrincham.
The Shrimpers saw their 13-match unbeaten run ended by Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night.
But Kevin Maher’s side responded strongly to the setback with goals from Nathan Ralph and Matt Dennis securing all three points.
“I’m delighted with that,” said relieved boss Maher. “Today was all about how we responded after the disappointment of Tuesday and it was the perfect result really.
“If I’m honest I thought there was a bit of nervousness and sloppiness early on and we turned the ball over too cheaply.
“They’ve got some dangerous players in attacking areas but the harder you work the luckier you get and we deserved that.
“Once we got the goal we fully warranted our three points and at 2-0 I felt we managed the game ever so well too.
“I would’ve liked another goal to completely kill it off but I’m delighted with the players and it was a fully professional performance.”
Altrincham came into the game with three wins in their last four outings and impressed in the opening exchanges.
Matty Kosylo thundered a long-range effort against the inside of the left post before the resulting rebound somehow struck the opposite upright before bouncing to safety.
Jake Cooper then headed a right wing corner from Dan Mooney wide of the left post before the Shrimpers hit back to open the scoring, with skipper Ralph on target in the 36th minute.
The defender reacted sharply after visiting goalkeeper Tony Thompson had spilt a right wing corner from
Tom Clifford and fired home from close range.
Southend soon doubled their lead with a well-worked goal which saw Clifford play in the impressive Jack Bridge down the left hand side and his low cross was tapped home by Dennis from close range for his eighth goal of the season.
The second half was far less eventful with neither side troubling the goalkeeper.
Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson was left ruing his side’s luckless star, adding: “For the first third of the game I felt we were on top and Matty’s shot goes in I think their confidence drains after the result here against Dagenham in the week,” said Parkinson.
“But it didn’t go in, we started to make mistakes and it just got worse and worse.”
Jack Bridge (Southend) 5,976
Aji Ajibola