MAHER DEMANDS CHANGE
ADEPLETED Southend United battled like trojans against high-flying Bromley but were edged out at Roots Hall.
The Shrimpers could name just one substitute, had no strikers and lost goalkeeper David Martin through injury when 2-0 down just past the hour.
But, despite wing-back Gus Scott-Morriss going in goal, they still made a game of it with Brooklyn Kabongolo heading home 10 minutes from time.
And Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher was delighted with the spirit on show.
“You lose games and it’s tough to take but we played unbelievably and I’m so proud of the players,” the Shrimpers boss said.
“It’s not a surprise and when things and thrown at them they keep going and going.
“I thought we were the better team, we had more chances, more balls in the box and everything was in our favour other than the scoreline which is the most important thing.”
However, Maher knows the Shrimpers’ situation is not sustainable.
“Something has got to change,” said Maher. “You look at the football department, what we’ve done, what the players have done and the staff right throughout the club and it’s papering over what’s been going on.
“Something has got to happen and happen soon because we’ll have injuries and you can’t go into the game with one sub.
“I know Moons (Dan Mooney) left but we had no choice in that and that’s the situation we’re in.”
Southend went close to scoring in the first half when stand-in striker Jack Bridge fired a low 20-yard shot was well saved down to his left hand side by Bromley
goalkeeper Grant Smith.
But the visitors hit back to open the scoring deep into first half stoppage time when a right wing cross from Josh Passley was headed back across goal by Michael Cheek, enabling Corey Whitely to volley home from 12 yards.
Bromley doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half, following a calamitous mistake from Southend defender Ollie Kensdale. The centre-back lost possession to Olufela
Olomola on the edge of his own penalty area allowing Olomola to charge clean through on goal.
With just Martin left to beat Olomola unselfishly teed up Cheek to tap home his 11th goal of the season.
Southend soon suffered a further blow when goalkeeper Martin suffered a nasty looking rib injury after landing awkwardly when making a clearance and had to be withdrawn.
With no substitute keeper in place, right wing back
Scott-Morriss went between the sticks and the Shrimpers piled on the pressure.
Towering defender Kabongolo was sent up front and netted his first goal for the club on 80 minutes, heading home a fine left wing cross from Bridge.
Jack Wood was denied by Smith late on but Bromley held on to secure a fourth successive win. ★★★★★