SHRIMPERS CELEBRATE HAPPY DAY WITH A WIN

VICTORY over struggling Kidderminster Harriers was all the sweeter for Southend United as over 600 travelling fans celebrated the impending takeover of the club.

News filtered through shortly before kick-off at Aggborough that contracts had been exchanged between Ron Martin and a consortium led by Justin Rees for the long-awaited sale of the crisis club.

Buoyed by the news, the Shrimpers completed a hard-fought win over Harriers, who will count themselves unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game after a late rally.

Boss Kevin Maher said: “The news coming through before kick-off gave everyone a boost. We started ever so well. We were a bit sloppy as the game went on, and I was disappointed to concede, but we showed character to come back to score from a set piece.

“Its hard to put into words at the moment. This is for the fans. For them to get this news and to win the game, going into Christmas, this is such a lift for them and the football club.”

Southend took the lead inside six minutes whenJack Bridge found space on the left and put in a deep cross and Oli Coker squeezed the ball past Christian Dibble at the back post.

The game continued apace and whilst the lively visitors held the lead it was Harriers who made the more incisive attacking plays and got their reward shortly before the half hour.

The Southend defence failed to clear Jack Lambert’s

free-kick after several attempts and the ball fell invitingly for Ashley Hemmings who lashed home the ball into top corner from 18 yards – his seventh goal in the last five matches.

Southend, though, weren’t to be denied and they restored their lead in the third minute of firsthalf stoppage time. Bridge delivered a corner and Nathan Ralph was on hand to nod home.

Brooklyn Kabongolo saw his effort well saved by Dibble as the Shrimpers started the second half the brighter.

And they believed they should have had a penalty when Kabongolo threaded the ball through to returning debutant Henry Sandat, who appeared to be brought down by Dibble, but referee Dale Baines waved away the appeals.

Maher later described it as “the most blatant penalty he’d ever seen.”

As Harriers pushed for an equaliser, Southend stopper Collins Andeng Ndi foiled substitute Amari Morgan-Smith twice in quick succession with headed efforts – the second of which deep into stoppage time, effectively sealed the win for the visitors.

The result sees Kiddy slip back to the foot of the table and boss Russ Penn said: “Today was so frustrating. I thought we were excellent first half, so to be going in 2-1 down at half-time through costly mistakes is frustrating. Every little error is proving costly.”