DOM TAKES ADVANTAGE OF WEARY SHRIMPERS
MUCH-IMPROVED Ebbsfleet United fought back to draw at home to inform Southend United.
Home substitute Dominic Poleon struck less than 10 minutes after coming on in front of a bumper 4,000 crowd after Shrimpers front man Harry Cardwell had flicked home for his 17th league goal of the season in the first half.
The point extended 10thplaced Southend’s unbeaten run to 12 games.
“I don’t think we’re ever content with a point but you’ve got to respect it,” said Southend head coach Kevin Maher.
“This is our third game in six days, including a game on Tuesday night on a really heavy pitch, where we’ve done ever so well.
“Credit to Ebbsfleet, we know they would come hard at us because it’s what we would do to someone who has played three games in six days and they’ve had 10 days off. We knew it would be a difficult one and they’re top of the form guide, as well.
“But after going 1-0 up, you hope you can nick the second one to give yourself a cushion but we couldn’t.”
Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle, whose side are now four points clear of the relegation zone, said: “We had to be at our best – and I thought we were very good. For large parts, I thought we were the better side.”
Fleet’s Toby Edser forced away goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi into action in the first minute and then turned provider for Ben Chapman, who hit the crossbar.
But the Shrimpers took the lead. Oli Coker whipped in a dangerous free-kick and top scorer Cardwell claimed the final touch.
Referee Lauren Impey waved away three first-half home penalty appeals – the pick of which saw Dominic Samuel go down under a challenge to mass protests.
Southend started the second half the brighter and might have doubled their lead through Cardwell, but he was denied by goalkeeper Mark Cousins.
That proved the end of his afternoon as he was taken off, alongside Wes Fonguck, as fitness issues began to cause visiting boss Maher headaches.
“There’s tightness everywhere,” the boss added. “Bridgey [Jack Bridge] has run 60 or 70 yards to get back in but then he’s done so we had to make that change. We’re hanging on with that last sub because Ralphy [Nathan Ralph] has a tight hamstring, too, so we had to see how he was, too. Cardwell is really tight – it’s his hamstrings that are tight.”
Indeed, as fatigue set in, so did the mistakes and on 76 minutes, Poleon was played in by Greg Cundle’s header and the 30-year-old kept his cool to net his 16th goal of the campaign.
But there was nearly a dramatic twist in injury time. A booming clearance by Southend keeper Andeng-Ndi was sliced by home defender Myles Kenlock but Cousins made a fantastic – if a little unexpected – save and was first to the loose ball.