Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from Roots Hall
Southend United moved up to ninth place in League One with a fine home victory over Oldham.
Blues manager Phil Brown was forced to make one change to his starting line up, former West Ham full back Stephen Hendrie replacing the suspended Michael Timlin but the side that took to the pitch at the start of the game was otherwise unaltered from the one that drew 1-1 with Oxford United last Saturday.
After an opening quarter of an hour which brought only a few half chances for each side – although Eoin Doyle had gone close for Oldham seconds into the match – Blues were awarded a penalty in the 17tn minute. Midfielder Josh Wright was adjudged to have been fouled by Latics defender Cameron Dummigan and referee Charles Breakspear immediately pointed to the spot.
Penalties have been a sore point for Southend lately – both Wright and Nile Ranger have missed spot kicks in recent weeks – but this time Jason Demetriou stepped up to take one and made no mistake, slotting the ball into the right hand corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the Shrimpers.
From this point Southend were having most of the chances the game had to offer as half time approached, but all of a sudden Oldham were awarded a penalty 5 minutes before the break as Rob Hunt was challenged just inside the box by Demetriou. Hunt fell to the floor and referee Breakspear once again pointed to the spot.
Latics number 9 Craig Davies stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was superbly tipped over by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley who ensured his side went in 1-0 up at the break.
Unfortunately for Southend they lost winger Michael Kightly to injury just before half time, after the former Stoke and Burnley man had put in some good work on the left flank and created some decent chances so fellow midfielder Anthony Wordsworth took his place.
The Shrimpers doubled their lead 9 minutes into the second half, following a great move which started when striker Marc-Antoine Fortune played the ball out wide to Stephen McLaughlin. He just about managed to keep the ball in play before placing it perfectly into the box, from where Josh Wright volleyed home with a superb strike to make it 2-0.
Southend continued to put pressure on the visitors and Demetriou nearly added a third 20 minutes from the end, the Cyprus international full back’s effort from the right flank sailing closely past the left post. Ryan Leonard had a similar effort a few minutes later, following good work from Fortune who put in a battling and hard working performance up front all afternoon.
Oldham’s leading scorer Doyle had a couple of late efforts including a header which hit the outside of the post, but Blues held on for a well deserved victory.
All in all this was a good afternoon’s work by Southend, and reminiscent of some of their more impressive performances of last season although the quality of the opposition was not the highest on this occasion. If they can continue to put in shifts like this, especially when facing some of League One’s top sides then they should achieve more victories rather than some of the indifferent results they have had at times lately.
Southend United: Mark Oxley, Jason Demetriou, Anton Ferdinand, Michael Turner, Stephen Hendrie, Michael Kightly (Anthony Wordsworth 45), Josh Wright, Ryan Leonard, Stephen McLoughlin, Simon Cox (Amadou Ba 83), Marc-Antoine Fortune
Oldham Athletic: Johny Placide, Cameron Dummigan, Jack Gardner, Craig Davies, Eoin Doyle, Queensy Menig (Genaro Nepomuceno 57), Rob Hunt, Ousmane Fane, Peter Clarke (Brian Wilson 60), Jack Byrne (Tope Obadeyi 72), Kean Bryan.
Attendance: 5841 (233 from Oldham)
