City beaten at a jubilant Roots Hall.

Southend United 2

Cardwell 31'

Wood 37'

Oxford City 0

Two first-half goals consigned Oxford City to defeat at a jubilant Roots Hall as Southend United ran out 2-0 winners against Oxford City in the Vanarama National League.

Goals from Harry Cardwell and Jack Wood seven minutes apart did the damage on the evening, as the Hoops struggled to get out of first gear in the match.

SELECTION

Ross Jenkins named an unchanged eleven from the 2-1 defeat to Altrincham on Saturday. There was only one change in the squad, Alfie Potter returned to the bench replacing Latrell Humphrey-Ewers.

First-Half

City were second best in the first-half and they had to navigate their way through a number of sticky situations in the opening stages.

Oli Coker’s thunderous effort flew past Chris Haigh’s post in the first real chance of the game. A sign of things to come.

City had their backs against the wall and Chris Haigh and Tom Harrison were on hand to deny the hosts next. Firstly, Haigh made a superb stop to deny Cardwell’s header and Tom Harrison then expertly blocked the rebounded effort on the six-yard line.

Gus Scott-Morriss in particular was having a lot of luck down the right-wing and it didn’t take long for him to use the space he had to punish the Hoops.

Again, the right-wing back had room to send a cross into the box and this time the ball was inch-perfect for in-form striker Cardwell to nod the ball past Haigh. 1-0.

It was soon 2-0. Chris Haigh did well to deny Jack Wood from inside the box with a superb save on thirty-eight minutes, but City’s number one could do nothing about the re-bound.

The ball bounced back to the Shrimpers midfielder inside the box and he found the net with Haigh still grounded from the original save. 2-0.

Haigh was playing a starring role in the match despite the scoreline and once again he denied the hosts with a superb save from a corner, to retain City’s faint hopes of a comeback.

If things weren’t going their way, Ross Jenkins’ side luck was summed up a minute before the interval when Josh Parker managed to wriggle through on goal.

However, when it mattered most a bobble in the pitch meant that the striker’s eventual shot ballooned over the stand and into the flats behind.

Half-Time: Southend United 2-0 Oxford City

Second-half

Throughout the game, the atmosphere at Roots Hall was nothing short of exceptional. After years of mismanagement behind the scenes, the Shrimpers faithful were celebrating a takeover by a new Australian consortium.

Perhaps the atmosphere affected the Hoops, but Ross Jenkins felt the need to change things up at the interval with two changes.

Aaron Williams-Bushell and Pierre Fonkeu replaced Renny Smith & Tafari Moore but the subs didn’t have the desired effect from the get-go.

In fact, Southend almost grabbed a third goal but, as per usual, Chris Haigh made another solid save to deny Cardwell a second.

Jack Bridge was next to try his luck for the hosts, flashing a shot across goal and subsequently the post.

However, Haigh’s finest save came fifteen minutes from time. Wesley Fonguck’s superb shot looked goal bound before Haigh managed to manoeuvre his body to the opposite side of his goal and tip the striker’s effort over the crossbar.

City did eventually come close to goal in the last ten minutes of the match. Pierre Fonkeu had two attempts at goal, his first was a volley at the back post which trickled into David Martin’s gloves and his second effort didn’t trouble the Southend ‘keeper, flying over the crossbar.

It was a night to forget for Oxford City, but one to remember for Southend United.

Their fortunes look to be changing both on and off the pitch. However, for the Hoops, these sorts of contests won’t decide their fate.

Ross Jenkins’ side go again on Saturday. City are back at the RAW Charging Stadium against AFC Fylde. We’ll see you there, Hoops!

Match Details

Attendance: 6,075 (35 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Oxford City Starting XI: Haigh, Burley, Kirby (Wilson 61’), Harrison, Coyle, Fleet ©, McEachran, Parker, Smith (Fonkeu 46’), Carroll, Moore (Williams-Bushell 46’)

Subs not used: Sanderson, Potter

Southend United Starting XI: 

Martin, Morriss, Kensdale, Bridge (Vilhete 79’), Husin, Cardwell (Mooney 88’), Wood, Taylor, Miley, Demetriou, Coker (Fonguck 68’)

Subs not used: Kabongolo