Goal-shy Maidenhead United caught in the Shrimpers' net as protests rock Roots Hall

Photo: Maidenhead United FC

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Southend United 2, Maidenhead United 0

For the fifth time in six matches Maidenhead United failed to find the back of the net as they fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southend United.

The Shrimpers took to the field with only two substitutes and the club was in court only hours before kick-off due to a dispute with their energy supplier.

However, the hosts – who sat bottom of the table before kick-off after being docked 10 points by the National League over their tax debt – still had more than enough quality to overcome an out-of-sorts and goal-shy Magpies.

The home side were better from the opening minute and should really have scored before Jack Bridge found the net from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. The points were sealed in stoppage-time when striker Wes Fonguck managed to nutmeg two Maidenhead players in a single movement before bursting into the penalty area and whipping a shot beyond Craig Ross.

As assistant manager Ryan Peters reflected in his post-match interview, they’re ‘just not playing very well at the moment’, but they’ll need to try and find a way to bounce back in their coming matches if they’re to avoid being dragged into the league’s relegation zone.

The game was halted for four minutes in the 25th minute as Southend’s supporters protested the club’s controversial chairman Ron Martin.

Angry fans threw plastic rats and tennis balls onto the field while chanting for their chairman to leave the club.

The stoppage broke up a dominant half from the Shrimpers, with Maidenhead’s goal leading a charmed life in the opening 45 minutes.

Mooney came close to breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute with a cross that very nearly sneaked under the crossbar, but Ross was able to adjust and tip the ball behind.

Wood came close a few minutes later with a shot that Ross helped onto the post while Kensdale’s deflected header also bounced wide as Maidenhead continued to ride their luck.

Alan Devonshire threw on Tobi Sho-Silva for Chanka Zimba as the second half got underway and for 15 minutes the visitors made a game of it. However, it wasn’t long before Southend took control once more. A fine free kick from Coker smashed against the woodwork before a curling effort from Mooney was pushed away by Ross.

The first goal of the night arrived in the 73rd minute, when Wood was brought down in the area, and Bridge planted the ball to Ross’s left from the spot. The visitors brought on Harry Parsons for Casey Pettit in a bid to provide more of an attacking threat for the closing stages, but they failed to force a chance of note and Fonguck made sure of the win with a wonderful solo goal. Devonshire won’t be happy with his side’s defending to allow him to escape into the area, but there was nothing Ross could do with his curling shot that bounced in off the far upright.

Maidenhead have dropped to 20th in the table off the back of the result, three points outside of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s long trip to Gateshead.