Southend United 1-2 Chester FC - Review!

November 10, 2014 by Alec Hitchman

Blues Out of the FA Cup - Southend United 1-2 Chester FC

A surprising defeat for Southend United at home to Chester FC was definitely a shock to the systems of all associated with Blues.

First Half

Chester took the lead in then 5th minute after Ben Heneghan headed in at the near post, past Daniel Bentley from Peter Winn's inswinging free-kick. Yeovil loanee Jakub Sokolik had given the free kick away.
Conceding a goal, as usual, seemed to get Blues going, and Barry Corr went close twice with two headers, one of which he put wide, and the other he put straight into the open arms of Chester 'keeper Jon Wornsop.
These two missed opportunities didn't seem to effect Blues, and they continued to push their visitors, with David Worrall firing a shot across the face of goal. Myles Weston was next to call Wornsop into action, as his left footed effort from the edge of the box flew wide of the post.
Chester also had a few more chances, with John Rooney, brother of Manchester United captain, Wayne, firing his shot straight at Bentley before Craig Hobson forced Bentley into another save, down to his left to deny Chester going 2-0 up.
Not long after, Blues were quite rightly awarded a penalty, after Myles Weston played a great ball through to John White, whose run across the front of John Rooney caused the defender to panic and foul Blues' captain, White. Barry Corr stepped up and confidently stroked the ball down the middle, whilst Wornsop was helpless. Southend 1-1 Chester!

Second Half

A minute or so after the start of the second half, Blues almost took the lead, when Sokolik blazed a shot over the bar from six yards out. Blues, though, couldn't capitalise on their early pressure and were soon 2-1 down. Chester winger Craig Mahon weaved himself past two or three Blues players before firing past Bentley in the Southend goal.
The second half continued with the same urgency from both sides, Southend looking to equalise and Chester looking to add to their lead. John White almost scored that much needed equaliser, when his right footed shot went wide of the post. David Worrall also came close for Blues and would have equalised had it not been for a fast reaction save from Wornsop in the Chester goal.
Shaquile Coulthirst and Jack Payne both came close for Blues towards the end of the game, after coming on as substitutes for Gary Deegan & Barry Corr respectively. Payne's last minute shot was driven wide of the left hand post and that was it for Blues.
To cap it all off, Blues fans in the East stand were goaded by a mindless pitch invasion by a single Chester fan, who was eventually caught by the stewards. On the other hand, those of us in the east stand who stayed to watch the teams go off the pitch gave Chester a well deserved round of applause as they left the pitch.

All the best to Chester in the second round. I will be watching their progress in the FA Cup and wish them all the best for the rest of the season.