After extra time
Saturday 2nd November 2024, Kick-off 15.00
FA Cup 1st Round
Roots Hall, Southend-on-Sea
Admission: £18.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 8,875 (1,391 away)
Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here
Southend United 3 Charlton 4
Charlton kicked off their 2024/25 Emirates FA Cup campaign with a dramatic 4-3 extra-time win against Southend United at Roots Hall on Saturday.
Miles Leaburn, Matty Godden and Zach Mitchell, who netted his first senior goal for the club, all etched their name on the scoresheet before the returning Gassan Ahadme's 120th-minute winner.
It was a superb start to the encounter for the Addicks who took the lead inside nine minutes. Josh Edwards swung an inch-perfect cross towards the back post for Leaburn to head home beautifully.
The hosts came close to levelling the scoring on 26 minutes when the ball was fed to Adam Crowther. The defender let fly on the half-valley but sent his strike well over Will Mannion's crossbar.
Another fantastic delivery from the flank saw Terry Taylor’s whipped ball reach Zach Mitchell at the far post, who headed home the Addicks’ second.
Just moments before the interval, Godden came close to adding a third as he capitalised on a loose touch at the back. The forward honed in on goal and saw his powerful strike rattle the woodwork before Luke Berry fired over on the follow-up.
At the other end, Taylor was penalised for a handball in the box. The referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Jack Bridge coolly converted from 12 yards.
Southend pushed for a leveller after the restart and received their reward in the 52nd minute as Oli Coker’s deflected strike found its way past Will Mannion.
With 25 minutes left of the initial 90, the Addicks restored their lead. Alex Mitchell lofted a ball from deep into the path of Leaburn and the goalscorer turned provider as his flick on was met by Godden at the back post who converted with ease.
Despite Charlton’s efforts to push for a fourth, the hosts drew level in additional time. A scramble in the box saw Josh Walker's strike deflect into the back of the net.
End-to-end action in the first-half of extra-time saw Godden come close to netting his brace as he was slipped in behind the Shrimpers’ defence, but Collin Andeng-Ndi produced a vital stop to keep the scores level.
With both sides having a handful of chances in extra-time, it took until the 120th minute for a winner as Ahadme netted from the bench. The forward latched onto a loose ball at the back, firing in at the near post to seal the victory in front of the travelling fans.
The Addicks will find out their second-round opponents on Sunday night, with the draw taking place at 7.45pm (GMT).
Southend United: Andeng Ndi; Taylor, Crowther, Ralph (c); Scott-Morriss, Coker (Moncur 78), Morton (Miley 68), Husin (Appiah-Forson 100), Bridge; Bonne (Waldron 90), Pepple (Walker 67)
Subs (not used): Brown, Wind, Wood
Goals: Bridge (pen) 45+1, Coker 51, Walker 90+3
Charlton: Mannion; Z.Mitchell, A.Mitchell, Gillesphey, Edwards; Taylor (Docherty 88), Coventry (Small 55), A.Campbell (Ahadme 116), Berry (Anderson 88); Leaburn (Hylton 83), Godden (c)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Edun, Dixon
Goals: Leaburn 9, Z.Mitchell 40, Godden 66, Ahadme 119
Assists: Edwards 9, Taylor 40, Leaburn 66
Booked: Coventry 51 (foul on Pepple)
Attendance: 8,875 (1,391 away)
Referee: Darren Drysdale
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Southend United suffer late agony in FA Cup classic with Charlton
AN entertaining and enthralling FA Cup clash eventually ended in agony for Southend United on Saturday.
The Shrimpers produced an incredibly spirited showing in front of the biggest Roots Hall crowd for more than five years.
But, in terms of the end result, Blues’ efforts ultimately went unrewarded as Charlton Athletic secured a dramatic 4-3 victory courtesy of Gassan Ahadme’s effort in the dying seconds of extra time.
Charlton’s progression into the second round initially seemed quite straight-forward as first half headers from Miles Leaburn and Zach Mitchell seemed to have put the Addicks in complete control.
However, the tie came back to life just seconds before the break.
First, Charlton captain Matt Godden slammed a powerful shot against the underside of the crossbar when clean through on goal before Blues immediately hit back, thanks to a penalty from Jack Bridge.
From being a whisker away from 3-0 down, the Shrimpers were suddenly right back in the tie and started the second half on the front foot.
That eventually resulted in Oli Coker levelling the scores and only a fantastic save from Charlton keeper Will Mannion stopped Bim Pepple putting Blues ahead for the first time.
Slowly and surely, the Addicks stemmed Southend’s spell of pressure and soon regained the lead themselves with Godden sliding the ball home from close range.
With time running out, the tie appeared to be over at that stage.
But you often make your own luck in football and Blues were rewarded for throwing crosses and bodies into the box late on as Josh Walker’s low shot was deflected into his own net by Josh Edwards to take the tie to extra time.
The noise which greeted the equalising effort was spine-tingling loud and will live long in the memory.
However, there was to be no repeat of that Roots Hall roar as Charlton won it, in painful fashion, late on as a misdirected Harry Taylor header caused panic in the penalty area before Ahadme blasted the ball home.
Given the exhausting roller-coaster ride of emotions up until that point and the spirit shown by the Shrimpers, on and off the pitch, to get back into the game it was a truly heartbreaking way for the tie to be decided.
Of course, up until a ridiculous rule change due to the continued pampering towards Premier league teams, Blues’ efforts would have been rewarded with a replay at the Valley.
The clash would have earned the Shrimpers an additional £50,000 – somewhat adding to the pain felt after the final whistle on Saturday.
Blues boss Kevin Maher epitomised that hurt with his answers and body language during his after-match interview.
Everyone connected with the club would have felt the same at that point and I delayed writing this review until my own feelings of sadness had subsided.
But sometimes you need to take a step back from those raw emotions and look at the bigger picture.
Just four months ago, I genuinely feared Southend United would not exist anymore and, even if it did, I worried in what capacity it could continue.
For every story that made the paper there was at least one more within minutes of being published revealing more pain and concerns for the club’s future.
I wrote about embargoes, transfer bans, court appearances, outstanding wages and finances far more than football But that is not happening anymore and, on Saturday, a Shrimpers side gave every ounce of effort and energy to more than match an expensively assembled League One side sitting 50 places higher than Southend in the football pyramid.
Only a late defensive mix up separated the two teams but analysing the disappointing nature of the goals conceded can wait a little while.
Saturday for me was about restoring pride for Southend United and showing what everyone who cares about the club knows it could and should be.
Yes, so much more needs to be done and plenty of improvements are required.
But Blues are no longer an embarrassment crawling from one crisis due to an incompetent owner.
And that means more to me than any scoreline on Saturday.
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