Scunthorpe United 1
Southend United 3
Southend United's 40 year wait for a win at Scunthorpe United came to an end with the Shrimpers keeping their slim playoff hopes alive with a 3-1 win over the already relegated Iron.
Prior to kick off Blues hadn't won at Scunny since 1983 when they cruised to a 6-1 victory, and it was a similarly dominant performance from Kevin Maher's men yesterday as goals from Jack Bridge, Noor Husin and Shaun Hobson capped off a fine final away performance of the regular season.
It was a quiet start at Glanford Park with off target strikes from Jason Demetriou and Harry Cardwell the closest Southend came to scoring in the opening half hour. Whilst the best the hosts could muster was a long range effort from Colin Daniel which the full back shanked high and wide.
However with ten minutes left of the opening period the Shrimpers were presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Callum Powell went down in the penalty area following a seemingly soft challenge from Reagan Ogle and referee Sam Mulhall pointed to the spot. Bridge stepped up and Southend's top scorer sent Owen Foster the wrong way from the spot for his 13th goal of the campaign and his fifth in as many games.
The second half saw the visitors come out a much better side and they made their superior league position over Scunthorpe show with a second goal after 52 minutes. Powell fizzed a cross into Cardwell with the ball bouncing off the striker's leg and into the feet of Bridge who laid the ball off on a plate for Husin and the Afghanistan international thumped home from eight yards out. This was Husin's second strike of the campaign as he equals his Vanarama National League goal tally from last term.
Five minutes after this Scunthorpe had the chance to half the deficit but Steve Arnold denied them; blocking a Jacob Butterfield attempt at his near post.
Southend responded with a chance of their own two minutes later - forcing Foster into a save. Demetriou dragged the ball back to Powell's whose looping effort needed tipping over by the teenage goalkeeper.
Foster wouldn't be able to keep Blues at bay for long and two minutes later the 18 year old found himself picking the ball out of the back of his goal for the third time. Ollie Kensdale poked the ball forward to his defensive partner Shaun Hobson who made it 3-0 with a majestic finish. The centre back waltzed away from Scunny defenders Will Smith and Ogle before rounding Foster and slotting the ball home into an empty net.
Southend looked to be on course for their first away victory at the Iron since 1983 as well as a first clean sheet at Scunthorpe since 1972. However their wait for a shutout at Scunny will go on as four minutes into injury time Jimmy Dean's side found a late consolation.
Danny Elliott was picked out in the box and the striker drilled the ball beyond Arnold for his first goal in Scunthorpe colours.
Defeat for the Iron ends their 19 game unbeaten home run against Southend as they fall to a fifth straight defeat in the National League.
A second win over Scunthorpe this season sees Southend remain 8th but they are now three points behind Boreham Wood who have played a game less. Three points for the Seasiders keeps up their good run of form of just one loss in six games.
On final day Scunthorpe travel to Surrey to take on Dorking Wanderers whilst Southend entertain Wealdstone.
ATT: 3,196 (Away: 396)
Scunthorpe United: Foster, Ogle, Elliott, Boyce, Carver, Wilson (Feeney 71'), Shrimpton (Butterfield 56'), Daniel (Robertson 84'), Smith, Rance, Shields
Goals: Elliott 90+4'
Southend United: Arnold, Lomas, Hobson, Kensdale, Bridge, Husin, Powell (Wreh 76'), Miley, Fonguck (Taylor 75'), Cardwell (Sandat 86'), Demetriou
Goals: Bridge (p) 35', Husin 52', Hobson 65'
By Nathan Williams
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