Exciting victory - for Southend United
(Image: ROB CRAVEN)
19th March
Southend United FC
Football
Sport.
SISANDA Maguranyanga scored a stoppage time winner for the second week in succession to earn Southend United a crucial 5-4 victory over West Ham United Foundation in the National League U19 Alliance Division A.
Blues led on three separate occasions, but it was only when leading marksman Maguranyanga located the top left-hand corner of the net in the third minute of additional time that Tom Bailey’s team made sure of the full three points in a nine-goal thriller at the Len Forge Centre.
Maguranyanga had set Southend on their way midway through the opening period, and Nik Zlatev doubled the advantage early in the second period.
Joshua Cousens responded for the Irons, but an own goal from Callum Brown quickly re-established the two-goal cushion for the teenage Shrimpers in the 54th minute.
Riley Scopes and Jack Jones goals restored parity for the hosts, but Zlatev’s second of the afternoon edged Blues in front again before West Ham equalised for a second time with 11 minutes still to play through Piers Hatcliff.
However, Maguranyanga would prove to have the final say some 14 minutes later.
The first quarter of the game was relatively uneventful as much of the match took place in a condensed midfield area.
Jones did deliver a cross from the right-hand side for ex-Shrimper Hatcliff in the third minute, but he headed over, allowing Southend to open the scoring20 minutes later.
Blues were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal for a foul on Maguaranyanga, and the former Rangers forward took aim himself and drilled his shot underneath the defensive wall and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Immediately there was an uplift in performance, and Ibrahim Lima sent a shot agonisingly wide of the left-hand post in the 26th minute before centre-back Prince Chinedum directed a header inches over from an Oscar Miller corner.
Jude McCarthy nodded off-target for the hosts following an over-hit Hatcliff free-kick, but Southend were quickly on the attack again and Maguranyanga dragged a shot wide before the half ended with a Brandon Dadson set-piece just eluding James Datey at the far post.
The Shrimpers made the perfect start to the second period after Zlatev made a forceful run down the left-hand side.
He offloaded to Miller, who cut back and passed to Muhammed Limbada. He quickly moved the ball on to Zlatev, who guided his finish into the bottom right-hand corner from the left-hand apex of the penalty area.
The first hint that West Ham might find a route back into the game arrived four minutes later as they halved their deficit.
Substitute Joshua Cousens was the goalscorer, with his shot narrowly eluding the grasp of Luca Sorrentino to make it 2-1.
Within a further four minutes, Blues had stretched their lead once again.
Yobor Sorae sent a teasing cross in from the right wing and, with Zlatev putting him under pressure and Maguranyanga lurking at the far post, Broom volleyed the ball into his own goal from six yards out.
West Ham could have reduced their arrears within seconds as Ronnie Durussel was cautioned for a foul on Spyros Lagapodis, but the free-kick was cleared.
Instead, the Hammers hauled themselves back into contention on 64 minutes when Lagapodis found Scopes and he rifled his finish beyond Sorrentino.
The hosts were now in the ascendancy, even if this was not reflected by the score-line, and Sorae was cautioned for delaying the restart of play shortly after Ethan Kevill had smashed high and wide from a Hatcliff centre in the 71st minute.
When the equaliser did arrive, it came just moments after a massive chance for Southend to make it 4-2 as Dadson and Zlatev combined to free Maguranyanga, who sent a left-footed strike against the post.
Instead, it was soon 3-3 as Hatcliff’s corner was headed in by Jones.
A frenetic period of play continued with Blues edging ahead again on 78 minutes.
Dadson’s deep free-kick was nodded out to Maguranyanga, who brought the ball down on his chest and volleyed towards goal.
Louie Quorn cut the shot out, but the ball rolled invitingly for Zlatev to fire home his 18th goal of the campaign from eight yards out.
The visitors were pegged back once again 60 seconds later when Datey was adjudged to have upended Hatcliff in the penalty area and the Hullbridge Sports midfielder made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-4.
Trialist Charlie McCormick replaced Datey for the final nine minutes and, despite the disappointment of letting the lead slip twice previously, there was still time for final twist from a familiar source.
Seven days after his dramatic intervention against Barking in the team’s previous fixture, Maguranyanga dribbled into the penalty area, teasing defender McCarthy before steering a superb curling shot inside the left-hand upright to contribute his 22nd goal of the season.
Even then, Southend hearts were in their mouths as West Ham sought their own fifth goal in the sixth minute of additional time, but Sorrentino denied Lagapodis with an outstanding fingertip save and Blues could finally celebrate a vital victory.
Bailey’s charges now have a couple of weeks without a competitive fixture before Dagenham & Redbridge visit Garon Park on 9th April.
Southend United U18s: Luca Sorrentino, Ronnie Durussel, Oscar Miller, Prince Chinedum, James Datey (Charlie McCormick 81), Yobor Sorae, Muhammed Limbada (Dylan Pattison 66), Nikolay Zlatev, Brandon Dadson (Finley Ledger, 90), Sisanda Maguranyanga, Ibrahim Lima.
