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Zip it, shrimpy.
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By:
Max Bygraves
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19/01/2025
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This article has been viewed 350 times.
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Attending two away games in less than a week. Is it 2005 or 2025? After Tuesday night’s trip to Gloucestershire, a closer to home visit to Essex had long been earmarked.
I’ve shared here before my endeavours and experiences of attempting to get my two very young children hooked early. In my wisdom a few weeks back, I suggested a family day out to the seaside finishing in football. It was agreed this was a good idea. On balance of the form of the kids on the day, possibly a little questionable if this was the case, but what ensued made any parental challenges a lot easier to put up with…
Via a very cold lunchtime trip to the beach for shivering sandcastle building and throwing of stones in the sea followed by fish and chips from a place on the front (Ye Olde Chippy, Est.1984 - that tickled me), we made for Roots Hall. We arrived just slightly after kick off, having finally found a reasonably close parking space at a location that appeared to twin with the old Dollis Valley estate in Barnet. Bring Barnet Back sticker swiftly removed on arrival.
It was the layering up on leaving the car and the well hidden away end that delayed arrival. Thankfully the temperature in the ground nowhere near as bracing as the promenade.
The whole game was an unusually relaxing watch from a Barnet perspective. From the early stages, we looked a cut above our hosts. There was a calmness in our play and we looked solid. Goalkeepers in non league football doing things with their feet always makes me a bit nervous, but Owen Evans (on first and now second viewing) appears to have a bit in his locker with this. Also some solid distribution when the ball does need to simply be sent away.
Just over midway through the first half, Barnet took a deserved lead. We’d already won a few corners by the time Hartigan drifted this one in. Southend’s defending was questionable but Collinge’s quick movement towards the back post gave him plenty of time, unbothered, to decide how to guide his header home. He took it well and silenced the majority of the near 7000 present.
There was no sitting back. We took the game to Southend from here and not long later were rewarded with a second. Some nice passing in the build up saw Ndlovu link with Glover who put Kenlock in down the left hand side with a deft flicked pass. Again, anyone of a Southend persuasion would feel disappointed at the time and space afforded as the Bees’ defender bombed into the box firing a low cross. From our angle at the far end it was hard to see how it went in but seemingly Shelton connected only for it to be deflected in and awarded as an own goal.
Into a two goal lead comfortably before half time. This could not have been going much better. It was smiles all round as the referee signalled the end of the first forty five.
It can’t be the case of a jovial half time bar at Roots Hall. The weird transport style cafe offering the only indoor space. Very limited facilities which were not the most ideal in keeping two little ones entertained and warm, until some curiosity about Southend’s Sammy the Shrimp mascot. He got a big old thumbs down from us, just before the players re-emerged.
I really like Roots Hall. A proper relic, chimneys to be spotted over the top of one of the home stands; an old-fashioned ground nestled in the community. The shallow nature of the away end and very minimal legroom (apparently the seats were just built straight onto the former terrace steps) make it not the most comfortable, but venues like this must be treasured whilst we still have them. Southend have long been looking to move to a site further out of town at Fossetts Farm although from something I read recently, the plan now appears to be to stay put and re-develop. Just don’t change too much. That barrel roof on the away end is great. A good vocal effort from the 374 in there, but helped with some fine acoustics.
With more than 6500 home fans in attendance again, you wonder how long before they now do get it together on the pitch and get back to a more suited level for a club of that size. Finances seemingly more secure, I hope we don’t have to face them in this division next season.
If they didn’t have so many gobby fans on the internet obsessed with how much their support dwarves ours, I would have nothing against them. As it is, I bloody love getting one over this lot.
My only concern coming out for the second half was what an early goal for them could do to the momentum of the game. It wasn’t something we needed to worry too much about. We looked assured and in control and passed through the first quarter of an hour unscathed.
On the hour, however, a huge let off for Barnet. From a corner, Southend scrambled a goal back only for the ref to disallow it. Now, at the time, it was up the other end so you could only assume it was a fair call. The decision was made quickly. However, seeing it back, it’s one of the most outrageous mistakes of the season. Mark Shelton stood in front of Evans and impeded him. Josh Walker, formerly of Barnet, tucked the loose ball away. A totally fair goal denied. For Walker. For Southend. What a shame. Long live proper football without VAR.
Not long after this, Walker was involved in a fiery tussle with Stead on the half way line that escalated into a rather tame brawl. Having now seen the disallowed goal, I understand why he was so worked up. Although it does seem that it doesn’t take a lot to provoke him. When we spoke to Darren Currie on the podcast some years back, he said Josh Walker reminded him in some ways of Marlon King. Given where he finds himself in his career after such early promise, it’s perhaps more away from the pitch where the similarities lie…
Harry Taylor also copped a fair bit from the away end with a very clear reminder of the difference in career paths between him and his Premier League brother, Jack. I always feel Harry Taylor has a fair bit of credit in the bank for trying all he could to maintain some dignity for the football club during some of our darkest times. His impassioned interview after the behind closed doors covid debacle day at Wealdstone in 2021 told you a lot about his character and how much the mess at the club in that time affected him. Allegedly he somewhat bit at the taunts (didn’t see from where I was tucked in the corner). No need for that if he did, but there are former employees of the club far more deserving of stick than him.
The icing was well and truly put on the cake in the seventy seventh minute. Not Brunt’s best corner delivery was met with a slightly fortuitous flick on at the front post from substitute Joe Grimwood. The ball looped high into the darkening January sky and was once again met by the head of Danny Collinge. Great to see him having an impact again after perhaps not quite hitting his usual heights this season.
Great scenes after this. Collinge stood in front of the celebrating away end arms aloft saying, ‘there you go.’ I’ve always thought, if I were a footballer, I think celebrating in front of an away end going spare like that and really taking it would be bloody great. Never understand it when players don’t go to the fans to lap it up. Milk it, lads. Honorary mention for Zak Brunt too who stood there roaring with delight and almost a hint of laughter towards the fate of his former loan employers.
The game was now wrapped up and it was a fun final fifteen minutes. A brave soul even ventured an attempt at the Hi De Ho. I’ll be honest, if it’s not Westy it’s just not the same - but all credit for the attempt. A few enjoyable renditions of the twist also as the clock ticked on.
It was nice to see some positive interaction from the players who were subbed out. Ndlovu gave the away end a big “come on!” after taking his applause having had to walk off by the goal. Always impressed with actions like his and Stead’s to give the kids a high five down the front on the way past. It costs nothing and will have hugely added to those youngsters’ day. My daughter got shy and bottled the Stead high five at the last minute - another time.
I didn’t see the board go up and it felt like the game ran and ran time wise; it was nearly 5pmonce the whistle sounded. It couldn’t come quick enough for the hosts who had been very poor. A torrid afternoon for them. Have to say, it was pretty commendable how many of them stayed until the bitter end despite the score line.
Our players came over to receive deserved adulation at full time. You’ve got to enjoy these moments. In a quarter of a century of away games, I can’t think of too many straight off the bat that read as well as Southend 0-3 Barnet in front of a big crowd. Enjoy it and savour it whatever the context.
Results elsewhere were hugely helpful. York slipping up at home to Sutton (prompting some exceptional Twitter ‘beef’ - go check it out if you haven’t already) and Oldham losing at home to Aldershot were most welcome bits of news. Forest Green’s second half winner denied us of continuing the top of the league songs from the first half but this was a result that keeps us right in the thick of things.
Maidenhead (H), Hartlepool (H), Tamworth (A), Boston (A) and Solihull (H) is our next five. After that, we host York before going to Rochdale and then Oldham. Massive.
If we could go into that triple header of big ones with thirteen or more points behind us, we’d be in great shape. 12 unbeaten in the league now, the expectation has to be that when we play York that will be up to 17 games. If you want to be champions, you have to be exceptional. Let’s hope yesterday’s feel good factor is here to stay. Exciting.
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