Southend United 3–1 AFC Fylde: Goodliffe’s answer and a welcome home win
Oldaker and Colclough scored before Goodliffe added Southend’s third, putting his first-half own goal behind him and helping end a two-match winless spell.
Goodliffe’s afternoon contained a moment to forget and a much better one to remember.
His own goal briefly cancelled out Oldaker’s early opener, but Southend responded through Colclough and the defender then supplied the third after the break. It was a welcome win after Barrow and Eastleigh, with Daley-Campbell central to the best attacking work.
A fast start, an awkward reply
Southend threatened immediately through Chambers-Parillon, then went ahead in the second minute. Fylde’s attempt to play out was intercepted and a quick combination left Oldaker with the chance to guide the ball into the bottom corner.
Popoola shot wide as The Shrimpers looked for more, but defensive mistakes gave Fylde a way into the game. Greg Olley failed to find an empty goal after Luca Thomas intercepted Cox’s backpass. The next opening did bring an equaliser: Goodliffe’s pass ran into the unguarded net with Sims out of position to receive it.
Southend needed to settle themselves quickly. Hartigan’s cross-field pass found Daley-Campbell with room on the right, the full-back reached the byline and Colclough finished the cutback off the post. The lead was restored.
Chances at both ends
McAdam tested Zac Jones and Cox’s looping header struck the underside of the bar. Popoola also fired over as Southend continued to create openings.
Colclough’s afternoon ended early, with Coker replacing him in the 42nd minute. Southend reached the interval 2–1 ahead, having shown plenty in attack but given Fylde more encouragement than the early lead required.
Sims made an important save soon after the restart, getting down to keep out Olley’s shot on the turn. Southend then increased the advantage.
Goodliffe supplies his response
Daley-Campbell delivered towards the back post and Goodliffe headed at goal. Jones kept out the first attempt, but the defender followed in to put the rebound into the roof of the net in the 51st minute.
It gave Southend the two-goal cushion that had eluded them at Eastleigh. Daley-Campbell continued to create, crossing for Chambers-Parillon to head wide and later finding Coker, whose shot was saved.
Fylde still had openings. Thomas went around Sims but put his finish over, and Jack Morris headed against the post. Southend slowed the game in the closing stages and Massiah-Edwards had a late effort deflected narrowly wide before the win was confirmed.
That’s the response we needed
We needed three points and Southend found the attacking quality to get them. The response to the own goal was particularly welcome: Hartigan’s pass, Daley-Campbell’s run and Colclough’s finish restored the advantage before the setback could dominate the game.
Daley-Campbell is our standout. He supplied Colclough’s goal, delivered for Goodliffe’s and created further opportunities. Those contributions gave Southend several routes to a goal.
Goodliffe’s follow-up was a satisfying response to his earlier mistake, while Sims’ save from Olley helped protect the lead just before the third. There was important work at both ends.
The defensive mix-ups remain a concern. Fylde had enough opportunities to make this much harder, and the victory should not hide them. But Southend recovered from their own error, built a stronger lead and saw out the match.
Seven wins, three draws and two defeats left The Shrimpers third on 24 points. Boston away comes next, with a welcome home victory behind us. Up the Shrimpers.
Match details
Goals and assists
Southend United: Darren Oldaker 2′; Ryan Colclough 16′; Ben Goodliffe 51′.
AFC Fylde: Ben Goodliffe own goal 12′.
Assists: Leon Chambers-Parillon for Oldaker; Vontae Daley-Campbell for Colclough.
Southend United
Manager: Kieron Dyer · 4-2-3-1
Starting XI: Jack Sims; Vontae Daley-Campbell, Ben Goodliffe, Dan Cox, Kyle McAdam; Darren Oldaker, Anthony Hartigan; Josh Popoola, Leon Chambers-Parillon, Ryan Colclough; Harry Cardwell (c).
Changes: Oli Coker for Colclough 42′; Promise Omochere for Cardwell 61′; Zavier Massiah-Edwards for Chambers-Parillon 71′; Harry Taylor for Goodliffe 72′.
Unused substitutes: Sam Austin, S. Keogh, F. Woodham.
AFC Fylde
Manager: Craig Mahon · 4-1-4-1
Starting XI: Zac Jones; Aaron Drewe, Will Lancaster, Corey Whelan (c), Harvey Broad; Chris Merrie; Greg Olley, Tom Whelan, Luke Butterfield, Danny Mayor; Luca Thomas.
Changes: Max Taylor for Broad 35′; Cedric Main for Merrie 57′; Theo Upton for Butterfield 57′; Millar Matthews-Lewis for Olley 66′; Jack Morris for Mayor 66′.
Unused substitute: P. Boyes.
AFC Fylde: Tom Whelan 53′.
