Southend United 3–1 AFC Fylde: Goodliffe Makes Amends as Shrimpers Return to Winning Ways

Three changes and a flying start

Dyer made three changes from the side that drew at Eastleigh. Dan Cox returned to central defence alongside Goodliffe, while Josh Popoola and Harry Cardwell came into the attack. Harry Taylor, Sahid Kamara and Promise Omochere made way.

Southend went on the attack straight away. Leon Chambers-Parillon carried the ball through challenges, exchanged passes and curled an early effort wide.

The opening goal followed moments later. Chambers-Parillon intercepted Fylde’s attempt to play out from a goal-kick, and a short passing move involving Cardwell brought the ball to Oldaker inside the area.

Oldaker guided a low shot across Zac Jones and into the far bottom corner for his second goal of the season.

Popoola then threatened to extend the advantage, driving into the penalty area before firing narrowly wide of the near post.

A warning, then an unwanted equaliser

Despite their bright start, Southend twice put themselves in trouble with misplaced backpasses.

Luca Thomas intercepted Cox’s short backpass and set up Greg Olley, who shot wide with the goal unguarded.

The next mistake proved more costly. Goodliffe played a long backpass towards his own goal, but Jack Sims had moved away from his goalmouth to offer a passing option. The goalkeeper was unable to recover as the ball rolled into the unguarded net.

Fylde were level in the 12th minute without having to finish a chance themselves.

Colclough restores the advantage

Southend regained the lead just four minutes later.

Anthony Hartigan switched play superbly to Vontae Daley-Campbell on the right. The full-back advanced to the byline and cut the ball back, finding Colclough arriving at the far post.

Facing his former club, Colclough drove his shot in off the inside of the post to make it 2–1.

There were opportunities to build a more commanding lead. Kyle McAdam forced Jones into a save, while Cox’s header from Hartigan’s delivery struck the underside of the crossbar.

Popoola continued to threaten with his runs down the wing but sent another shot over. Daley-Campbell also fired over from the right side of the penalty area.

Changes before the break

Craig Mahon adjusted Fylde’s shape in the 35th minute, introducing Max Taylor for Harvey Broad in a tactical switch.

Oli Coker replaced Colclough in the 42nd minute, ending the goalscorer’s afternoon before half-time.

Taylor volleyed off target from Corey Whelan’s cutback as Fylde looked for another equaliser. At the other end, Coker chased Popoola’s flick-on into the area but was stopped by a last-ditch challenge before he could shoot.

Sims saves, Goodliffe responds

Fylde had an early chance to equalise after the break.

Will Lancaster found Olley inside the area, and the Fylde midfielder turned to shoot. Sims got down sharply to his left to keep Southend ahead.

Southend extended their lead soon afterwards. Daley-Campbell delivered towards the far post, where Goodliffe met the cross with a header that Jones did well to claw away.

Goodliffe reached the rebound and smashed it into the roof of the net. His 51st-minute goal made amends for the earlier own goal and gave Southend a two-goal lead.

Southend could soon have added a fourth. Another Daley-Campbell cross found Chambers-Parillon unmarked at the back post, but his header drifted wide.

Daley-Campbell keeps the pressure on

Daley-Campbell continued to create chances down the right.

His deliveries had already helped produce two of Southend’s goals, and he nearly created another for Coker.

He anticipated a clearance from Jones, raced into the area and found Coker, whose effort was saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Fylde brought on Cedric Main and Theo Upton in the 57th minute. Dyer then introduced Omochere for Cardwell four minutes later.

Fylde threaten, but Southend see it through

Fylde continued to create chances despite the two-goal deficit.

Thomas sent a long-range effort off target before another mix-up in Southend’s defence allowed him through. He went around Sims but could not find the net from a tight angle.

Jack Morris, introduced alongside Millar Matthews-Lewis, came closer still when his header struck the post. Main later sent a powerful long-range effort over.

Dyer brought on Zavier Massiah-Edwards for Chambers-Parillon in the 71st minute, with Taylor replacing Goodliffe a minute later.

Southend slowed the game down in the closing stages. Fylde had plenty of possession but created few further chances, while Massiah-Edwards saw a late shot deflected narrowly wide.

The Shrimpers saw out five added minutes to secure their first win in three matches.

Harrogate and Boreham Wood keep winning

Southend’s victory was matched by both sides above them.

Boreham Wood beat Altrincham 3–1 to remain top on 32 points, while Harrogate Town defeated Hornchurch 3–0 to move to 25.

The Shrimpers therefore remain third, one point behind Harrogate and eight behind Boreham Wood after 12 matches.

Southend’s win kept both gaps unchanged and moved The Shrimpers four points clear of Fylde, who had started the day just a point behind them.

8,371 at Roots Hall

The attendance was 8,371, including 46 away supporters.

It was Southend’s first victory since the 6–1 win at Gateshead, following the home defeat against Barrow and the draw at Eastleigh.

Match details