The Shrimpers-online Match Report
Southend United 3-1 Tamworth: Four Changes Transform The Shrimpers at Roots Hall
Four half-time substitutions transformed a frustrating evening into another impressive Southend United victory as second-half goals from Leon Chambers-Parillon, Promise Omochere and Sam Austin swept Tamworth aside at Roots Hall.
Leon Chambers-Parillon 60′, Promise Omochere 68′, Sam Austin 82′
Nathan Tshikuna 70′
Southend United climbed to third in the National League after Kieron Dyer’s bold half-time intervention transformed a frustrating first half into a convincing 3-1 victory over Tamworth at Roots Hall.
The Shrimpers had controlled much of the opening 45 minutes without finding a breakthrough, although Leon Chambers-Parillon struck the post and Harry Cardwell had the rebound ruled out for offside.
Dyer had seen enough.
Rather than wait for the game to change, the Southend boss changed it himself.
Four substitutions arrived at half-time as Sam Austin, Lewys Twamley, Promise Omochere and Zavier Massiah-Edwards were introduced.
The effect was emphatic.
Chambers-Parillon finally broke Tamworth’s resistance on the hour, Omochere headed home the second eight minutes later and, after Nathan Tshikuna briefly threatened a comeback, Austin’s superb volley made certain of Southend’s fifth league victory of the season.
Southend start on the front foot
Dyer made three changes to the side which started Saturday’s dramatic 2-2 draw at Carlisle, with Sahid Kamara, Dan Cox and Josh Popoola coming into the starting XI.
Kamara, back in the side after fitness concerns, was immediately involved and twice tried his luck from distance during an energetic Southend start.
The Shrimpers came desperately close to opening the scoring after 11 minutes.
Chambers-Parillon drove towards the edge of the Tamworth penalty area and sent a low effort beyond Jas Singh, only to see it rebound off the inside of the post.
Cardwell reacted quickest and converted the loose ball, but Southend’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.
It was an early indication of what would become a frustrating first half.
Cardwell goes close
Southend continued to find promising positions and McAdam soon presented Cardwell with another opportunity after intercepting possession and sending the striker through towards goal.
With Singh advancing, Cardwell stretched to reach the ball but could only steer his effort wide.
The chances were coming, but the goal was not.
Tamworth also demonstrated the attacking threat highlighted before the match when Tshikuna was allowed to advance and shoot from around 20 yards, forcing Joe Duncan to push the effort wide.
Ben Goodliffe required treatment for a head injury during the opening period and returned to the action heavily bandaged, but Southend continued to have the greater share of the game.
Chambers-Parillon was denied by an important Tyler Lyttle challenge as he attacked Daley-Campbell’s cross, while Kamara later headed into Singh’s arms.
Yet Tamworth almost punished Southend for failing to make their superiority count just before the interval.
Ryan Howley shifted the ball onto his left foot and curled an effort beyond Duncan, but the shot drifted narrowly past the post.
The Shrimpers had produced most of the attacking football and struck the woodwork, but Tamworth remained level and had provided enough warning of their own threat. Dyer responded with the most decisive move of the evening.
Four changes at half-time
One substitution can alter a match.
Dyer made four.
Anthony Hartigan, Kamara, Popoola and Cardwell did not return for the second half. Austin, Twamley, Massiah-Edwards and Omochere came on in their places.
The intention was obvious: increase the tempo and turn Southend’s possession into sustained pressure around the Tamworth penalty area.
It worked almost immediately.
Oldaker threatened from distance before Omochere was presented with an excellent opportunity by Massiah-Edwards’ delivery, only for Singh to produce an instinctive save.
Twamley then tested the Tamworth goalkeeper from 20 yards and Massiah-Edwards was denied after being released by Austin.
Suddenly Tamworth were struggling to get out.
Chambers-Parillon breaks the deadlock
The pressure finally told on the hour.
Oldaker showed quick feet as he moved forward before finding Chambers-Parillon, who took the opportunity with the composure of a player in outstanding goalscoring form.
The attacking midfielder sent a controlled right-footed finish into the bottom corner to put Southend 1-0 ahead.
It was his fifth league goal of the campaign and, remarkably, his third consecutive match on the scoresheet after goals against Yeovil and Carlisle.
Chambers-Parillon had been denied by the woodwork in the first half. This time there was no reprieve for Tamworth.
Omochere makes his mark again
Southend did not settle for one.
Massiah-Edwards headed narrowly wide before The Shrimpers doubled their advantage eight minutes after the opener.
McAdam, fresh from his spectacular stoppage-time goal at Carlisle, turned provider on this occasion.
The left-back delivered an excellent cross into the six-yard area and Omochere attacked it decisively, guiding a diving header beyond Singh.
It continued an outstanding introduction to life with The Shrimpers for the striker.
Omochere scored the winner from the bench on his debut against Yeovil, created Chambers-Parillon’s equaliser at Carlisle and now had his second Southend goal.
Three appearances. Three decisive contributions.
Tamworth hit back immediately
If Southend thought the second goal had finished the contest, Tamworth quickly reminded them why they had scored in every league game before arriving at Roots Hall.
Within two minutes, Tshikuna drove into the penalty area, created the space for himself and unleashed a superb strike beyond Duncan.
Suddenly it was 2-1.
After being in complete control, The Shrimpers had allowed the visitors a route back into the match.
There followed a more cautious period as Southend regrouped and Tamworth looked for an equaliser.
But unlike some of the chaotic moments against Yeovil and Carlisle, Southend did not allow the game to escape them.
Austin seals it in style
Eight minutes from time, the nerves disappeared.
Tamworth failed to properly clear a Southend corner and the ball dropped invitingly for Austin inside the penalty area.
The midfielder met it beautifully.
His emphatic volley flew into the roof of the net, leaving Singh with little chance and restoring Southend’s two-goal advantage.
It was Austin’s first goal of the season and a fitting reward for the impact he had made since being introduced at the interval.
McAdam almost added another spectacular goal late on before Omochere saw a deflected effort fly narrowly wide, but there was no need for another.
This time, unlike at Carlisle three days earlier, there would be no dramatic stoppage-time twist.
Southend saw the closing minutes out professionally and collected another three points.
Dyer’s changes win the night
The scoreline will record another 3-1 Southend victory, but the most interesting part of this performance came from the technical area.
Dyer could easily have allowed the same side another 10 or 15 minutes after the interval. Southend had, after all, been the better team.
Instead, he acted immediately.
Introducing four players at half-time was bold, but it completely altered the rhythm of the game.
Twamley increased the movement through midfield, Massiah-Edwards stretched Tamworth, Austin gave Southend additional energy and Omochere provided a far more physical focal point to the attack.
Within minutes, Singh was making save after save.
By the 68th minute, Southend were two goals ahead.
It was not simply a case of fresh legs against tired opponents. The substitutions changed the way The Shrimpers attacked the game.
After the resilience shown in coming from behind against Yeovil and Carlisle, this was another encouraging sign: Southend found a different way to win.
The key moments
Chambers-Parillon keeps delivering
There is no escaping Chambers-Parillon’s influence on Southend’s start to the season.
His goal against Tamworth took him to five in the National League and made it three consecutive matches in which he has scored.
He was instrumental in the comeback against Yeovil, rescued Southend at Carlisle and again provided the breakthrough when Tamworth were proving difficult to break down.
For an attacking midfielder, that level of goalscoring contribution is becoming a major weapon for Dyer’s side.
Omochere’s remarkable start
Omochere’s first few days as a Southend player could hardly have gone much better.
A winning goal against Yeovil was followed by an assist at Carlisle and now a goal on his first home appearance since that dramatic debut.
His introduction at half-time gave Tamworth a completely different problem.
He was involved immediately, repeatedly found dangerous positions and eventually converted McAdam’s cross with an excellent header.
Dyer now has a genuine selection decision ahead of the weekend trip to Gateshead.
Southend climb to third
The victory takes Southend to 17 points from their opening eight National League matches.
Five wins, two draws and just one defeat represents an excellent opening to the campaign.
The Shrimpers have now scored 17 league goals and move up to third place, level on points with Boreham Wood and AFC Fylde above them.
Southend are also now unbeaten in four matches since the defeat against Kidderminster, having drawn at Woking, beaten Yeovil, drawn at Carlisle and defeated Tamworth.
Perhaps most encouragingly, those four games have required different qualities.
They had to remain patient at Woking, produce an extraordinary comeback against Yeovil, dig out a point while below their best at Carlisle and now respond to a goalless first half with a dominant second-half performance against Tamworth.
Match facts
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Result | Southend United 3-1 Tamworth |
| Half-time | Southend United 0-0 Tamworth |
| Southend scorers | Leon Chambers-Parillon 60′, Promise Omochere 68′, Sam Austin 82′ |
| Tamworth scorer | Nathan Tshikuna 70′ |
| Attendance | 7,328 |
| Away following | 27 Tamworth supporters |
| Venue | Roots Hall |
| Referee | Richie Watkins |
| Competition | Enterprise National League |
Teams
Southend United
Duncan, Daley-Campbell, Goodliffe, Cox, McAdam, Oldaker, Hartigan, Kamara, Chambers-Parillon, Popoola, Cardwell.
Subs used: Austin for Hartigan 46′, Twamley for Kamara 46′, Omochere for Cardwell 46′, Massiah-Edwards for Popoola 46′, Ollie Coker for Chambers-Parillon 78′.
Unused: Sims, Taylor.
Booked: Darren Oldaker.
Head coach: Kieron Dyer
Tamworth
Singh, Lyttle, Cullinane-Liburd, Hollis, Calder, McGlinchey, Howley, Bramble, Donnelly, Tshikuna, Creaney.
Subs used: Rye for Hollis 74′, Dyson for Howley 74′, Hutchinson for Creaney 74′, Kurtaran for Bramble 78′, Acquaye for Donnelly 85′.
Unused: Roberts, Lovett.
Booked: None.
Manager: Andy Peaks
The Shrimpers-online verdict
This was not the dramatic comeback of Yeovil or the unlikely escape at Carlisle.
In some ways, it was more impressive.
Southend encountered a problem in the first half, Dyer recognised it and changed the match before Tamworth had the opportunity to settle into the second.
Four half-time substitutions could easily have disrupted The Shrimpers. Instead, they gave the team exactly what was required.
Chambers-Parillon continued his outstanding start, Omochere made another decisive contribution and Austin announced his arrival for the season with an excellent goal.
There are still areas to improve. Southend again failed to keep a clean sheet and Tshikuna’s goal briefly turned a comfortable position into a contest.
But after eight games, The Shrimpers have 17 points and sit third in the National League.
The season is still young, but this is no longer simply a promising opening weekend or a short burst of form.
Southend are putting together a genuinely impressive start to the campaign.
Next up: Gateshead
There is little time for Southend to enjoy the victory.
The Shrimpers are back on the road on Saturday when they make the long journey to Tyneside to face Gateshead.
After taking four points from the last two matches and climbing to third, Southend will travel north with confidence — and with Dyer facing some increasingly difficult selection decisions after the impact of his substitutes at Roots Hall.
