A fiery encounter at Roots Hall saw ten-man Southend United fall to a 1-0 defeat against Yeovil Town, a result punctuated by two red cards for the hosts and a late winner for the Glovers. Referee Abigail Byrne oversaw a match that swung dramatically in Yeovil’s favour after a first-half dismissal.
The opening exchanges were cagey, with neither side able to carve out clear opportunities. However, the match took a decisive turn in the 20th minute when Southend manager Kevin Maher received a yellow card for dissent. The Shrimpers’ afternoon worsened just seven minutes later. Goalkeeper Zach Jeacock received a second yellow card, and subsequent red, for violent conduct, forcing striker Josh Walker to be sacrificed for substitute goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi. Southend’s troubles were compounded early in the second half when Maher received a second yellow card, this time for foul and abusive language, resulting in his dismissal from the dugout.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Southend mounted a resilient defensive display, frustrating Yeovil’s attempts to capitalise. The Glovers, however, continued to probe, introducing Dylan Morgan and Brett McGavin for Harvey Greenslade and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton respectively in the 61st minute. The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute. A well-constructed move culminated in Alex Whittle assisting James Plant, who slotted home the decisive goal for Yeovil.
Even reduced to ten men and without their manager, Southend refused to give in. A triple substitution in the 75th minute saw Cavanagh Miley, Macauley Bonne, and George Wind enter the fray as the Shrimpers sought an equaliser. Both sides made further changes as the match drew to a close, but Yeovil held firm to secure all three points.
The victory elevates Yeovil to seventh in the National League table with 28 points, while Southend drop to 15th with 21 points. Southend’s two-match winning streak came to an abrupt end against a resilient Yeovil side who effectively exploited their numerical advantage.