The highly anticipated English National League fixture between Southend United and Ebbsfleet United took place at Roots Hall, with Southend United seeking to capitalize on their home advantage and Ebbsfleet United looking to break their winless streak. Historically, the head-to-head record between the two teams has been closely contested, with Southend United holding a slight edge, having played 2 times in the last three seasons, with 1 win and 1 draw. Coming into the match, Southend United were positioned 16th in the standings, while Ebbsfleet United were struggling at the bottom, with 9 points from 23 matches.
The match kicked off with a burst of energy from both teams, but it was Southend United who drew first blood. In the 7th minute, Oliver Coker found the back of the net, courtesy of an assist from Jack Bridge, giving the home team an early 1-0 lead. As the first half progressed, Southend United continued to dominate, with their relentless pressure eventually paying off in the 47th minute. Aribim Pepple scored the second goal for Southend United, with Oliver Coker providing the assist, taking the score to 2-0 in favor of the home team.
The second half commenced with Ebbsfleet United making tactical substitutions in an attempt to turn the tide of the game. However, Southend United’s momentum remained unbroken. In the 52nd minute, Aribim Pepple struck again, this time with an assist from Charley Kendall, further increasing Southend United’s lead to 3-0. The home team’s scoring spree continued unabated, with Gus Scott-Morriss finding the net in the 56th minute, courtesy of an assist from Oliver Coker, making the score 4-0 in favor of Southend United.
Both teams made several substitutions throughout the match, with Ebbsfleet United introducing players like Pape Souaré, Maxx Manktelow, Kwame Thomas, and Jephte Tanga in an effort to change their fortunes. Southend United also made tactical substitutions, bringing in players like Macauley Bonne, Josh Walker, Joe Gubbins, and Keenan Appiah-Forson to maintain their dominance and see out the game. Nathan Ralph from Southend United, Alexander Moaid Goria Aoraha from Ebbsfleet United, and Macauley Bonne from Southend United received yellow cards during the match.
The match ended with a resounding 4-0 victory for Southend United, highlighting their superior performance and tactics. The win propelled Southend United up the standings, moving them from 16th to 14th, with 30 points from 24 matches, while Ebbsfleet United remained at the bottom, still searching for a much-needed win to revive their campaign, with 9 points from 24 matches. The convincing margin of victory was a testament to Southend United’s cohesive teamwork and strategic play, which ultimately proved too much for Ebbsfleet United to handle.