Southend United secured a comfortable 2-0 win over AFC Fylde in the English National League at Roots Hall, building on their recent form. The home team dominated the match, with key performances from Josh Walker and Gus Scott-Morriss, who provided the assist for Josh Walker’s goal.
The match began with an early substitution for AFC Fylde, as Chris Stokes was replaced by Corey Whelan in the 19th minute due to a tactical decision. Despite this change, Southend United continued to press, and their efforts paid off in the 44th minute when Josh Walker scored the opening goal, assisted by Gus Scott-Morriss, giving the home team a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
At the start of the second half, Southend United made a tactical substitution, replacing Macauley Bonne with Tom Hopper. Shortly after, in the 51st minute, Harry Taylor of Southend United received a yellow card for a foul. Four minutes later, Josh Walker also received a yellow card for the same reason, indicating the increasing physicality of the match.
AFC Fylde made another substitution in the 52nd minute, bringing on Gavin Massey for Danny Ormerod. However, it was Emeka Obi who inadvertently scored an own goal in the 66th minute, extending Southend United's lead to 2-0. This own goal came as a result of the pressure exerted by Southend United, further solidifying their dominance in the match.
Following the second goal, both teams made several substitutions. Southend United replaced Josh Walker with Keenan Appiah-Forson in the 68th minute, while AFC Fylde made two substitutions in the 72nd minute, bringing on Will Hugill for Ethan Mitchell and Bryce Hosannah for Max Bardell. Further substitutions were made by both teams, with Southend United replacing Gus Scott-Morriss with George Wind and AFC Fylde replacing Tyler Roberts with Taelor O'Kane, both in the 84th minute.
In the final minutes of the match, Southend United made two more substitutions, replacing Noor Husin with Oliver Coker in the 85th minute and Jack Bridge with Ben Goodliffe in the 93rd minute, securing their 2-0 victory.
This win marks a significant improvement for Southend United, who are now on a winning streak and climbing the league standings, while AFC Fylde's loss reflects their continued struggles, leaving them near the bottom of the table. The match highlighted the home team's determination and tactical prowess, setting them up for future successes in the English National League.