Sahid Kamara struck four minutes into stoppage time as Southend United came from behind to beat Boston United 2-1 at the Jakemans Community Stadium, securing a second successive National League victory despite losing three players to injury.
Boston made a remarkable start, taking the lead inside the opening minute through Ollie Bostock. The on-loan West Bromwich Albion winger collected possession centrally and unleashed a powerful 25-yard shot into the roof of the net, beating Southend goalkeeper Joe Duncan, his Wales Under-21 teammate.
Southend responded with Josh Popoola having an effort blocked by Louis Chadwick after reaching a mishit shot from Promise Omochere. Levi Sutton then went close for Boston with a 25-yard attempt that passed narrowly wide, before the visitors equalised in the 16th minute.
Duncan’s long ball was flicked on by Kyle McAdam and a defensive mistake allowed Popoola to advance down the left. His cross reached Omochere, who finished from six yards for his fourth goal of the season. Boston threatened again through Connor McBride, whose effort was pushed wide by Duncan, before Southend lost goalscorer Omochere to injury in the 38th minute, with Zavier Massiah-Edwards replacing him.
Southend made another change at half-time as Lewys Twamley came on for Harry Cardwell. Twamley nearly put the Shrimpers ahead after Massiah-Edwards found him inside the penalty area, but his delayed attempt was deflected over. Darren Oldaker also tested Chadwick with a curling left-footed shot that the Boston goalkeeper pushed away.
Kamara replaced Popoola midway through the second half, while Leon Chambers-Parillon headed Oldaker’s free-kick straight at Chadwick. Southend then made two further changes in the 70th minute, with Harry Taylor replacing the injured Ben Goodliffe and Sam Austin coming on for Oldaker.
Boston introduced Lenell John-Lewis, Lennon Wheeldon and Gavan Holohan in a triple substitution with 12 minutes remaining, but Southend continued to create openings. Twamley forced Chadwick into another good save with a low left-footed effort as the visitors searched for a winner.
The breakthrough finally came in the fourth minute of added time. Kyle McAdam was credited with supplying Kamara, who struck a powerful effort into the top-right corner to complete Southend’s comeback and secure all three points. Contemporary eyewitness reporting describes the winner as a 25-yard shot, although the structured event feed records it as an effort from inside the penalty area.
The victory gave Southend back-to-back league wins following their 3-1 success against AFC Fylde and left Kieron Dyer’s side third in the National League with 27 points from 13 matches, one behind second-placed Harrogate Town.
Boston, beaten 6-0 at Yeovil the previous weekend, suffered a second successive defeat and extended their winless run to five league matches. Paul Hurst’s side ended Saturday 19th with 12 points from 13 games.
