Blog

Southend United v Maidstone United

General description

We return to Roots Hall tomorrow, taking on already relegated Maidstone United in the first of an Easter weekend double header.

Blues beat Yeovil Town 2-0 last weekend in front of the BT Sport cameras to move up to ninth, and with this final month of the season every result is vital with a play-off place still possible.

The two goals should give Kevin Maher’s side a boost going into this one, especially with two strikers on the scoresheet, and having said himself how important it is for the Blues to score more goals, Maher would be delighted if his team can continue on. that way for the next six games.

The opposition

The Stones saw their relegation confirmed last weekend after a 4-0 defeat to Boreham Wood, continuing a disappointing campaign that has seen them win just five times in the league.

It will be an immediate return to the National League South for Maidstone. They had ended a three-year stint in the sixth tier by winning the title last season, but failed to capitalize on that, collecting just 24 points to date.

They won three of their first six games, however they have only won twice in the league since, most recently in late November.

That means Maidstone are on a 20 game winless run in the National League. After his last win in 2022 they were four points above safety but have now been mathematically relegated with five games still to play.

Penalty taker Regan Booty is their top scorer in seven, with Roarie Deacon and George Fowler the only other players to have featured in at least 30 league games this season. The Stones enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy, where Barnet cruelly defeated them on penalties.

previous meetings

Blues won 3-0 in the reverse fixture in October. Prior to that, the only meetings to date between Southend and Maidstone came before the latter reformed, the two sides clashing three times.

The last time the Blues were in the same league as a Maidstone side was in the 1989/90 Division Four campaign, the Kent team winning 1-0 at Roots Hall and also victorious in their then home in Dartford, by three goals to nil.

However, we did take one victory in the 1990/91 Leyland DAF Cup, winning in the first knockout round in a race to the area semi-finals.

of the boss

Maher spoke to the press on Thursday morning. On the importance of the Easter games, he said: “Everyone will be the same at this point in the season. The most important thing is to get points on the board.

“We got a good result last weekend in a game that we had to push at times, that’s a good sign, but hopefully we can build on that and get another win.

“Confidence must be improved. We’re back in front of our fans and I’m sure we’ll have a decent crowd, so we want to put in a positive performance.

“I don’t look beyond Friday and try to get a result against Maidstone. If we can do that, we move on to Monday (against Woking).”

team news

The virus from the illness Steve Arnold suffered last week has spread a bit, but Maher has no other new concerns about the team’s fitness.

Noor Husin returned to training today (Thursday).

reference clock

Jason Richardson is in his first season at this level and has refereed 11 National League games so far, including the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Woking.

He has shown 55 yellow cards and two red ones. Last season he was in charge of 16 games in the sixth tier, including the National League South play-off final between Dorking and Ebbsfleet.

Richardson’s assistants will be Valentine Anekwe and Daniel D’Urso, with fourth official John Duffy.

Tickets

The best way to buy your tickets is online here. You can also buy in person at the box office or by calling 0344 477 0077 and selecting option one. The ticket office is open until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays and opens at 10:00 a.m. on Fridays.

Tickets are £18 for adults, £13 for concessions (60+, 17-22, emergency services, disabled, students), £8 for youth (9-16) and £3 for children (8 and under). Prices increase by £2 on match day.

Elsewhere in the National League

All 24 teams from the Vanarama National League will be in action on Friday.

Aldershot Town v Yeovil Town
Barnet v. Bromley
Chesterfield v York City
Dorking Wanderers v Woking
FC Halifax Town v Wrexham
Gateshead v Scunthorpe United
Notts County v. Wealdstone
Oldham Athletic v Altrincham
Solihull Moors v Maidenhead United
Southend United v Maidstone United
Torquay United vs. Eastleigh
Boreham Wood v Dagenham & Redbridge (Friday 5pm)

how to follow

Blues fans unable to make it to Roots Hall will be able to follow all the action live by subscribing to Blues TV, where they will receive live commentary from the BBC Essex team from all the first team games this season.

Blues TV costs £4.49 per month, and your subscription not only gives you match commentary, but also exclusive access to match highlights, full pre-match press conferences, interviews, features and more.

Another option is to follow the minute-by-minute live on social networks through the club’s official Twitter account by following @SUFCRootsHallwhich will ensure you receive the latest news and more during the 2022/23 season.

National League TV streaming is available worldwide here.

program of the day

The matchday program will be available to purchase from the program vendors outside the stadium at the program hut, the Victoria Avenue main gate and the West Stand entrance.

Jon Benton is featured in this edition, along with all the usual opposition, Academy and Community content!