A trio of headed goals for Southend and an Adam Adetoro red card made it a tough afternoon as FC Halifax Town fell to defeat in Essex.
Halifax made three changes for the trip to Southend, with Owen Bray, David Kawa and Sean Tarima making way for new signing Owen Devonport, Will Harris and Jevon Mills, who returned from injury.
The Shaymen almost made the perfect start. Harris had an early chance after a ball down the line found debutant Devonport, who drove into space and delivered a low ball across the area. It fell to Harris, but his strike was blocked behind for a corner.
Southend responded with a spell of possession and created their first opening when Boyes worked an angle inside the box, only to fire into the side netting from close range.
The hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark. Austin held the ball up before laying it back to Scott-Morriss, who swung in a dangerous cross from the right. His delivery found Andrew Dallas unmarked, and the forward nodded home at the near post for his third goal of the season.
On the stroke of half-time, Scott-Morriss almost doubled the advantage with a half-volley from the edge of the area, but Johnson was alert to palm the effort away and keep Halifax in the contest.
The visitors began the second half brightly in their white away strip, showing more purpose in possession, but struggled to break down a strong Southend back line. At the other end, Austin cut inside and curled a shot towards goal, only for Johnson to push it clear with a strong save.
Halifax looked to respond through good play down the right from Hmami and Cody Johnson, whose link-up allowed Devonport to meet a cross in the box. His header, however, was comfortably gathered by Andeng Ndi.
The Shaymen’s challenge grew tougher with just over 20 minutes left when Adam Adetoro, already booked, was shown a second yellow card for stepping across his man to halt a counter attack. From the resulting free kick, Johnson produced another fine stop to deny Scott-Morriss, before Nathan Ralph’s volley flew narrowly over moments later.
Despite being down to ten men, Halifax came closest to an equaliser ten minutes from time. Harris forced a save from Andeng Ndi, with the rebound falling to Devonport just yards out, but his effort crashed against the crossbar. Adam Lakeland then made a triple substitution, introducing Bray, Jack Jenkins and Angelo Cappello for Harris, Turner-Cooke and Thierry Latty-Fairweather, but the fresh legs could not turn the game.
As the match ticked into the 90th minute, Southend sealed the points. Bridge slipped the ball into Austin, who crossed for Scott-Morriss to head past Johnson and make it 2–0, confirming victory for the Shrimpers.
After several second half stoppages 14 minutes were added to the end of the contest, this gave the home side enough time to find a third as this time Goodliffe headed home.
Match Stats
Southend United
30 Andeng-Ndi, 2 Scott-Morriss, 3 Ralph ©, 6 Goodliffe, 8 Husin (17 Miley 61), 9 Dallas (14 Hopper 85), 10 Austin (28 Coker 90 + 1), 16 Taylor, 22 Appiah-Forson, 24 Kendall (19 Parillon 90 + 1), 33 Boyes (7 Bridge 84)
Subs: 1 Hayes, 15 Gubbins
FC Halifax Town
1 S Johnson ©, 3 Adetoro, 4 Hugill (22 Kawa 68) , 8 Hmami, 9 Harris (17 Bray 81), 10 Cooke (29 Tarima 71), 16 Mills, 27 Turner-Cooke (20 Jenkins 82), 30 C Johnson, 31 Devonport, 36 Latty-Fairweather (Cappello 82)
Subs: 12 Ford, 26 Griffin
Referee: Paul Johnson
Goals: Dallas 31, Scott-Morriss 90, Goodliffe 100 + 15
Yellow Cards: Adetoro 36, Hugill 45 + 4, Turner-Cooke 76, Scott-Morriss 76
Red Cards: Adetoro 68
Attendance: 8093 (100 away)
Southend United 3 FC Halifax Town 0
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