The tricky calls have been made and the panel can’t go back on their decision! It’s time to serve up the National League Manager and Player of the Month.
There are few people who won’t have sympathy for the fans, players and staff at Southend after another turbulent season.
But one thing has united the club while the off-field issues take up the headlines – their incredible form.
Kevin Maher has gone above and beyond his remit as manager, and to his immense credit if you didn’t know you would be totally unaware of the problems that have rocked Roots Hall.
That’s because the club are enjoying their best season for years and years.
Winning five of their six games last month, he pipped the title chasers’ coaches to the Manager of the Month accolades.
Southend started February outside of the top seven on a run of only one win since mid-November but ended it in fourth!
Showing their fighting spirit with last-minute winners at Maidenhead United and Torquay United, they also came from behind to stun FC Halifax Town. They also claimed maximum reward against York City and Gateshead.
It’s not even due to an all-out attack. At the end of February, only Boreham Wood had a better defensive record in the National League.
This month’s awards are all about the outsiders proving people wrong – and anyone ruling Eastleigh out after a slow first half of the season are eating their words!
Only Wrexham bagged more points in February – and they played a game more than the Spitfires. It was the month that they finally cured their travel sickness.
One of the players behind the surge into the play-off chase is Charlie Carter.
He’s good at both ends of the field, scoring the winner against Maidenhead before supplying the assist for Jake Scrimshaw’s goal against Maidstone.
He’s also helped keep things very tight from the middle of the park as four of Eastleigh’s five wins came by a single goal.
Playing every minute of every game in February, Carter has actually only missed 17 minutes of National League football since the beginning of November.
He edged out his team-mate Danny Whitehall who has also been incredible in February – as well as a host of other top players – to grab the gong.
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