Wealdstone 3 – 2 Southend Utd

SOUTHEND United slumped to their first defeat of the National League season tonight, losing 3-2 at Wealdstone.

Blues striker Slavi Spasov cancelled out Enzio Boldewijn’s opener for the hosts.

But a second half brace from Sean Adarkwa saw Stones come out on top – despite late pressure from the Shrimpers.

Gus Scott-Morriss got a goal back for Blues but the visitors were unable to conjure up a late leveller in a game which saw Kevin Maher and Wealdstone boss Sam Cox sent off.

Wealdstone threatened early on with Daniel Nkrumah sending a left footed shot wide of the left post from 25 yards before Blues hit back with Oli Coker sending a low shot, from a similar distance, straight at goalkeeper Dante Baptiste.

Southend stayed on top and somehow failed to score during a goalmouth scramble in the 14th minute following a free-kick from Coker.

Andrew Dallas and Spasov both saw shots blocked in front of goal before a sliding Spasov sent a cross-shot from Harry Boyes over the crossbar from close range.

Wealdstone hit back after surviving the scare and broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi dropped a deep left wing cross from Nathan Tshinkuna and Boldewij took full advantage by blasting home from close range.

The Stones soon came close to doubling their lead with Anthony Georgiou seeing his curling 25 yard free-kick pushed wide of the left post by Andeng Ndi.

However, the Shrimpers hit back and drew back level in the 32nd minute, with Spasov scoring his first goal for the club in fortuitous circumstances.

The Bulgarian forward was teed up by Coker before unleashing a tame shot which somehow deceived Stones goalkeeper Dante Baptiste before trickling over the goal-line.

Spasov’s leveller proved to be his final action of the evening as, just seconds into the second half, he was taken off with what appeared to be a back problem and was replaced up top by Tom Hopper.

Shortly after the change, Coker saw a low, 20 yard shot well saved by Baptiste down to his right hand side before Blues boss Maher opted to make a double change in the 62nd minute.

The alterations came in midfield, where James Morton and Keenan Appiah-Forson took the place of Cav Miley and Coker in the centre of the park.

However, Wealdstone soon started to get back on top with Dylan Kadji having shouts for a penalty waved away after he fell to the floor while under pressure from Appiah-Forson in the box.

Blues’ let off was to prove temporary though, with referee James Oldham opting not to ignore another appeal for a penalty.

This time, Nathan Tshinkuna went to ground in the area following a sliding challenge from Morton and, despite initially having looked as though he would not be giving a penalty, Oldham pointed to the spot.

But Oldham’s involvement did not stop there as the referee was called over to the benches by fourth official Jack Bloxham and immediately brandished red cards to both Maher and Wealdstone boss Sam Cox.

After the manager’s dismissals, Wealdstone inflicted further pain on the Shrimpers with Adarka sending his spot-kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net, in the 67th minute, with Andeng Ndi diving in the opposite direction.

Southend were rattled after going behind and the hosts took full advantage just three minutes later with Adarkwa scoring for the second time in quick succession.

The powerful forward was found by a cross-shot from Nkrumah and tapped home from close range.

The Shrimpers instantly responded with a double change which saw Jack Bridge and Leon Parillon taking the place of Joe Gubbins and Sam Austin.

Blues soon started to enjoy more of the ball and got back in the game in the 84th minute, courtesy of a free-kick from Scott-Morriss.

The right wing-back’s low shot from 20 yard should have kept out by was fumbled into the roof of the net by an embarrassed Baptiste.

Southend stayed on the front foot in search of an equaliser with Hopper just failing to convert a left wing cross from Boyes.

Appiah-Forson and Parillon then both saw curling shots pushed to safety by Baptiste as Stones held to triumph despite 14 minutes of added on time.