Southend United earned a hard-fought three points at Huish Park after a dramatic stoppage-time winner secured a 1–0 victory over Yeovil Town.
In a game that offered few clear openings, substitute Slavi Spasov made the decisive impact deep into added time, firing home after an initial save to give Southend a well-deserved win in Somerset.
A Tight First Half
Southend began brightly, pressing high and forcing early errors from the hosts. Headers from Slavi Spasov and Keenan Appiah-Forson threatened to set the tone, while Ben Goodliffe saw a volley blocked after Yeovil failed to clear their lines from a corner.
At the other end, Yeovil’s Josh Kelly was denied by a smart stop from goalkeeper Nick Hayes, who was quick to react at the back post. The hosts then tested Southend again when a deflected long-range attempt from Morgan Williams drifted wide.
The Shrimpers’ pressure continued, with Andrew Dallas twice breaking through Yeovil’s defence — once from a misjudged header, and later by intercepting a loose pass — but both chances went begging.
Nathan Ralph produced two excellent blocks to prevent Yeovil from taking the lead, twice throwing himself in front of efforts from Luke McCormick and James Plant to keep the score level.
Goalless at the Break
The sides went into the interval still locked at 0–0, with Southend looking the more threatening but unable to find a breakthrough.
Shrimpers Push After the Restart
Southend continued to control the tempo early in the second half. Sam Austin created a good opportunity after pouncing on a loose Yeovil pass, while Harry Miley drove a low effort narrowly beyond the far post.
Yeovil responded through McCormick, who advanced deep into the Southend box before being halted by a well-timed challenge from Taylor. Penalty appeals from the home crowd were quickly waved away.
Josh Walker then met a superb cross from Gus Scott-Morriss, forcing Jed Ward into a point-blank save to keep Yeovil level.
As the clock ticked down, Taylor again came to Southend’s rescue — this time blocking a dangerous ball across goal from Aaron Jarvis, who had just beaten Hayes to a long pass forward.
Late Drama Decides the Match
Six minutes of added time gave Southend one final push, and they took full advantage. Andrew Dallas saw an angled effort saved by Ward, but Slavi Spasov reacted quickest, smashing the rebound into the roof of the net in the 92nd minute to finally break the deadlock.
Substitute Leon Parillon almost doubled the lead moments later, bursting into the box only to send his effort inches too high.
Yeovil applied late pressure, but Southend defended bravely to secure the clean sheet and complete a memorable late win.
Full-Time: Yeovil Town 0–1 Southend United
The result gives Southend a valuable three-point cushion over Wealdstone in the push for the play-off places, with a game in hand. Attention now turns to their return to Roots Hall, where they host Altrincham next week in the Enterprise National League.
Match Details
Goals
- Southend United: Slavi Spasov (90+2’)
Yellow Cards
- Yeovil Town: Max Jolliffe (45+5’), Luke McCormick (50’), Junior Morias (61’), Aaron Jarvis (90’)
- Southend United: Nathan Ralph (10’), Gus Scott-Morriss (41’)
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 3,060 (530 away supporters)
Southend United XI:
Hayes, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Goodliffe, Dallas (Hopper 90+3’), Austin (Parillon 78’), Walker (Spasov 63’), Taylor, Miley, Coker (Appiah-Forson 63’), Boyes.