Southend beaten 3–2 at Wealdstone after leading twice, a third league game without a win
Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Gareth Ellerby
Southend United lost 3–2 at Wealdstone on Saturday after leading twice in the first half, their third league game in a row without a win. They remain third in the Enterprise National League on 29 points, level with Fylde.
Chambers-Parillon put Southend ahead in the fourth or fifth minute and scored again in the 39th to make it 2–1. In between, Okenabirhie levelled from the penalty spot in the 23rd or 24th minute. Norris made it 2–2 in the 63rd minute, and Olomola scored the winner in the 94th minute. The order of the goals was 0–1, 1–1, 1–2, 2–2, 3–2.
The three games without a win are a draw with Halifax Town on 24 October, a 3–3 draw at Worthing on 27 October and Saturday’s defeat. The form guide reads D W W D D L.
Manager Kieron Dyer was shown a red card after the Halifax game. He told BBC Essex he was shown the red card for “threatening and aggressive behaviour towards the referee”, and said: “When he sends me off, then I swear at him, and walk off.” He added: “I feel when we appeal I will not serve a touchline ban.” Those are Dyer’s own words and this article does not report the outcome of any appeal.
On the table, Southend have 29 points from 16 games, with eight wins, five draws and three defeats. Fylde are on the same points and are fourth on goal difference, which is +11 for Southend and +6 for Fylde. Southend are three points behind second-placed Harrogate Town, who have the same goal difference, and 15 points behind leaders Boreham Wood. Only the leaders are promoted automatically, and the clubs from second to seventh go into the play-offs. Altrincham are seventh on 28, so Southend are one point ahead of the last play-off place. Hartlepool United are 21st on 15, 14 points below.
Southend have scored 38 goals, the second-most in the division after Boreham Wood’s 44, and have conceded 27.
The next game is at home to Aldershot Town on Saturday 14 November at 3pm. Southend have no FA Cup first-round tie on 7 November, and there is no league game that day. Boreham Wood then visit on Friday 20 November at 7.45pm. After that comes a trip to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday 24 November at 7.45pm, and a trip to Hartlepool on Saturday 28 November at 5.30pm.
The meeting with the leaders is the first big date. A win would cut the gap, while another dropped game would make it four league games without a win.
Roots Hall has been Southend United’s home since 1955, tucked into terraced streets off Victoria Avenue (SS2 6NQ). It is a compact, old-fashioned four-sided ground: close to the pitch, covered on every side, and still unmistakably a football ground rather than a bowl. Official capacity is listed at 12,392, though safety limits usually sit lower. Visiting supporters are housed in the Solopress North Bank, behind the northern goal.
The North Bank is a former terrace with seats bolted on and a distinctive barrel roof. That roof and the low, tight stand help even a modest away following make a noise, but the trade-off is real: supporting pillars across the front, modest leg room, and rows that feel closer together than in a modern bowl. A scoreboard sits on the roof above you. For bigger followings the club can give over more of the stand, and sometimes adjoining blocks in the north-west corner, so check your ticket for the exact blocks (often NA–NF, and Y/Z when demand is high).
Access is not through the main car-park frontage. Away fans approach via Victoria Avenue, then follow the fenced path around the outside of the car park, or enter from Fairfax Drive. Turnstiles 13–16 serve the North Bank. Tickets are usually sold through your own club, scanned on the gate, and the stadium is cashless, so bring a card. Bag searches are routine. There is no proper concourse in the away end: expect a small “transport café” style kiosk with pies, burgers and hot drinks, plus compact toilets. Alcohol is not generally served to away fans in the seating area.
Opposite you is the two-tier South Stand, the newest of the four, rebuilt in the mid-1990s after the Stan Collymore transfer. The upper tier is often praised for the view; the lower tier forms part of the family enclosure. Along the right-hand touchline (as you look from the North Bank) is the East Stand, the main stand, with dugouts, tunnel, directors’ box, press seats and hospitality. Along the left is the Gilbert & Rose West Stand, the largest side of the ground, with a double-barrel roof and family blocks towards one end. All four stands sit close to the pitch, so the game feels near even when pillars get in the way.
Parking on site behind the North Stand is limited and charged on matchdays; street parking in the surrounding estate fills early and can be tight. Prittlewell station is the nearest rail stop, a short walk; Southend Victoria is a little further. Pre-match, many away groups use pubs on Victoria Avenue or in town rather than relying on the ground. The Shrimpers Bar in the East Stand has sometimes admitted visiting fans, but that is at the club’s discretion and should not be assumed.
Stewarding is generally straightforward. Views from the North Bank are mixed: central seats look straight down the pitch at the southern goal, but pillars and the low roof can clip the near goal and the far corners. If you prefer a side-on view you will not get one from the away allocation. Dress for Essex weather: the barrel roof keeps rain off but the stand can feel cold and draughty. Arrive early enough to find the path, clear the search, and get food before kick-off — the kiosk queue is the social hub of the away end.
Roots Hall will not impress anyone hunting for wide concourses or unobstructed sightlines. What it does offer visiting supporters is a proper, enclosed English ground, a noisy end behind the goal, and a short walk from the streets of Southend. Treat the pillars as part of the furniture, keep your ticket handy for the right turnstile, and you will be fine.