City run Southend close in Trophy exit despite early Raynes red card

City exited the FA Trophy this evening in a 3-1 defeat against Southend United at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park. However, they pushed the National League promotion chasing side all the way after losing Joe Raynes to a 20th minute red card.

Raynes had the ball in the Shrimpers net after just three minutes but his header was ruled out for offside. The visitors also fashioned a couple of early chances but there was nothing between the sides in the opening exchanges. The tie swung in favour of Southend on 20 minutes though when Raynes blocked Bridge’s shot on the line with his hand and was sent off. The same player saw his penalty kick pushed over the bar by Harvey Wiles-Richards but from the resulting corner Scott-Morriss headed home. Wiles-Richards then denied Austin with a smart block in the 34th minute but City stood firm to reach the break without any further setbacks.

This changed within ten minutes of the restart in unfortunate fashion when Austin’s tame shot was deflected past Wiles-Richards by Kieron Parselle. City got back in the game on the hour mark in spectacular fashion when Jordan Alves fired home a 30-yard free-kick. Moments later Brad Ash saw his shot hit the outside of the post. Understandably with a man advantage the full-time Essex side enjoyed the majority of possession after this escape but found Wiles-Richards in inspired form and the game went into stoppage time still in the balance. In the final minute City won a free-kick deep in the Southend half which Wiles-Richards went forward to take. However, when it was scrambled away by Southend it allowed Chambers-Parillon to race the length of the pitch before slotting it past the retreating keeper to secure his side’s place in the 5th Round.