Southend picked up their first point of the season thanks to Ryan Cresswell's injury-time goal against Northampton.

After a goalless first half, Britt Assombalonga put the visitors in front.

Adebayo Akinfenwa levelled from close range only for Kane Ferdinand to fire the Shrimpers back in front.

David Artell made it 2-2 after a mistake by visiting keeper Cameron Belford and Alex Nicholls's header put the hosts in front before Cresswell lashed home for a dramatic equaliser.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"I didn't think we deserved anything out of today.

"We defended really badly - and that's the whole team.

"Southend had a game plan to come and slow us down; I don't think they beat us today, I think we were the ones that beat ourselves today.

"If we had won the game 3-2 we might have been euphoric but it would have masked over the issues that need to be worked upon."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (3)

Northampton Town

  • 21 Nicholls
  • 02 Johnson
  • 03 Widdowson Booked
  • 05 Langmead
  • 12 Tozer
  • 18 Artell
  • 04 Guttridge (Akinfenwa - 62' )
  • 08 Harding
  • 11 Hackett
  • 09 Platt
  • 14 Nicholls Booked

Substitutes

  • 13 Snedker
  • 06 Charles
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 10 Akinfenwa
  • 15 Mukendi
  • 16 Wilson
  • 19 Moult

Southend United

  • 34 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 15 Phillips
  • 16 Prosser
  • 18 Leonard (Barker - 88' )
  • 11 Martin (Hurst - 63' )
  • 12 Ferdinand Booked
  • 19 Spicer Booked
  • 20 Assombalonga
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 01 Smith
  • 03 Straker
  • 23 Barker
  • 14 Hurst
  • 30 Woodyard
  • 09 Harris
  • 24 Benyon
Ref: Steve Martin
Att: 4,562

Match Stats

Shots

15 8

On target

9 4

Corners

9 5

Fouls

8 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:20 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +4:15 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Cresswell - Northamp'n 3 - 3 Southend Ryan Cresswell gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 3-3 Southend.

90:00 +3:43

Ryan Cresswell produces a volleyed right-footed shot from 12 yards. Blocked by David Artell.

90:00 +0:15

Effort from long range by Chris Hackett goes wide right of the target.

89:23

Alex Nicholls has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

88:03

Sean Clohessy is caught offside. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

87:42

Unfair challenge on Chris Barker by Adebayo Akinfenwa results in a free kick. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

87:07 Substitution

Substitution Chris Barker is brought on as a substitute for Ryan Leonard.

85:11

Kelvin Langmead provided the assist for the goal.

85:11 Goal scored

Goal - Alex Nicholls - Northamp'n 3 - 2 Southend Alex Nicholls finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Northampton 3-2 Southend.

84:37

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Hackett from the left by-line.

84:02

Ben Harding takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Ryan Cresswell.

82:41

Corner taken by Ryan Leonard from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Lee Nicholls.

81:05

The assist for the goal came from Chris Hackett.

81:05 Goal scored

Goal - David Artell - Northamp'n 2 - 2 Southend David Artell finds the net with a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Northampton 2-2 Southend.

79:39

Shot on goal comes in from Chris Hackett from the free kick, save by Cameron Belford.

79:39 Booking

Booking Booking for Kane Ferdinand.

79:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Mark Phillips.

77:04

The assist for the goal came from Kevan Hurst.

77:04 Goal scored

Goal - Kane Ferdinand - Northamp'n 1 - 2 Southend Kane Ferdinand fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 1-2 Southend.

77:04

The ball is crossed by Kevan Hurst,

75:24

Foul by Gavin Tomlin on Chris Hackett, free kick awarded. Ben Harding delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

74:33

Ben Harding concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Leonard. Sean Clohessy takes the free kick.

73:41 Booking

Booking John Spicer goes into the book.

73:30

Foul by John Spicer on John Johnson, free kick awarded. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

72:34

Effort from deep inside the area by Britt Assombalonga misses to the left of the target.

72:06

Alex Nicholls takes a shot. Fantastic save by Cameron Belford.

71:13 Booking

Booking Joe Widdowson is booked.

70:52

Joe Widdowson concedes a free kick for a foul on Kane Ferdinand. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

70:02

Britt Assombalonga is caught offside. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

69:03 Booking

Booking Alex Nicholls is booked.

68:40

Alex Nicholls gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luke Prosser. Ryan Cresswell takes the direct free kick.

67:34

Effort on goal by Kane Ferdinand from 12 yards. John Johnson makes a clearance.

66:25

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ryan Leonard, save by Lee Nicholls.

64:47

Assist on the goal came from Joe Widdowson.

64:47 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Northamp'n 1 - 1 Southend Goal scored by Adebayo Akinfenwa from close in high into the middle of the goal. Northampton 1-1 Southend.

64:47

The ball is crossed by Joe Widdowson,

63:55

Chris Hackett decides to take the corner short.

63:36

The ball is crossed by Chris Hackett, Ryan Leonard manages to make a clearance.

62:48 Substitution

Substitution (Southend) makes a substitution, with Kevan Hurst coming on for David Martin.

61:14 Substitution

Substitution Adebayo Akinfenwa replaces Luke Guttridge.

59:52

The ball is delivered by Ben Harding, Clive Platt takes a shot. Cameron Belford makes a save.

58:09

Shot from outside the box by John Johnson goes wide right of the target.

57:51

Gavin Tomlin is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by John Johnson.

56:41 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Northamp'n 0 - 1 Southend Goal scored by Britt Assombalonga from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 0-1 Southend.

55:43

Ben Harding takes the inswinging corner, Alex Nicholls takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Belford.

55:10

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Hackett from the left by-line, clearance made by Ryan Cresswell.

54:28

Corner taken right-footed by Ben Harding, Cameron Belford makes a save.

53:32

Short corner taken by Ben Harding from the right by-line.

53:07

Chris Hackett takes a shot. Ryan Cresswell gets a block in.

52:19

Ben Harding takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Phillips.

51:41

Unfair challenge on Luke Guttridge by John Spicer results in a free kick. David Artell takes the direct free kick.

50:52

The referee blows for offside against Gavin Tomlin. Lee Nicholls takes the free kick.

50:18

Ben Harding has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.

49:53

John Johnson sends in a cross.

46:18

The assistant referee signals for offside against Gavin Tomlin. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:00 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

43:54

The ball is sent over by Chris Hackett, Ben Tozer takes a shot. Cameron Belford makes a save.

41:55

The ball is sent over by David Martin, save by Lee Nicholls.

40:53

Luke Guttridge challenges Luke Prosser unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

40:07

Unfair challenge on Alex Nicholls by Mark Phillips results in a free kick. David Artell restarts play with the free kick.

39:08

The ball is crossed by Gavin Tomlin, clearance by Kelvin Langmead.

37:53

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by David Martin from the right by-line, save made by Lee Nicholls.

36:23

Effort from deep inside the area by Ryan Leonard misses to the right of the target.

35:16

Luke Guttridge concedes a free kick for a foul on David Martin. The free kick is delivered left-footed by David Martin from left channel, clearance made by Kelvin Langmead.

33:56

Chris Hackett delivers the ball, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Phillips by Kelvin Langmead. Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

29:56

Chris Hackett takes a corner.

27:19

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot.

26:49

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, clearance by Kelvin Langmead.

25:19

Luke Guttridge produces a cross.

24:47

The ball is crossed by Chris Hackett, clearance by Ryan Cresswell.

21:59

Gavin Tomlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Widdowson. Free kick taken by Joe Widdowson.

21:35

Chris Hackett delivers the ball.

19:01

Corner taken by Chris Hackett from the left by-line, Cameron Belford makes a save.

18:14

Alex Nicholls takes a shot. Mark Phillips manages to make a clearance.

16:27

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by David Martin.

15:00

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, save made by Lee Nicholls.

14:28

The ball is swung over by David Martin.

12:19

Chris Hackett has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

11:19

Unfair challenge on Luke Guttridge by Kane Ferdinand results in a free kick. David Artell restarts play with the free kick.

8:54

Clive Platt challenges Luke Prosser unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

7:31

The ball is swung over by Chris Hackett, clearance by Ryan Cresswell.

5:21

Luke Prosser concedes a free kick for a foul on Clive Platt. The free kick is delivered right-footed by John Johnson from right wing, clearance by Sean Clohessy.

4:06

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Britt Assombalonga misses to the left of the target.

3:02

Sean Clohessy delivers the ball, save by Lee Nicholls.

2:02

Outswinging corner taken by David Martin.

1:29

Centre by David Martin, blocked by John Johnson.

0:45

Britt Assombalonga produces a cross.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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