Birthday boy Tom Clifford bounces back from injury to net winner against Newport County

Birthday brilliance from Southend United left-back Tom Clifford secured all three points in a 1-0 victory against Newport County to lift the blues off the foot of the League Two table.

Both sides went into the half-time break without recording a shot on target. The horrid pitch had its part to play in the dull affair and it was obvious that the two teams were going to step up their game in the second half.

But uncharacteristically it was Mark Molesley’s side showing the greatest attacking intent after the interval with Ashley Nathaniel-George forcing a great save from Nick Townsend; Reeco Hackett-Fairchild also had his tight-angled effort deflected wide and Simeon Akinola flashing a header wide of the left post.

Come the 73rd minute, Southend were awarded a great chance to open the scoring with a free kick in a dangerous area, 25 yards out and central. Clifford, on his 22nd birthday, converted. Albeit with the aid of a huge deflection.

It was the left-back’s first start since the turn of the year after sustaining an ankle injury last month; the reintroduction of the 22-year-old was crucial to Southend’s success in Wales.

Clifford was properly integrated into the Southend squad just before the curtailment of the 2019/20 season, coming through the youth ranks at Roots Hall. He was a shining light within a very dark period for the club as the blues were relegated to the EFL’s basement division.

The left-hand side of defence has been a precarious position for the Blues in recent years. The long-serving Ben Coker was plagued with long term injuries before his release with no real backup and nobody to hold down the left-back role. The same could be said for his successor, Nathan Ralph who himself has suffered horrendous injuries since his arrival at Roots Hall.

Meanwhile, Clifford had been biding his time on loan in non-league with Bishop’s Stortford and Concord Rangers. With some experience of ‘men’s football’ in the bank, he was given his chance in the Southend first team.

He has certainly taken it with both hands. He has an air of confidence about him, he is defensively astute and plays like a fullback who has been plying his trade in the Football League for years. There are usually those moments in matches where a young player shows a bit of inexperience, perhaps a bit erratic in their defending, or make a hash of a clearance, or wait for the ball to bounce and invite pressure upon themselves. The 22-year-old left-back doesn’t often show such weaknesses and it is a testament to him and his confidence on the pitch.

Another asset Clifford possesses is his potency from set-pieces. Southend have been without a dangerous set-piece taker for years, but they certainly have themselves one now.

The Southend youngster showed multiple times within the academy squads just how much of a threat his set plays can cause and has already displayed that in the first team, with the goal against Newport his second directly from a free-kick this season.

He now tops the Shrimpers’ scoring charts with three goals from his 17 appearances this season and, if he carries on the way he has started for the League Two strugglers, he will certainly be snapped up by a club higher up in the football pyramid.

It was an excellent night for Molesley’s Southend but an extremely disappointing one for Michael Flynn’s Newport, who will be fired up for an important match away at Port Vale on Saturday. The Exiles’ form must pick up if they are to stay in the playoff picture.

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