After last weekend’s 1-0 defeat against Barnston, Eamonn Kearney made changes to the squad. Callum Broom and Jack Dresner were dropped to the bench, with Owen Wells, Fin Woods, Dan Rogers, Dom O’Kane, and Matt Creevy taking their places. Patrick Kearney was unavailable due to picking up an injury in our last match.

Meanwhile, Archie Armstrong and Bailey Kelly were not selected in the matchday squad to face Old Southendian.

The match began with Catholic United applying the pressure against Old Southendian’s defence, but, Dom O’Kane’s curled chance was blocked, giving the Essex Bhoys an early corner-kick.

However, Tom Kearney’s cross into the box fell to no Green and White shirts, making it a chance wasted.

Old Southendian started to play the ball regularly in Catholic’s half, until a crossed effort was sent to a Southendian shirt, but the danger was cleared by the hosts, making it a cagey ten minutes for both sides.

Dom O’Kane began to create problems for the opposition but the shot from distance hit the opposition’s hand, resulting in Connor Cornell blowing his whistle to give Catholic an opportunity from the free kick.

Dan Rogers stepped up for the free kick, but his effort was blocked giving the Essex Bhoys a second corner of the match.

Eamonn Kearney’s side continued to put pressure on Southendian’s defence, as Zac Wing showed clever footwork to make his way into the penalty area, dribbling past three red shirts, although his pass to Dom O’Kane saw the winger take the shot on his weaker foot sending the ball comfortably wide.

The breakthrough came three minutes before the break, as a run in behind the opposition’s defence saw Fin Woods place his shot into the bottom left, making it 1-0 for the hosts.

The hosts doubled their lead shortly after the opener, as an excellent pass from Warder found Woods who played a short pass to Zac Wing who rifled his shot into the top right corner.

A dramatic end to the first half saw Woods and Wing give the Essex Bhoys a two-goal advantage going into the break.

HALF TIME: Catholic United 2-0 Old Southendian

The second half saw neither side create a threat at either end, making it a quiet start since the interval.

The last twenty minutes of the match saw Eamonn Kearney turn to his options on the bench, as Dan Rogers and James Warder were replaced by Callum Broom and Jack Dresner, who were substituted on to help secure the Essex Bhoys their first win since September.

Dom O’Kane continued to be an issue for the visitors’ defence as O’Kane’s effort from outside the penalty area saw his shot saved, denying the hosts a third.

Old Southendian’s Harry Bradbrook managed to get a goal back for the Old Boys, making it a nervous end to the match for the hosts.

Despite the visitors pulling a goal back, the hosts proved to be too strong for Southendian to handle, as Matt Creevy played a swinging cross to Charlie McGinn, but his headed effort was saved.

The final minutes of the match saw Catholic restore their two-goal lead, with Fin Woods scoring his second of the afternoon, firing his shot past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner.

Minutes before the full-time whistle Dom O’Kane found a fourth with a brilliant shot from outside the box making its way into the top right corner to make it 4-1.

Connor Cornell blew his whistle, bringing an end to a dominant performance from Eamonn Kearney’s side. A vital three points ended Catholic’s two-match losing streak, moving the Essex Bhoys to 11th in the Essex Premier Division.

FULL-TIME: Catholic United 4-1 Old Southendian

Catholic United goalscorers: Fin Woods 42’, Zac Wing 44’, Fin Woods 87’, Dom O’Kane 91’
Old Southendian goalscorer: Harry Bradbrook 72’