Teams from opposite ends of the National League spectrum convene on Monday, as Wealdstone welcome promotion favourites Southend United to Grosvenor Vale.

Both sides lost their second game of the season on Saturday, so will be looking to bounce back just 48 hours later.

Match preview

Southend opened their 2021-22 campaign last week at King's Lynn Town, and a first-half goal from Sam Dalby saw the visitors claim a deserved three points to get their promotion pursuit underway.

Relegated from the Football League for the first time in 101 years last season, Southend arrived at The Walks with a sizeable away following which outnumbered the home supporters quite significantly - an indication of their potential despite a recent decline.

After such a positive start to their quest to return to the fourth tier at the first attempt, the Shrimpers took on Stockport on Saturday at Roots Hall, where John Rooney's early goal proved enough for the away team to edge out Southend and record their first win of the season - a disappointing result for Phil Brown's side.

In the aftermath, Brown claimed his men should have salvaged something from the game, so will be keen to make almost immediate amends with a victory in Ruislip this Bank Holiday Monday.

After finishing 19th last term - conceding a staggering 99 goals in the process - Wealdstone were seeking a more positive start to the new season last week, as they hosted Woking.

However, the Stones found themselves two goals behind before the half-hour mark at Grosvenor Vale, and Josh Umerah's second-half reply ultimately turned out to be a mere consolation in a 2-1 defeat.

Stuart Maynard's side then travelled to Derbyshire on Saturday, as they took on Chesterfield, who scored at either end of the game to record a 2-0 win; leaving Wealdstone without a point so far this term.

They are now one of only three teams in the division that are not full-time professionals - a factor which inevitably proved a challenge last term as they finished just above the nominal drop zone, though there was no relegation due to the disrupted nature of the National League season.

Therefore, hopes of avoiding the trapdoor for another year rest upon a reversal of fortunes - and a home encounter with a well-backed Southend side would be a perfect morale-booster for the challenges ahead.

Team News

Cyprus international Jason Demetriou will lead the Southend defence on Monday, as they look to post a second clean sheet of the season, while Rhys Murphy should start up front.

Diminutive winger Terrell Egbri featured from the bench last time out and will now hope to convince Phil Brown he is ready to start on Monday.

Wealdstone, meanwhile, signed several players, such as Craig Fasanmade, Matt Buse, Rhys Browne, Josh Umerah and Jack Cook over the summer, but have seen a host of other players depart - including Jacob Mendy to Boreham Wood.

All five of those new boys are set to be involved again for the visit of Southend, with Buse now in line for a start following his substitute appearance on Saturday.

Wealdstone possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Cook, Eleftheriou, Okimo, Tavares; Buse, Cooper, Dyer, Browne; Umerah, Lewis

Southend United possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Coulson, Demetriou, Ralph, White; Egbri, Ferguson, Ogogo, Dalby; Phillips, Murphy

We say: Wealdstone 1-2 Southend United

There is a gulf in stature between these two clubs; with Southend hoping they will pay only a flying visit to the fifth tier of the English pyramid and Wealdstone quite content just to stay afloat.

Despite their ongoing off-pitch difficulties, that divide will be demonstrated on the pitch too, as the Shrimpers pick up three valuable away points at Grosvenor Vale.

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