Toby Women 4-2 Southend United Ladies: Fraser ends the winning run

Georgia Fraser turned an attack from Toby’s goal-kick into a 4-2 lead in the 63rd minute. Southend’s better spell after half-time had brought chances, then another goal to chase.

It was Southend’s first match since interim manager Daniel Mann left, as Sensei Phil said on Tuesday’s podcast; Southend defender Katie Burbridge said coaches Michelle and Rick took the side on Sunday. Mann leaves with four wins from four, 14 goals scored and one conceded. He did an excellent job for the club, and I wish him all the best with whatever he does next. Burbridge expects a permanent appointment to be announced this week.

I picked Fraser out in the Toby preview after her two goals against Wormley. She scored twice again, delivered the corner for Kaydee King’s equaliser and supplied Katie Whitehead’s goal. Southend had been given a specific player to worry about, and she was involved in all four goals.

Good goals, too much to repair

Southend made five starting changes from Hutton. Georgia Hyland, Abbie Rex, Amber Denton and Isobel Boyd were absent, with Maizie Kelly on the bench; Sky Lazzam, Katie Burbridge, Tilly Jones, Hannah Stone and Zoe Tryfonos came into the XI. No reason was given for those absences.

Jones put Southend ahead after eight minutes with a strike from the left of the area, before King and Fraser turned the score around. Stone levelled on the half-hour from Lazzam’s delivery after Sophie Stack found her on the right, on Lazzam’s first appearance of the season. Whitehead restored Toby’s lead before the break.

Southend created chances after the three half-time changes. Stack hit the crossbar in the 80th minute, but Toby largely controlled the final half-hour.

Burbridge gave Toby credit on the latest Talking Shrimpers podcast. “Toby are a good team. There’s no denying that,” she said, pointing to the understanding built by a group that had stayed together. She felt Southend had shown fight, and questioned whether some of Toby’s finishes would be repeated, but also thought the hosts had been the better side in the second half. I give Fraser credit for the finishing she produced, and Toby’s command of the closing stages makes the result difficult to argue with.

Wormley away on Sunday

Southend have scored 16 goals in their last five games across league and cup football. Their league record is four wins and four defeats, with 11 scored and 12 conceded.

Southend go to Wormley Rovers fifth on 12 points from eight games. Their hosts are sixth on 11 from nine, with three wins in their last four league matches.

Southend won the reverse fixture 4-2 at Garon Park in September, but only after Wormley had led 2-0 inside 17 minutes. Wormley have since beaten AFC Sudbury Reserves and Hertford Town at home, and won 2-0 at Colchester on Sunday despite playing the last half-hour with ten.

Colchester’s own report credits Wormley’s quick wingers and organised defensive line. Jessie Lampey and Lilly Gubby scored in the 2-0 win. The second goal came from a quick goal-kick in the 68th minute, seven minutes after Wormley’s dismissal.

A goal-kick becoming a goal is already part of Southend’s account of Toby, so the response I want at Wormley includes a side close enough to challenge the first ball and compete for what comes next. Southend have enough going forward to threaten on Sunday; they need to make the other end harder work.

Next match: Wormley Rovers v Southend United Ladies. Eastern Region Women’s Football League Division One South. Sunday 8 November 2026, 2pm GMT. Wormley Sports Club, Church Lane, Wormley, Broxbourne EN10 7QE.

Match details

Score: Toby Women 4-2 Southend United Ladies. Half-time: 3-2.

Competition: Eastern Region Women’s Football League Division One South. Date: Sunday 1 November 2026. Kick-off: 3pm GMT. Venue: Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, Dagenham RM9 5PU.

Goals: Toby: King (12), Fraser (c.25, 63), Whitehead (40). Southend: Jones (8), Stone (30).

Southend: Libby Mason, Sky Lazzam, Katie Burbridge, Sophie Stack, Hannah Warner, Abbey Dell, Lauren Johnson (captain), Jodie Murphy, Tilly Jones, Hannah Stone, Zoe Tryfonos.

Southend substitutes used: Reyes Humbles, Darcy Drewitt, Maizie Kelly, Maddie Rush, Morgan Fletcher.

Substitutions: Humbles for Lazzam, Drewitt for Stone and Kelly for Tryfonos (46); Rush for Burbridge (61); Fletcher for Warner (66); Tryfonos returned for Dell (72); Dell returned for Kelly (89).

Toby: Francessca Browne, Poppy White, Charlotte Williams, Florence Durrant, Jodie Sanderson, Kaydee King, Jazmin Whitehead-Shakes, Erin Pitney (captain), Georgia Fraser, Katie Whitehead, Sarah Popham.

Toby substitutes used: Tilly Hawes, April Sykes; times not published.

Referee: Stephen Alford. Attendance: Not published.