Maher praises 'energy and heart' of Southend players

Kevin Maher will lead Southend United out at Wembley

Kevin Maher paid tribute to the "reserves of energy, heart and character" in his Southend United squad after their penalty shoot-out win at Forest Green Rovers in the National League play-off semi-finals.

The Shrimpers booked a Wembley meeting with Oldham Athletic on 1 June after scoring late in extra time to take the game to spot-kicks.

After flirting with oblivion in recent years, Southend reached the play-offs with a late run of form that saw them leapfrog Gateshead and then hold the north-east side to a goalless draw on the final day of the regular season to clinch the final top-seven place.

After coming from 3-1 down to beat Rochdale away in extra time in the qualifying round, they had to travel to Gloucestershire and again trailed in extra time before Jack Bridge equalised and then Gus Scott-Morris scored the winning penalty.

Maher, who has guided the team through legal battles, transfer embargoes and point deductions before they were taken over last year, paid tribute to his players.

"The reserves of energy, heart and character came through again. It should never be doubted with the players we have here," he told BBC Radio Essex.

"We found a way again and everyone deserves so much credit to get us in this position. It seemed like it was dead and buried at the end but you shouldn't be surprised that the players have gone and done it again.

"It's nice to see the people in the directors' box, and my kids are here so it's nice for them, and the fans. The highs and lows of what has gone on in games recently is unbelievable, but that's where the football club has been, and we keep going."

Maher saw the reaction in the directors' box first-hand as he was unable to watch Scott-Morris's decisive spot-kick.

He said of the shoot-out: "I watched most of it, I couldn't watch the last one. We practised and Gus has been pretty consistent.

"I was watching the guys up in the directors' box so I could see their reaction. I couldn't watch it.

"The elation when it went in was an unbelievable feeling. If you could bottle that, it would be worth a few quid."

Southend head into the final as underdogs, once more, against the Latics, but Maher said they were focused on returning to the Football League five years after relegation.

"The way the game panned out, the emotion and relief that comes with it, make no mistake, we're going to win," he said.