Southend United Football Club secured a 3-2 victory against league leaders Rochdale at Roots Hall in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 17 March 2026. The win moves the home team back into the playoff positions as they look to secure a place in the post-season tournament for promotion.
The home side established a strong presence early in the match, scoring three goals in the first half. Andrew Dallas opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, followed by a goal from James Golding in the 17th minute and a third from Tom Hopper in the 27th minute.
This result ended a 15-match unbeaten streak for Rochdale AFC, who had not been defeated since the start of 2026. While the visiting team managed to score once in each half of the game, the early advantage was enough to ensure the home team took all three points.
According to match reports from Rochdale AFC, the defeat was their first of the calendar year. For the home fans, the victory marks a significant boost in the team’s effort to finish the season in the top seven spots of the league table.
