Chatham Town 0 Southend United 1: FA Trophy fifth round from the Bauvill Stadium

Chatham Town were narrowly beaten by higher-league opposition as their FA Trophy run ended at the fifth-round stage.

Matty Macarthur had a penalty saved in the opening half for Chatham, and visitors Southend took the lead after the break, following a spot-kick of their own. Keeper Nathan Harvey kept out Gus Scott Morriss’ initial effort but the same player then buried the loose ball.

Southend United sat eighth in the National League table ahead of the match, beaten 2-1 at Rochdale in midweek.

It has been an incredible run to the fifth round for Chats - the furthest the club had ever been, playing for a quarter-final place on Saturday.

Hake’s side beat Carlisle United in the last round - winning 1-0 against a side who were top of the National League at the time. They’d previously beaten Plymouth Parkway, Wimborne Town, Waltham Abbey and Needham Market on penalties.

Chats were almost gifted a great early chance when a weak pass back was almost pounced upon by Kofi Anokye-Boadi but Southend’s keeper Owen Mason got to the ball first.

Mason was making his Southend debut after joining on loan from Mansfield Town.

A defeat for Chats the week before in the league had seen them twice fail to convert from the penalty, and they missed another chance on 27 minutes against Southend.

A nice interchange between Kasim Aidoo and Macarthur led to the latter being tripped in the box. Macarthur stepped up to take the penalty but was denied by keeper Mason.

From the resulting corner, Mason made another terrific save to deny Kian Moynes.

Chatham didn’t have a spare keeper on the bench, and there was some concern when Harvey went down injured, but he recovered well to make a crucial save of his own.

He beat a shot away to deny Harry Boyes, the