|
Surprisingly, 16-year pre-scholar Tom Byrne was given a starting slot in midfield, with Daryl Plummer also making a rare appearance as a striker alongside Mark Salter.
United created the first chance of the match, but it didn't arrive until the 13th minute when Steve Tilson's long range shot was pushed out by Rovers goalkeeper Dave Hudson into the path of Salter who was harshly adjudged offside when poking the ball into the unguarded net.
It was the home side who grabbed the leaf in the 16th minute, an accurate right wing cross by Gary Ewers was confdently headed past Daniel Gay by Paul Pilkington from six yards. Now, with United desperately seeked a quick leveller, a good Neil Jenkins run resulted in a decent shot from 20 yards which Hudson pushed wide of the post.
Plummer twisted and turned on the edge of the penalty area on 24 minutes before knocking the ball out to the left where Jenkins was steaming forward, but the England Under-20 International could only send a shot straight at Hudson when he really should have done better. Plummer himself fired an effort just wide of the post in what was amazingly the next real piece of action - in the second half - on 50 minutes.
The second period however was all United as the Shrimpers pressed for an equaliser. Tilson's free kick was flicked on by Tom Jordan before Phil Whelan somehow nodded over the crossbar from close range before Plummer unfortunately curled a six yard effort agonisingly wide of the post following good work by Salter.
A fine Salter run saw the ball played across the area where Plummer brought a fine stop out of Hudson before Southend finally drew level on 82 minutes. A Tilson corner was headed on by Whelan to Stuart Thurgood who knocked the ball in at the near post.
Then, just three minutes later, Southend won the match, and it came courtesy of the penalty spot. Rovers defender Paul Wheeler comprehensively tripped Stephen Broad two yards inside the area and to was down to Thurgood, again, ti send Hudson the wrong way with a penalty that slotted nicely into the bottom right hand corner.
SOUTHEND:- Daniel Gay; Stephen Broad, Daniel Lunan, Tom Jordan, Phil Whelan; Tom Byrne (Joe Ilett 51), Stuart Thurgood., Steve Tilson, Neil Jenkins, Mark Salter, Daryl Plummer. Unused subs - Flory Zinga, Jamie Gray, Steven Bourne, Matt Davis.
GREAT WAKERING:- Dave Hudson; John Heffer, Neville Hickton, Paul Wheeler, Craig Dennis; Danny Scopes (Danny Pitts 59), Gary Ewers, Dan Tenkel, Keith Wilson (Ian Thompson 86); Tommy Dalgarno, Paul Pilkington. Unused subs - Terry Howard, Gregg Highway, Dean Mahoney.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com