Play-off positions a point away for Shrimpers who finally see off Barnet after tense finish
Last updated : 23 February 2011 By westfield shrimper
Blues boss Paul Sturrock made three changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Torquay, two we were prepared for; Anthony Grant (concussion) and Kane Ferdinand (ankle), to be replaced in midfield by Lee Sawyer and Miguel Comminges respectively.
The more surprising was the news that top scorer Barry Corr had picked up a slight hamstring strain and was sent to the bench with Louie Soares taking his place, this should leading to a more central role for Blair Sturrock.
And after 16 minutes the Shrimpers probably felt the game was as good as over but a late Barnet goal made sure no one left Roots Hall until the final whistle.
Before the legs started to give way, this was Southend's fifth match in 22 days and if the heavens hadn't have opened in Accrington their sixth, the home side looked the real deal.
It all happened so quickly.
Only eight minutes in, a Peter Gilbert cross found Sturrock whose header was well stopped by Bees keeper Jake Cole, the rebound falling to the in-form Ryan Hall who brought the best out of Cole again.
Three minutes later Hall again with the shot, this time from 20 yards out, Cole saved again, finding son of Luggy, he passed the ball to skipper Craig Easton who stroked the ball home from six yards out.
Only four minutes after that it was 2-0, Ryan Hall turning scorer this time. Tricking his way into the box before finding the back of the net with a hard, low drive that this time gave Cole no chance.
Just before the half-hour the Roots Hall faithful felt they may have had a spot-kick to really tie the game up when Barnet left-back Jordan Parkes looked to have fouled Hall inside the penalty area but the appeal was turned down.
Hall seemed to be on a mission to get as much time on the ball as possible in case his court appearance on March 3 brings bad news and the Northampton game on Saturday is his last for a while.
First, another long range effort flies just wide of Cole's right-hand post, then he curls a strike from outside the box straight at the Bees busy shot stopper.
Then the gas started to run out with the break not coming soon enough for a Shrimpers side that may have shot their bolt with a whole 45 minutes to come.
Though before the santuary of the changing rooms could be found Gilbert let in Steve Kabba to fight for a loose ball with Southend No.1 Rhys Evans. The rebound fell lose to the Barnet skipper Glen Southam who from 12 yards hit the post when it might have been easier to score, a let off for the Essex boys.
The second 45 started with not much to keep supporters from keeping both sets of fans with only a, yet another, long range Hall effort to keep them interested.
As the Southend tired it was lucky that the bottom of the table Bees did not have the players of any guile to take advantage of the situation, and right back Sean Clohessy could have made it a calmer finish, but shot well over the bar, after a pass from Hall, who else.
Of course, there had to be drama, and lose EEB his fiver on a 2-0 scoreline.
The game was coming to a close when Barnet suddenly awoke the Blue sections of the crowd when Southam's cross was parried out by Evans into the path of Sam Deering who proceded to smash his shot against the crossbar.
Warning! Not taken. Two minutes on the clock and Kabba heads home from six yards for the North London club.
Five minutes of stoppage time found by the referee and the obligatory nervous whistles from the home support, but the game was finally over.
A massive three points for the Shrimpers who are serious play-off contenders now, finding themselves a mere point behind Gillingham in seventh place, or for the more seriously optimistic, seven behind the automatic promoted place of third and Shrewsbury Town.
Now a few of you might not have believed that when Tilly was sent to do some gardening and soon after we had half a dozen players left in a depleted squad.
Well done Luggy, well done captain Craig and co.
Now get some rest, and in four days time bring on the Cobblers to the home of football and try and actually get in that play-off zone for the first time.
Southend player markings: Evans - 7, Clohessy - 6, Gilbert - 6, Coughlan - 7 Barker - 7, Sawyer - 7 (Asante 77 - 6), Easton - 7, Comminges - 6, Soares - 5 (Herd 89), Sturrock - 7 (Corr 92), Hall - 8.
Referee: Mr. S. Hooper - 7.
| Npower League Two, Tuesday, 22nd February 2011 @ 19:45 |
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| | 58% | Possession | 42% | | 2 | Goal Attempts | 1 | | 2 | On Target | 1 | | 0 | Off Target | 0 | | 0 | Hit Woodwork | 0 | | 2 | Corners | 3 |
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| Referee | | Simon Hooper | | Attendance | | 5,501 |
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| Southend Utd. Cards | | (none) | | Barnet Cards | | Southam | 30 | Unsporting behaviour |
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