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Southend actually didn't play too badly though, and at a wet and extremely windy Roots Hall were undoubtedly the better of the two sides, quite promising really when you consider that Hartlepool have led the table for most of the season. However United were not quick out of the starting blocks and seemed somewhat asleep as the visitors scored what proved to be the only goal of the game after just 54 seconds. Stephen Broad dallied on the ball and was soon robbed by Marcus Richardson who strode forward before picking out the unmarked Eifion Williams who slipped a shot past Darryl Flahavan from ten yards.
Amazingly, having picked the ball out of the back of his net Flahavan had very little to do for the rest of the evening as the Shrimpers dominated the match. Darrell Clarke curled a 25 yard effort over the crossbar following neat play by Eifion Williams but that was all Hartlepool had to offer for the rest of the first half.
As Southend began to rip Hartlepool's frail looking defence apart with some well-worked moves, a good, strong run by Tes Bramble resulted in a floated cross which saw Graeme Jones' header deflected just wide of the post.
Ian Selley then drove a 20 yard drive straight at goalkeeper Anthony Williams having connected onto a Neil Jenkins knock back as the match entered the twentieth minute.
Anthony Williams did well to hold Jay Smith's fierce 30 yard effort on 26 minutes before Jenkins, having found some space on the edge of the penalty area, twist and cut inside before tapping the ball back to Selley who smashed a shot just over the bar from 18 yards. A low Kevin Maher drive then skidded just off target from 25 yards as the Shrimpers continued to bombarde the Hartlepool goal. Unfortunately though, as so often seems to be the case Rob Newman's men just couldn't find that killer instinct and put a finish to all their hard work.
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A long-hit Selley free kick a minute before the interval found Phil Whelan who nodded the ball back to Leon Cort who headed just wide from eight yards. The equaliser really should have arrived in first half injury time. A right wing cross from Mark Beard was missed by the onrushing Jones but dropped to Jenkins, who, at the far post really should have done better when flashing a shot over the top with keeper Williams left floundering.
The second half was never quite the same, with Southend, infront of what was a healthy Roots Hall crowd, appearing to lose theit emphasis somewhat. Passes began to go astray, and the Shrimpers just seemed to get frustrated that despite their best efforts they just couldn't peg back the deficit. In fact the Pools could have doubled their advantage on 51 minutes. A superb piece of skill saw Eifion Williams loop the ball over the head of the shell-shocked Broad before sprinting onto the ball and feeding Clarke who's shot flashed across the face of goal as far as Richardson who's close range shot was scrambled off the line by Cort.
In a most bizarre incident on 54 minutes minutes Pools defender Graeme Lee appeared to deliberately handle Smith's 25 yard shot but as ever comical referee Keith Hill was completely oblivious to the incident. At times the Royston official, who is best known to Blues fans for sending off Damon Searle after the Welshman was assaulted by Darlington's Barry Conlon on the opening day of last season, seemed remarkable oblivious to the whole match.
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As Southend's luck seemed to hit an all-time low, the last chance of the match arrived with eleven minutes still to play. This time another Clark cross saw Whelan's header nodded away from underneath the crossbar by Tinkler.
Southend would have moved into second spot had they recorded a victory tonight, but instead the Shrimpers could well move into the bottom half of the table should results go against them on Saturday.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com