It all finished so tamely in the end with a goalless draw at East Fife's Bayview Stadium for Shrimpers and Rovers Sunday afternoon after Blues boss Paul Sturrock made nine changes in his starting line-up from the team that lost 2-0 to Dundee only 24 hours before.
After both teams surprisingly opted against deciding the Gilvenback Hotel Football Festival, just love that name, third-place play-off with a penalty shootout, leaving Southend winless but in joint third place, it's worth repeating, possibily, in the four team tournament. (Well it's better than sharing the wooden spoon!)
The highlights; Harry Crawford had a 20-yard shot saved by Raith goalkeeper David McGurn early on before Rohan Ricketts shot straight at McGurn after neatly controlling a deep left-wing cross from Luke Prosser.
Harry headed Ricketts' cross wide from six yards out when he should have done better, before substitute Neil Harris actually had the ball in the net only to discover the flag was raised for offside.
Shrimpers shot stopper Daniel Bentley did well to turn a low Stephen Reynolds shot around the post, and the ex-Blues under-18 star, who will start the season as the deputy for Glenn Morris, also kept out a long-range effort from Iain Williamson.
Raith's replacement keeper Ross Laidlaw saved well with his legs to thwart Bomber, while back at the other end Bentley palmed away a stinging 20-yard shot from Brian Graham.
Trialist right-back Ryan Leonard had Southend's last chance of the game but his header from Luke Prosser's cross was tipped wide by Laidlaw. He obviously should have tried his luck from the half way line!
Even so, the 100-odd Shrimpers faithful that made the long journey north of the border had a good enough time over the weekend, and certainly the players were well aware of them in the crowd!
Back finally from injury centre-back Chris Phillips wrote: 'Thanks to all the Southend fans that travelled so far to support us-its much appreciated from me and the boys'
While Luggy told Echoman Chris Phillips that the 'tour had been a success, despite the indifferent results.'
For the record, East Fife made home advantage count by beating Dundee 1-0 in the final, Kevin McKinlay grabbing the winner when stabbed the ball home from close range just around the quarter-hour mark.
Southend United: Bentley, Leonard, Coughlan, Phillips, Prosser, Sawyer (Nesbitt 46) , N’Diaye (Woodyard 58), James-Lewis, Crawford, Asante (Harris 58), Ricketts (Hall 58)
Subs not used: Gilbert, Grant, & Morris