Bristol Rovers

1-1

(Attendance: 5,625)

Southend United

Paul Tait 15

Nationwide League Division Three @ the Memorial Ground on Saturday 6^th March 2004

Mark Gower 81

Kevin Miller

Robert Quinn

Adam Barrett

Kevin Austin

Danny Boxall

Ijah Anderson

Simon Bryant

Graham Hyde

Dave Savage --

Lee Matthews

Paul Tait

7

7

6

6

6(36)

7

6(84)

7

7

7(72)

7

Darryl Flahavan
Duncan Jupp
Che Wilson
Leon Cort
Lewis Hunt
Kevin Maher

Mark Bentley
Carl Pettefer

Mark Gower

Leon Constantine

Lawrie Dudfield

7

7

6(78)

7

7

8

7

7(71)

8

7

7

Ryan Clarke

Junior Agogo

Lewis Haldane

Christian Edwards

Ryan Williams

-

-(72)

-(84)

5(36)

-

Carl Emberson

Dave McSweeney

Tesfaye Bramble

Drewe Broughton

Neil Jenkins

-

-

-(78)

-(71)

-

Match Report

By Mark Wallis

Mark Gower netted a well-deserved leveller

Despite picking up another precious point, taking United's tally for the campaign to forty, the Shrimpers actually slipped two places to eighteenth but remain eight points clear of Macclesfield Town who occupy the second relegation spot.

Southend supporters however can once again take heart from this match where despite a somewhat poor first half Steve Tilson's side dominated the second period and Mark Gower's equaliser nine minutes from time was more than the visitors deserved. Indeed United even had chances to win the match in the closing stages.

Southend remained unchanged from the side which started in the comfortable 2-0 victory at Boston United the previous Wednesday with Drewe Broughton, back from a three match suspension, only finding a place amongst the substitutes. Lawrie Dudfield played what is the last of his initial one month's loan spell from Northampton Town, but the impressive front man revealed to us before the match that he hopes to make the switch a permanent one this week.

Southend found the opening stages quite tough going, and for whatever reason the Shrimpers couldn't get their passing game going and were reduced to pumping long balls forward and getting sucked into the same style of play adopted by Rovers.

Indeed it was the home side who created the early openings and two corners from Simon Bryant saw Lee Matthews stab a shot over the crossbar and then Paul Tait head just off target.

Then, with just fifteen minutes on the clock Rovers took the lead. Somehow lanky striker Tait was allowed to weave his way through the Southend defence on the edge of the penalty area before sending a delicate chip over the head of Darryl Flahavan who had advanced off his goalline.

Only seconds after the goal Flahavan then had to be at his very best to keep hold of a Graham Hyde angled shot at the second attempt before the Blues custodian was rounded by Tait who's dangerous ball across the face of goal wasn't met by the boot of a Rovers player.

Southend though finally started to work their way into the encounter and a break forward from Dudfield brought a shot which was blocked for a corner by Southend-born defender Adam Barrett before Gower curled a free kick over the top of Kevin Miller's crossbar.

United had a penalty appeal turned down when Dudfield's shot was handled by Robert Quinn before the tricky Blues midfielder brilliantly shrugged off the attentions of Danny Boxall before a low cross was put inches wide of his own post by Quinn. The last action of the first half then saw Kevin Maher zip a low shot inches wide of Miller's right hand post.

The second half was virtually all one-way traffic as Southend at last got their fluent passing game going and tested the Rovers rearguard to the extreme.

A Gower corner was nodded just over the top by Leon Cort seven minutes into the second period before, literally seconds later a Gower run and cross resulted in Leon Constantine smashing a right footed volley off target.

Flahavan did well to push a Matthews free kick around the post, but that was about all Rovers had to offer after the break, and inspired by that free kick, Maher also tested Miller with a long-range set piece.

The equaliser finally arrived with 81 minutes on the clock. Gower picking the ball up on the edge of the penalty area before twisting and turning his way past his marker and smashing a low shot past Miller and into the bottom right hand corner.

After the goal Southend were not willing to settle for just a point and eagerly went in search of a winner. Substitute Broughton drove a low effort wide following a neat run and centre from Constantine and Miller pushed out a Dudfield shot before, in the very last minute, Miller made a fantastic save to push Broughton’s low effort around the post just as the ball looked set to nestle in the bottom corner.

Another impressive performance from Southend, who are one of Division Three's in form sides at the moment, and playing this way there is little doubt that United will remain in the Football League next season, let's just hope the good run continues!

Overall

Matches: 91

Southend United wins: 40

Bristol Rovers wins: 31

Draws: 20

Southend United goals: 148

Bristol Rovers goals: 129

Biggest Southend United win: 6-0 (Roots Hall; Division Three (South); 1929/30)

Biggest Bristol Rovers win: 5-1 (Eastville; Division Three (South); 1926/7)

In The League

Matches: 85

Southend United wins: 36

Bristol Rovers wins: 30

Draws: 19

Southend United goals: 140

Bristol Rovers goals: 127

Biggest Southend United win: 6-0 (Roots Hall; Division Three (South); 1929/30)

Biggest Bristol Rovers win: 5-1 (Eastville; Division Three (South); 1926/7)

At the Memorial Ground (1996-), Twerton Park (1985-96), Eastville (1896-1985)

Matches: 46

Southend United wins: 11

Bristol Rovers wins: 26

Draws: 9

Southend United goals: 50

Bristol Rovers goals: 87

Biggest Southend United win: 3-1 (all Eastville; all Division Three (South); 1946/7, 1927/8, 1924/5)

Biggest Bristol Rovers win: 5-1 (Eastville; Division Three (South); 1926/7)