That Roots Hall defeat back in mid-September saw United slip into the relegation zone – the 23rd spot secured after that defeat keeping them just above Carlisle United but behind Leyton Orient and Boston United on goal difference, and also in the Shrimpers joint-lowest ever League position since the 1958 rearrangement. It also marked the last time that goalkeeper Ryan Robinson was to perform for the club after he conceded an early goal to Marcus Richardson and then a thunderbolt from midfielder Richard Butcher, the second coming just seconds after Duncan Jupp had seen his penalty saved by Alan Marriott.
By the time of the return meeting, the situation had improved marginally, and Blues were participating in their final Third Division match before the LDV Vans Trophy final against Blackpool in the Millennium Stadium. Leon Constantine’s double just after the half-hour gave Southend the advantage, but after Francis Green’s early second-half strike, the Seasiders tried in vain to cling on, Simon Yeo scoring the equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time after immense pressure. Southend laid just seven points above the drop zone, and were on the same points at the time as relegated York City.
In between, Blues defeated the Red Imps 3-0 at Roots Hall in the F.A. Cup second round, with Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Gower and Jimmy Corbett all finding the back of the net in a fine team performance. Indeed, tonight’s visitors to Sincil Bank are undefeated in Cup ties against their hosts, having won 3-2 at the Lincolnshire venue in the clubs’ first meeting back in 1955/6.
Overall the clubs have met on 40 occasions, with Southend edging the lead 17-11, with 12 draws. At Sincil Bank, Blues have won six times, the most recent being in March 2002, when Steven Clark scored his only League goal for Southend in a 1-0 victory after just seven minutes. That ended a run of three straight defeats in Lincoln, that in turn having followed on from three successive wins at City in the 1980s.
Last Meeting
Lincoln City | 2-2 (Attendance: 3,943) | Southend United |
Francis Green 51 Simon Yeo 90+3 | Tuesday 16th March 2004 @ Sincil Bank – Nationwide League Division Three | Leon Constantine 30, 36 |
Alan Marriott Jamie McCombe Paul Morgan Ben Futcher Peter Gain Kevin Ellison -- Ben Sedgemore Matthew Bloomer Gary Fletcher Francis Green Marcus Richardson | 8 7 7 7 6 5(78) 6(60) 6 7 7 6(78) | Darryl Flahavan Mark Bentley Lawrie Dudfield | 4 5 6 5 6 6 7 7 8 5(90) 7(82) |
Kevin Sandwith Simon Yeo Dene Cropper Simon Weaver David Wattley | -(78) 7(60) -(78) - - | Carl Emberson Jamie Stuart Mark Warren Dave McSweeney Tesfaye Bramble | - - -(82) - -(90) |
Match Report By Mark Wallis | |||
Another mammoth Bloomer throw saw Richardson's header only kept out by the desperate goalline clearance of Cort before Flahavan's hands were warmed with a fierce snapshot from the same player.
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Last Five Meetings
16th March 2004 – Lincoln City 2 (Francis Green 51, Simon Yeo 90+3) Southend United 2 (Leon Constantine 30, 36) – Nationwide League Division Three
6th December 2003 – Southend United 3 (Tesfaye Bramble 39, Mark Gower 64, James Corbett 89) Lincoln City 0 – F.A. Cup second round
16th September 2003 – Southend United 0 Lincoln City 2 (Marcus Richardson 10, Richard Butcher 78) – Nationwide League Division Three
8th March 2003 – Southend United 0 Lincoln City 1 (Ben Futcher 10) – Nationwide League Division Three
21st September 2002 – Lincoln City 2 (Peter Gain 62, Simon Yeo 71) Southend United 1 (Neil Jenkins 76) – Nationwide League Division Three
The Complete Head-to-Head Record
2003/04 – H0-2 A2-2 (League), H3-0 (F.A. Cup)
2002/03 – H0-1 A1-2 (League)
2001/02 - H1-1 A1-0 (League)
2000/01 - H1-0 A0-3 (League)
1999/00 - H2-2 A0-1 (League)
1989/90 - H2-0 A0-2 (League)
1986/87 - H1-0 A3-1 (League)
1983/84 - H2-0 A2-1 (League)
1982/83 - H2-0 A1-0 (League)
1981/82 - H0-2 A1-1 (League)
1980/81 - H0-0 A1-2 (League)
1978/79 - H2-0 A1-1 (League)
1971/72 - H2-1 A0-0 (League)
1970/71 - H1-1 A2-1 (League)
1969/70 - H2-2 A3-3 (League)
1968/69 - H3-0 A1-2 (League)
1967/68 - H2-1 A2-4 (League)
1966/67 - H3-0 A2-2 (League)
1961/62 - H0-1 A0-2 (League)
1955/56 - A3-2 (F.A. Cup)
Overall |
Matches: 40 Southend United wins: 17 Lincoln City wins: 11 Draws: 12 Southend United goals: 55 Lincoln City goals: 45 Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; 6th December 2004; F.A. Cup second round, Roots Hall; 7th October 1968; League Division Four and Roots Hall; 12th November 1966; League Division Four) Biggest Lincoln City win: 3-0 (Sincil Bank; 2nd September 2000; Nationwide League Division Three) |
In The League |
Matches: 38 Southend United wins: 15 Lincoln City wins: 11 Draws: 12 Southend United goals: 49 Lincoln City goals: 43 Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; 7th October 1968; Division Four and Roots Hall; 12th November 1966; Division Four) Biggest Lincoln City win: 3-0 (Sincil Bank; 2nd September 2000; Division Three) |
At Sincil Bank |
Matches: 20 Southend United wins: 6 Lincoln City wins: 8 Draws: 6 Southend United goals: 26 Lincoln City goals: 32 Biggest Southend United win: 3-1 (20th September 1986; League Division Four) Biggest Lincoln City win: 3-0 (2nd September 2000; Nationwide League Division Three) |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com