Southend United

1-0
(Attendance: 4,107)

Macclesfield Town

Lawrie Dudfield 83

Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall on 28th February 2004

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp

Jamie Stuart

Leon Cort

Mark Warren

Lewis Hunt

Kevin Maher

Mark Gower

Carl Pettefer

Leon Constantine

Lawrie Dudfield

7

7

4(59)

7

8

7(59)

7

7

6
7

7

Steve Wilson

George Abbey

Graham Potter

Michael Welch

Steve Macauley

Karl Munroe --

Paul Harsley

Tommy Widdrington

Danny Whitaker

Matthew Tipton

Jon Parkin

6

6

6

6

7

6

6(85)

6

6

5

5(72)

Carl Emberson

Dave McSweeney

Che Wilson

Michael Kightly

Mark Bentley

-

-

7(59)

-

8(59)

David Miskelly

John Miles

Martin Carruthers

David Smith

Michael Carr

-

-(85)

6(72)

-

-

Match Report by Mark Wallis

Lawrie Dudfield's only goal of the game grabbed three points at Roots Hall

Southend have now leapfrogged themselves three places up the Third Division table into nineteenth place with this victory against a Macclesfield side that, prior to kick-off, were just one point and one place behind United and in the relegation zone.

It was also the Shrimpers fifth victory in five home clashes with the Silkmen, with the Cheshire side having only found the Roots Hall net on one occasion. At last we've found a side that can claim Roots Hall as their bogey ground!

Anyhow, Caretaker boss Steve Tilson stuck with exactly the same side that came mightily close to snatching victory at Bury the previous Tuesday, with strikers Tes Bramble (sickness) and Drewe Broughton (suspended) still missing.

On a fresh but sunny afternoon in South Essex, Southend enjoyed much of the possession but found breaking down the five-man Macclesfield rearguard a hefty task. The first chance however arrived in the twelfth minute, Town goalkeeper Steve Wilson doing well to turn away Dudfield's shot following a low centre from Mark Gower.

Duncan Jupp did well to head clear a Matthew Tipton free kick before another free kick, from Paul Harsley found it's way into Darryl Flahavan's side-netting.

A Kevin Maher free kick on 25 minutes was laid off to Mark Warren who blasted over the top before Tommy Widdrington volleyed wayward for the visitors just two minutes later.

Then, with 37 minutes on the clock Southend should have been awarded an opening goal, but linesman Neil Appleby failed to spot that Leon Constantine's bicycle kick, after Wilson had pushed out a Maher drive, had crossed the line before Steve Macauley hacked the ball clear.

United, desperate for that elusive goal flung themselves forward in the closing minutes of the first half, but two angled efforts, from Dudfield and them Constantine saw Wilson twice gather the ball at full stretch.

The opening stages of the second half saw an early flurry from the Cheshire side. Tipton shot over the top after a twisting run before Flahavan did well to hold onto a low drive from Harsley.

Gower struck a shot into the arms of Wilson on 70 minutes before substitute Mark Bentley saw his decent dipping shot zip just over the crossbar with Wilson beaten.

Dudfield turned brilliantly before firing just wide from 20 yards before a Constantine run brought a fantastic save out of Wilson, pushing the ball around the post, before a scramble from the resulting Maher corner eventually saw Dudfield flick the ball into the grasp of the Town shot-stopper.

At last Southend really looked like opening their account for the afternoon, with Macclesfield right on the back foot, but Dudfield shot off target after the tireless Wilson had made a great double stop to deny firstly Constantine and then Maher. Indeed if that wasn't enough the beanpole of a keeper managed to block Dudfield's close range effort after a neat Gower run and cross.

Then, with just seven minutes remaining the deadlock was finally broken with a most crucial goal. Gower's cross saw Constantine strike the bear post, but as the loose ball rolled across the goal line Dudfield was on hand to whack it into the roof of the net to not only seal his fourth goal in five starts, but also to seal victory for the Blues who successfully saw out the closing stage with only a Martin Carruthers shot, in the final minute requiring anything from Flahavan.

Southend now travel to Boston on Wednesday night, and with both sides level on points a victory for Tilson's men would take his side ahead if the Pilgrims, and indeed another result at Bristol Rovers in seven days time would give the Shrimpers some breathing space. But they've got to be won first!

Overall

Matches: 10

Southend United wins: 7

Macclesfield Town wins: 2

Draws: 1

Southend United goals: 14

Macclesfield Town goals: 6

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 09/11/2001)

Biggest Macclesfield Town win: 2-1 (Moss Rose; League Division Three; 01/03/2003)

In The League

Matches: 10

Southend United wins: 7

Macclesfield Town wins: 2

Draws: 1

Southend United goals: 14

Macclesfield Town goals: 6

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 09/11/2001)

Biggest Macclesfield Town win: 2-1 (Moss Rose; League Division Three; 01/03/2003)

At Roots Hall

Matches: 5

Southend United wins: 5

Macclesfield Town wins: 0

Draws: 0

Southend United goals: 9

Macclesfield Town goals: 1

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (League Division Three; 09/11/2001)

Biggest Macclesfield Town win: none