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Bristol Rovers 0 Southend United 1

Last updated : 10 November 2002 By Mark Wallis

Tes Bramble curled home the winner.
Anybody present at the Memorial Stadium would hardly class United's performance as a classic, but in terms of away victories, Southend did exactly what was asked of them, hitting an unsuspecting - but decidedly poor - Rovers team with an ideal 'away' performance.

This much wasn't a spectacle, there's no denying that, but there is no doubt that the loyal band of Southend supporters will not be bothered about that!

Rovers had the first chance of the match, Chris Plummer volleying a Mark McKeever cross over the bar before United soon chipped in, Tony Scully sending a shot just off target from a Damon Searle centre. Ex-Shrimper David Lee then nodded a McKeever cross wide as the match ticked towards the 25 minute mark.

Plummer headed yet another McKever cross just off target on 30 minutes before it was Mckeevers turn to get onto the end of a lee corner and head just wide of the post. Southend, really getting into the game for the first time saw Jay Smith denied with a deflected shot on 40 minutes before Tes Bramble hit the crossbar from 35 yards two minutes later after Barrington Belgrave had forced goalkeeper Scott howie into a poor clearance.

The second period also got off to a rather slow start, but on 56 minutes Belgrave suddenly broke forward with terrific pace before feeding the ball to Bramble who flicked the ball past Howie but just slightly wide of the target. Rovers ex-Crewe frontman Paul Tait - believed to be a target of Rob Newman's in the summer - then shot just wide from eighteen yards after neatly bringing the ball down on his chest on 66 minutes.

Tony Scully had a great game.

Ian Selley curled a 25 yard free kick inches over the crossbar after Bramble was felled by Danny Boxall before scully smashed an effort straight at Howie following a fine run and fross by Belgrave on 75 minutes. Then, on 78 minutes, United notched the winner. Belgrave made a nuisance of himself on the edge of the area before tapping the ball to Bramble who unleashed a superb curling shot into the bottom left hand corner from 18 yards.

On 85 minutes, Southend's jubilant fans were expecting the worst, but somehow, following a freak goalmouth scramble, Darryl Flahavan managed to brilliantly block a shot with his legs from point blank range.

As thw match, and indeed the victory, drew to a close, Belgrave perhaps should have scored when he poked the ball at Howie having been played through on goal, but it didn't matter, and after five minutes of injury time the travelling support were able to cheer their heroes off the pitch. Now, rather unusually, United have picked uip more points away from home than they have at Roots Hall!

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com