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It’s not necessarily a position which Steve Tilson’s side deserve to be in, but as they so often state ‘the table doesn’t lie’, and it certainly does not with the clear facts telling us that Southend have gained just two points from their first five basement division fixtures.
However, at long last we are able to celebrate a goal from open play, ironically not from a striker but defender Adam Barrett, who was returning to the Club he left in the summer, and we can take comfort, well maybe, from the fact that Bristol Rovers climbed to the summit of League Two with this victory and are clearly a difficult side to beat.
A bumper crowd, well over 9,000, packed into the Memorial Stadium in anticipation of a possible table-topping, but needless to say typical Friday night traffic meant that the majority of travelling supporters, in particular those on the coach, failed to make kick-off. Fortunately this reporter was able to retrieve all relevant information and timings despite his late arrival!
Tilson made just one change from the side that put up such a gallant effort at West Ham United in the Carling Cup three evenings earlier, with Spencer Prior, missing from the Boleyn Ground with a slight injury problem, slotting back into defence alongside Barrett with Andy Edwards the unlucky party who dropped to the bench.
True to form, it was the buoyant home side who created the early openings and following a prolonged spell of possession, midfielder Paul Trollope saw a fierce effort blocked by Prior before Bart Griemink did well to push an inswinging Trollope cross over the bar having already palmed away a low Junior Agogo drive.
Unfortunately, from the resulting Trollope corner, the home side took the lead with 13 minutes on the clock. A bad misjudgement from Griemink saw the big Dutchman leave a Steve Elliott looping header which he thought was going over the bar, but the ball dropped down at the last second and to the keeper’s dismay fell into the far corner of the net. (1-0)
A Kevin Maher free-kick for the goal-shy visitor’s fell just wide of the far post despite no Blues player making contact with what was only intended to be a ball into the penalty area before, on the offensive once again, Rovers could have doubled their advantage when Agogo was played through but, having outpaced Duncan Jupp, he found Griemink redeeming himself by making a fine block.
A fierce effort from Mark Bentley, who was beginning to excel in the centre of play, was deflected away for a corner by Robbie Ryan, and the ensuring Nicky Nicolau flag kick saw Gasheads goalkeeper Kevin Miller make a fine double stop from firstly Mark Gower and then Lawrie Dudfield.
Griemink, who apart from his fatal earlier blunder, was enjoying an outstanding evening between the sticks then did well to hold onto an Agogo lob before firmly grasping Stuart Campbell’s zipping low shot.
Half-time: Bristol Rovers 1 Southend United 0
The visitor’s from Essex, who were backed by a surprisingly impressive travelling support, had the best of the early second half exchanges and duly created the first chance nine minutes after the restart with a neat interchange between Gower and Maher resulting in the latter chipping a ball into the six yard box where the diving head of Drewe Broughton came within inches of nodding the ball home.
The home side were not to be denied a piece of the action for long however and as the hour mark approached Jame Hunt curled a free kick into the side netting before Agogo, once again clear through, should have done better when he slid his angled shot wide of the far post.
Undeterred though, Southend still continued to come forward themselves and the side netting was seen to bulge when Broughton struck it with a far post header from a Jupp cross.
Then however, with the rather bright scoreboard showing 71 minutes, Southend grabbed that elusive goal. Another impressive Jupp centre swung right into the middle of the area and Barrett suddenly stuck his head out to guide the ball past Miller and into the bottom right hand corner. The former Rovers skipper then gleefully celebrated by kissing the badge on his red shirt infront of the joyous away support. (1-1)
Having finally got themselves back on level terms, Gower saw a shot deflected just wide of the post, but at the other end there was no end to the action for Griemink who did well when called upon to push a low Trollope shot, from an Agogo assist, around the post.
However, with only four minutes left to play Nicolau, unfortunately not for the first time this season, was caught out being too adventurous down the left side, and substitute John Anderson sped clear of the ex-Arsenal youngster before crossing low for Hunt to steer home to loose ball from close range to break Southend hearts and earn Rovers a table-topping victory. (2-1)
This was possibly United’s best display of the campaign so far, and certainly didn’t warrant defeat, but that’s how it all ended, and Steve Tilson’s side have to once again pick themselves up with Macclesfield Town, another side to have started the season well, visiting Roots Hall on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.
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Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com