Heroic goalkeeper Bart Griemink saved a stoppage time spot-kick to warn the Shrimpers all three points after Wayne Gray head earlier put Steve Tilson’s men ahead from the spot.
Following on from Tuesday nights 2-2 draw at fellow highfliers Leyton Orient, there was just one change to the Blues line-up which saw tricky wideman Mark Gower return from injury at the expense of Teafaye Bramble.
In a match which was terribly slow to come to life, there was one early chance when Shakers midfielder Dwayne Mattis stabbed a shot into the arms of Griemink, but as both teams desperately scrapped away, decent chances were at a minimum.
Southend however began to create the better openings of the two sides, and on 23 minutes, Freddy Eastwood picked up a neat Lewis Hunt pass before jogging along the box and firing just over the top.
Then, just three minutes later, United were awarded a penalty when Kevin Maher’s free-kick was adjudged to have ben handled inside the area by referee Trevor Parkes. Gray stepped and sent goalkeeper Andy Marriott the wrong way with his spot-kick. (0-1)
With the visitor’s in front, Gower sent a driven low shot into the arms of Marriott before Southend custodian Griemink made a world class save to tip Chris Porter’s well-directed header, from a David Nugent cross, around the post.
Half-time: Bury 0 Southend United 1
Early second half chances fell to the hosts from Lancashire, the best of which seeing Danny Swailes head a Tom Kennedy corner over the top and Nugent bringing a fine stop out of Griemink.
The Shrimpers came mightily close with two fantastic chances. Firstly Adam Barrett’s downward header, from a Gower corner, lifted just over the bar before a brilliant run and low cross from Gray saw Eastwood somehow fire over the top from close range.
Man-of-the-match Griemink made a great stop, albeit at the second attempt to keep out substitute Simon Whalley’s fierce effort before, two minutes into stoppage time Bury were awarded a penalty of their own when Nugent’s cross struck the hand of Che Wilson. However Tilson’s men were saved when Griemink, diving to his right, capped off a fantastic performance by palming away Swailes’ spot-kick.
MATCH FACTS
BURY…(0) 0 SOUTHEND UNITED…(1) 1
Coca-Cola Football League Two, Saturday, 11th December 2004 @ Gigg Lane
Line-ups:
The Shakers (4-4-2; white shirts with blue trim, blue shorts, white socks):- Andy Marriott; Tom Kennedy (Jon Newby 65), Danny Swailes, Lee Unsworth, Dave Challiner; David Flitcroft (Simon Whalley 36), Dwayne Mattis, Paul Scott, Brian Barry-Murphy; David Nugent, Chris Porter (Colin Kazim-Richards 65). Unused subs – Matthew Barrass, Terry Dunfield.
The Shrimpers (4-4-2; sky, white, navy):- Bart Griemink; Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Spencer Prior, Andy Edwards; Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Carl Pettefer, Mark Gower (Nicky Nicolau 85); Wayne Gray; Freddy Eastwood (Lawrie Dudfield 76). Unused subs – Andy Edwards, Tesfaye Bramble, Nick Morgan.
Goal: Southend: Gray 26 (penalty; timed at 25:46)
Bookings: Bury: Mattis (68 – foul). Southend: Wilson (43 – foul)
Sent-off: None.
Total Goal Efforts: Bury 7, Southend 6
Shots/headers on target: Bury 5, Southend 3
Shots/headers off target: Bury 2, Southend 3
Blocked shots: Bury 0, Southend 0
Hit Woodwork: Bury 0, Southend 0
Corners: Bury 5, Southend 3
Free Kicks: Bury 13, Southend 17
Caught Offside: Bury 3, Southend 2
Match Time:
First Half: 47:06. Second Half: 48:36. Total: 95:42.
Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 2 minutes (Actual: 02:06), Second Half: 3 minutes (03:36)
Referee: Trevor Parkes (West Midlands FA), 6 out of 10 (General Control 3/5, Application of Laws 1/3, Personality & Appearance 2/2)
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com
NB. Shots/headers on target includes all goals and Free Kicks includes all penalties.