Cheltenham Town 3 Southend United 0

Last updated : 11 December 2011 By exiledessexboy

The beer was good before hand, especially the Victory bitter in the recommended Kemble Brewery Inn, when you eventually got to the bar, it's quite small, and that was the nearest this travelling Shrimper got to tasting winning all afternoon.

As expected centre-back Mark Phillips and midfielder Michael Timlin have both returned from one match suspensions while Liam Dickinson and Jean-Paul Kalala also returned to the Blues starting line-up.

On the bench Luggy decided to go without a reserve shot stopper allowing Luke Prosser, Anthony Grant, Neil Harris and Blair Sturrock to join fit again Ryan Leonard.

In my preview I felt if we could hold the in-form Robins for the first 20 minutes we might be able to sneek a typical Sturrock smash and grab 1-0 win, and we certainly held out for that first quarter.

Unfortunately for the 388 strong Essex faithful as we entered the next stage of the game Cheltenham took the lead with a goal of real quality.

Russell Penn decided get by-pass Kalala and Peter Gilbert as if they were invisible, found Town striker Jimmy Spencer, who said thanks very much from close range for goal N0. 7 of the campaign.

They might have doubled the lead just before the half-hour, a fine tiip over the crossbar by Luke Daniels denying when centre-back Steve Elliott's powerful header.

One down, could cope with that as I enjoyed a massive hot dog and strong coffee, the drink was starting to wear off, I thought, settle down to enjoy the second half.

Forget it, after an incredible sequence of events on 52 minutes.

Russell Penn was the man involved from the start when his original shot was well saved by Daniels but the ball broke kindly to Spencer with the goal at his mercy, it in went, no, Gilbert on the line from nowhere saved the day, for as moment, Marlon Pack was next to try his luck, hitting inside of the left post from 20 yards out, the rebound finding, of course, Penn, who finally found the  net from six yards,.

Phew, but you knew now the points were going to stay in Gloucester.

There followed a short period where the Shrimpers held the ball for a change to make inroads into the Cheltenham half but they always looked strong and wanted the ball more, Tilmin though was at the forefront with some accurate passing but nothing that looked as it would open up the home defence.

Even so, it was Pack who nearly got a third when his spectacular 30 yarder smashed back of the right hand post, Daniels just a helpless spectator, as we all were up the away end, the drum now having long stopped beating.

That one effort on goal that we all got excited about afterwards, and at least gave Robins loanee goalkeeper Jack Butland something to do, and even that wasn't a direct shot but a Kane Ferdinand cross that was defelcted towards goal!

Luggy tried to liven things up with Anthony Grant and the returning Ryan Leonard brought on within eight minutes of each other, yet it was an already lost cause and with ten minutes left the Robins confirmed it. 

On 63 minutes JP picks up a booking that should see a one match suspension against the Latics, he could probably do with the match off, going through a tough spell at the moment.

The midfield parted up again like the red sea and Pack accepted the invitation before letting lose from 20 yards out a low, left footed strike that rubbed the former league leaders nose in it.

Oh well, it's been a decent run and Luggy has his work cut out t get the lads up for Oldham away in the Cup on Tuesday, let alone the even more important Bradford City at Roots Hall for league points on the Friday.

The creepies are back on top, a nice three point gap, but Shrewsbury lost at Aldershot so we still have a five point gap over the fourth placed club, and promotion is still the aim as we enter tthe all-important festive period of matches.

By the time we walk off the park against Dagenham & redbridge on January 2nd Southend, and their fans, should have a good idea how the final third of the season could be shaping up.

As for the pub beforehand, and we wont talk about the wrong train to Bristol, it only cost me 15 minutes back to London, I had a lot on my mind, the bloke who recommended me the Butty Bark before I left, said to me: 'We're playing like Brazil, you're get a good thrashing.'

I smiled, what did he know, drunken old fool.

Southend player markings: Daniels - 6, Clohessy - 5, Phillips - 5, Barker - 6, Gilbert - 5 (Leonard - 5), Kalala - 4 (Grant 66 - 5), Mohsni - 5, Ferdinand - 5, Timlin - 6, Hall - 5, Dickinson - 5.

Referee: Mr. J. Waugh - 8.