With just ten matches to go until the end of the season, United find themselves in third spot in Division Three for the very first time since relegation back in 1998, and in the midst of a run which has brought no defeat in eleven outings and just two reverses in the last twenty-one matches, Tilson’s side will be determined to hold onto the cherished promotion spot that they currently occupy.
However, against a desperately poor and disgustingly dirty Chester City side, Southend struggled and few people will disagree that United turned in their most disappointing performance of the campaign, although that said, the first half saw a fierce gale blowing into the visitor’s faces aswell as driving rain and sleet.
Chester have by far the worst disciplinary record in Division Three, and its obvious why. Unfortunately referee Andy Bates, with whom Southend have experienced problems with in the past, did not apply the letter of the law properly and quite how Ben Davies – famed for the slowest ever walk-off in the history of football after being substituted at Roots Hall back in December – was not punished for deliberately snapping a corner flag in half after netting Chester’s second goal, and also Stewart Drummond, having already been booked, remained on the pitch after trying his best to inpersonate David Prutton by pushing both his hands into the face on assistant referee Colin Harwood.
Added to this was the despicable behaviour of one particular Seals supporter who decided to pay his admission fee in order to spend over half the game shouting and making gestures of a racial content at Lewis Hunt. Hunt, almost in tears at the final whistle, had the full backing of his team and fans, but it seems that little will be done about the incident as Club stewards insisted that Hunt was called ‘a donkey’ by the fan. As ever the incompetant men in bright yellow were in a dream world.
Furthermore, the behaviour of manager Ian Rush was a disgrace as he charged down the touchline to contest decisions. It would appear that from top to bottom Chester City are simply a very nasty little Club.
Anyhow, onto the stuff on the pitch and United fielded the same side which saw off Bury, 1-0, at Roots Hall a week earlier, with striker Lawrie Dudfield still missing with some inflammation in his knee.
It was the visitor’s from Essex who created the first chance of the game on four minutes when a Mark Gower corner was headed clear by Paul Carden only for skipper Kevin Maher to rifle a shot off target from 20 yards.
On nine minutes though, last season’s Conference Champions took a lead with a soft goal which will vastly frustrate United. Michael Branch burst down the left flank, cut-in and saw his shot pushed out by Darryl Flahavan, however Michael Walsh was on hand to roll the rebound beneath the Blues ‘keeper and agonisingly past the static Spencer Prior on the goalline. (1-0)
Freddy Eastwood came within inches of pulling United level just after the quarter-hour mark when he smashed an angled dive inches wide of the upright after Gower had pulled back a low Hunt centre.
With Southend withstanding the attacks of a Chester side with the strong winds at their backs, the Shrimpers finally hauled themselves level on 38 minutes, Mark Gower doing what Mark Gower does best, scoring spectacular goals, as a fantastic 25 yard free kick curled over the Chester wall and into the left hand corner of the net. (1-1)
Half-time: Chester City 1 Southend United 1
Just four minutes after the interval, Chester regained their lead, and once again it all started as Branch burst clear, although this time a right wing run resulted in a low ball across goal which was tapped in by Davies at the far post. (2-1)
Another Gower free kick dropped just off target just two minutes later as once again United found themselves chasing the game.
Following Drummonds linesman shoving incident, Blues were denied one of the most stone-wall penalties your ever likely to see as Bolland pulled Adam Barrett all around by his shirt inside the box, but Bates, who made gestures at the Southend fans himself during a break in second half play, waved play on as City lumped the ball clear.
The ever-battling Barrett forced his way through the midfield before testing long-serving Chester shot-stopper Wayne Brown from long range.
However, a long-deserved slice of luck brought Southend’s equaliser five minutes from time. Substitute Tesfaye Bramble, who caused huge problems on the right hand side having replaced Carl Pettefer, pushed the ball into the path of Prior who’s wayward drive was diverted towards goal by Wayne Gray, and just saw Brown was ready to gather, Eastwood inadvertently stuck out a leg and diverted the ball past Brown and into the net. (2-2)
The hosts still had a chance to nick a victory when Robbie Foy sprinted clear but screwed his shot badly wide before, at the other end, a Gray drive, following a neat Bramble run, flew just inches wide of giving United a most dramatic victory.
Chester boss Rush claimed after the match that this was his side’s best home performance of the season. My god, I’d hate to watch that rubbish every week!
As for Southend, third place, or even better, is what we are all after. Maybe the thought of Tueday’s LDV Area Final second leg with Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall, with United leading 2-1 from the first leg affected the side’s performance in this game. Certainly we will all like to see an improvement against the Gasheads to claim that second successive Millennium Stadium final. Although nest Saturday’s crucial Division Three encounter with play-off pushing Lincoln City is certainly not to be forgotten.
MATCH FACTS
CHESTER CITY…(1) 2 SOUTHEND UNITED…(1) 2
Football League Division Three, Saturday, 5th March 2005 @ The Deva Stadium
The Seals (blue & white Stripes, blue, blue; 4-4-2):- Wayne Brown; Darren Edmondson, Phil Bolland, Richard Hope, Sean Hessey; Stewart Drummond, Paul Carden, Ben Davies, Michael Walsh, Robbie Foy, Michael Branch.
The Shrimpers (red & white, white, white; 4-4-2):- Darryl Flahavan; Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Adam Barrett, Spencer Prior; Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Carl Pettefer (Tesfaye Bramble 73), Mark Gower (Nicky Nicolau 90); Freddy Eastwood, Wayne Gray. Unused subs – Michael Kightly, Duncan Jupp, Craig Holloway.
Goals: Chester: Walsh 9 (rolled in after rebound fell loose; inside area; timed at 08:32), Davies 49 (tapped in at far post; inside area; timed at 48:21). Southend: Gower 38 (free kick; outside area; timed at 48:21), Eastwood (poked in Gray shot; inside area; timed at 84:41).
Bookings: Chester: Drummond (45 – dissent), Carden (62 – foul), Branch (67 – dissent). Southend: Gray (43 – ungentlemanly behaviour), Wilson (86 – foul), Maher (88 – foul).
Sent-off: None.
Total Goal Efforts: Chester 13, Southend 11
Shots/headers on target: Chester 5, Southend 3
Shots/headers off target: Chester 7, Southend 8
Blocked shots: Chester 0, Southend 0
Hit Woodwork: Chester 0, Southend 0
Corners: Chester 5, Southend 7
Free Kicks: Chester 10, Southend 18
Caught Offside: Chester 3, Southend 3
Match Time:
First Half: 47:44. Second Half: 50:59. Total: 98:43.
Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 2 minutes (Actual: 02:44), Second Half: 5 minutes (05:59)
Referee: Andy Bates (West Midlandsk FA), 2 out of 10 (General Control 1/5, Application of Laws 1/3, Personality & Appearance 0/2)
Attendance: 2,386 (c.350 away fans)
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com
NB. Shots/headers on target includes all goals and Free Kicks includes all penalties.