GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
Another clean sheet for Flahavan who will look back on the season with one mighty grin on his face. Starting the year as number two Flahavan has twice had to regain his place in the starting line up after injuries to Bart Griemink. However nobody can take it away from Darryl that he was the goalkeeper that saw Southend to promotion and three clean sheets in each of the playoff matches the Shrimpers were involved in. However it was not without a few nervy moments that Flahavan completed the Playoff Final. On a number of occasions, when Lincoln’s aerial attack was in full force, Flahavan attempted to collect the balls into the area but instead flapped at the ball. Flahavan had to thank his defenders for saving his skin on a number of occasions. |
RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 9.5 | |||
Southend are one goal to the good and defending for their lives. The balls brakes for Freddy Eastwood he surges away, and Duncan Jupp arrives in support. The majority of the Shrimper’s support all point towards Jupp and urge Eastwood to square the ball. Eastwood does the honours, and the rest his history. Duncan Jupp wrote his name into Southend United history by slotting the past Alan Marriott and securing the Shrimpers’ promotion. It was Juppy’s first goal since he left Fulham in 1996 and it was defiantly the most important he has scored in his career. Jupp’s overall game was outstanding as he done everything right and gave the ball away on next to no occasions. For all the criticism that Jupp has received at Roots Hall, notably from those who sit in the West Stand, the former Wimbledon man has emerged as the hero. Well done Juppy! |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0| Rating: 8.5 |
Another solid performance from Prior who enjoys another playoff promotion after enjoying the success with Cardiff City in 2002. Prior played with the energy of a teenage trainee but with the experience of the veteran defender that he is. Spinner kept the dangerous Simon Yeo and the substituted on Derek Asamoah quiet. Asamoah who has now faced Southend on four occasions this season has posed less and less of a threat each time and it is credit to Prior that Asamoah managed to cause the largest problem when Spinner was injured. In addition Prior offered a threat from set pieces where he ironically worried the gigantic Lincoln team. In fact it was Prior who won the flick that found it’s way to Eastwood for the first Southend goal. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
One would say that it was a Barrettesque performance. Solid, simple but brilliantly effective and that is the story of Barrett’s season. It was another clean sheet and another game where Barrett comes out with one hell of a lot of credit. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Wilson was again as good a left back as another other in the division. Solid as a rock, not much gets past Che Wilson these days although he may be found wanting next year as League One possesses some very nippy wingers. However playoff success is about celebrating and we should certainly celebrate Che’s success this season rather than worrying what may happen in the future. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 9 |
It looks like I ought to start eating them words! Pettefer, not a winger? Not on this performance! It was a day when I thought I was looking at a winger worthy of a place in a team progressing to League One not a central midfielder running around trying to put a few meaningless crosses in. Pettefer and Jupp worked wonders today and it came as no surprise that the corner for the first Southend goal was won on the right hand side. On the whole Pettefer’s control and passing was immaculate as everything that he done was pinpoint. Petts tackling was aggressive but superbly timed as he played his last of 58 games Southend. 100% appearance this year; Well played Petts. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
As one of the tallest players for Southend it was always going to be a very physical afternoon against the beanpole Lincoln side. Personally I felt that Bentley won as many aerial challenges that it is physically possible to although Steve Tilson’s men kept the ball on the floor very well. As Bentley celebrated the win and the promotion there is one thing that will mar his long term celebration. Due to fifteen yellow cards, the last of which was picked up against Lincoln, Beno will now miss the first three games of Southend’s League One campaign. |
CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 9.5 | ||||||||
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LM Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 120 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Nicolau certainly has stamped his place on the team since starting in the semi final of the Playoffs and continued his good form into the final, even if it was not Nicky’s best game. However the former Arsenal man, will not be too bothered as he has had to endure a number of games on the sideline this year. Although Nicolau had delivered a few poor set pieces this did not deter him as he communicated well with Prior just before the first goal. Whatever the conversation is irrelevant, because it worked. Prior made a great run to the near post where the ball was placed perfectly onto his head from Nicky’s great ball. It was a great set piece that of course lead to Eastwood smashing into the back of the net and ended an up and down season for Nicolau. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 119 | Gls: 1 | Assists: 1| Rating: 8.5 | |||
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CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 82 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
Not by any means Gray’s best game as he struggled against the physical Lincoln defence. Despite not being helped by referee Atkinson, Gray did not manage to get away or run at the opposition and proved easy pickings for the back three of the Imps. However Gray does not deserve the stick he has come in for over recent weeks and a lot of people seem to forget that the former Wimbledon man has had a lot of good games this season. I look forward to seeing Gray’s pace frighten defences in League One next term. |
CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 38 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 8.5 |
They say that ‘managers live and die by their substitutions’ and this was certainly one of Tilly’s best substitutions as bringing on Lawrie Dudfield for Wayne Gray purely and simply changed the game. The move game the midfield another option to play into feet and therefore the Imps defence were very unsure of how to deal with the skill and quick feet of Lawrie and Freddy. Dudfield performed so well that he even managed an assist in the thirty-eight minutes he was on the field, all be it a scrap of a ball towards Eastwood. The one down side to the day were the seemingly muted celebrations from Dudfield. It seemed to me that Lawrie did not look as if he would be plying his trade at Roots Hall next term. |
LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: - | |||
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CM Andy Edwards | Minutes on pitch: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: - |
Brought on in place of Eastwood for just the last minute of the game in order to sure things up and allow Eastwood the standing ovation he deserved. |