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Of course this was the third time that these two sides have met this season and even though Hartlepool are sailing away at the summit of Division Three, the gulf between the teams has been very slim. The North East side came out on top by a single goal in the League encounter at Roots Hall a month ago before the Cup draw ten days ago. This time it looked like Southend were to be frustrated again. The Shrimpers, backed by a loud and very loyal band of supporters on what was a cold, breezy night, were the better team throughout but trailed for much of the second half after Marcus Richardson had bundled the home side in front in the 63rd minute. Southend however never gave up and snatched victory and a second round place with two goals in the last two minutes of the match.
Despite Southend's somewhat dominance of the encounter, it was the home side had had the best of the opening exchanges and Daryl Flahavan was required to make a good save when Graeme Lee got his head to Paul Smith's free kick after only four minutes and moments later a great sliding tackle by David McSweeney denied Eifion Williams.
It was the Essex side who provided the first real warning however when a superb Tony Scully run saw the tricky winger fire a 25 yard shot which Pool goalkeeper Anthony Williams did exceptionally well to push against the top of the post.
Hartlepool's former Southend loanee Brian Barry-Murphy, who played for the Shrimpers in last season's 5-1 thumping defeat at Victoria Park last season, hacked a Barrington Belgrave effort away from underneath the crossbar before Eifion Williams stabbed a loose ball over Flahavan's crossbar from eight yards at the opposite end when perhaps he should have done better.
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As half time approached goalkeeper Williams did well to claim Jay Smith's header from a Scully cross whilst under pressure from Tes Bramble before Bramble himself screwed a shot just wide of the post with the last action of the half.
A neat Neil Jenkins run and shot saw the ball flash just over the bar, but perhaps the wideman should have knocked the ball out to the unmarked Damon Searle, however the deadlock was so nearly broken on 55 minures when Bramble brilliantly used his immense strength to win the ball from Michael Barron before smashing a shot inches wide of the target.
On 63 minutes however it was the home side who took the lead. Paul Smith's long range free kick bounced down off of the underside of the bar and Flahavan somehow failed to hold Lee's header before Richardson poked the ball home from close range. Flahavan then went someway to redeeming himself however he did well to get down and claim Adam Boyd's low 25 yard shot.
Scully chipped a shot just over the top on 76 minutes before Flahavan again did well to push another Paul Smith free kick over the bar.
It was in the 88th minute however that the match turned. Substitute Steven Clark's shot was blocked by Barron but the ball fell perfectly for Bramble to thunder a simply stunning 30 yard half volley past the helpless Williams and just inside the right hand post. Then, literally seconds later the Shrimpers won a corner - only their second of the match - and Maher's flag kick was flighted just right for Leon Cort ro rise high and power a header underneath Williams, and although the keeper made contact with the ball it wasn't enough to prevent the ball from wriggling over the line to send the Southend supporters behind the goal into sheer pandomonium.
Southend now face AFC Bournemouth in Round Two, at Roots Hall on Saturday, 7th December!
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com