1. Footymad
  2. Shrimpers Mad
  3. Shrimpers Latest
  4. Shrimpers Reports

Plymouth Argyle 0 Southend United 0

Last updated : 09 April 2002 By Mark Wallis

Darryl Flahavan made some crucial saves.
It was a near-perfect away performance by United who, despite not really creating their own clear-cut chances, restricted the home sides opportunities and as the afternoon progressed Argyle became clealy frustrated, especially after the bizarre incident in the 70th minute, but more of that later!

Jon Beswetherick's cross deflected off Stuart Thurgood for Plymouth's first corner in the fifth minute and from the resulting Martin Phillips flag kick Lee Hodges' flick was lumped clear by Thurgood.

Ian Stonebridge rolled a shot straight at Darryl Flahavan on 14 minutes before the Shrimpers custodian pulled off a marvellous save to keep out Micky Evan's overhead kick, the powerfuyl striker having been assisted by Dave Worrell and Jason Bent.

A glaring mix-up between David McSweeney and Flahavan on 17 minutes saw Evans poke the ball past Flahavan, but just as the ball looked to be rolling in Danny Kerrigan brilliantly swept the ball out for a corner with Stonebridge also threatening as United kept themselves on level terms. McSweeney then headed clear Beswetherick's curling shot fiove minutes later.

Barrington Belgrave came close for United.
Whistle happy Sutton Coldfield-based referee Ray Olivier, who had a terrible match bizarrely cautioned McSweeney for an aledged foul on Phillips, with David Friio volleying the resulting Paul Wotton free kick inches over the crossbar from three yards.

United earnt their first corner on 27 minutes, Mark Beard's shot cleared behind, the following Damon Searle corner eventually dropped to Kevin Maher who thundered a shot wayward. Minutes later Searle fired a 25 yard free kick over the bar.

As Southend began to threaten the home side's rearguard Beard scuffed a shot at Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu before Maher was redicolously booked for a nothing challenge on Graham Coughlan. The last action of the first half then saw Coughlan powerfully head a Phillips cross over Flahavan's crossbar.

Two minutes into the second period Thurgood knocked the ball to Searle who turned one way, then the other before feeding the ball to Maher who could only shoot straight at Larrieu. Barrington Belgrave, once an Argyle player then came the closest United would come, shooting just wide of the right hand post from 20 yards.

Phil Whelan, once again playing in a makeshift striking role shrugged off the attentions of Friio before blasting over the bar on 53 minutes before yet another harsh booking saw Coughlan go into the book despite a foul on Thurgood. Even more bizarrely Olivier awarded a free kick in Coughlan's favour!

Martin Phillips found himself in Oliviers rather lengthy notebook on 62 minutes for a trip on Thurgood and the following Damon Searle free kick was nodded straight into the arms of Larrieu by Leon Cort.

Adam Wallace made his debut as a second half substitute.
Adam Wallace, making his debut having replaced Belgrave two minutes earlier, lobbed the ball straight at the French goalkeeper on 67 minutes before the real talking point of the match three minutes later. As Paul Wotton's right wing cross flew into the penalty area Plymouth striker Micky Evans knocked the ball goalward with his arm, but Olivier thinking that the interfering arm was that of a Southend player, amazingly awarded a penalty. The spontaneous reaction by every Southend player certainly indicated that something was not right, and after lengthy protests Olivier eventually spoke to his assistant on the near side, Guy Beale, who somehow agreed to a penalty kick. As Argyle skipper Paul Wotton placed the ball on the spot Olivier finally spotted the desperate flag-waving of Mike Hawken, the assistant furthest away from the action, who quite rightly corrected Mr Olivier. The confused Official then picked the ball up from the penalty spot and handed it back to Darryl Flahavan for a United free kick. The home supporters, as you would expect, were not particularly amused!

Olivier didn't stop his antics there however, five minutes later he stupidly booked Wallace for an accidental and innocuous trip on Beswetherick. As Southend looked to silence the 10,000 strong home crowd, Beard's cross was met by the boot of Wallace but the young frontman's shot bounced off Coughlan into the path of Thurgood who fired over from 25 yards.

Plymouth's last surge forward saw Phillips shoot over deep into injury time before Olivier had his last say by booking Flahavan for time-wasting. United become only the fourth team, and only the second since August, to take anything away from Home Park and few will doubt that Southend were well worth their point.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com