Rochdale 1 Southend United 1

Last updated : 05 May 2004 By Mark Wallis

The Shrimpers, dressed all in white, and backed by a healthy away support, many of whom had adorned fancy dress costumes which made for somewhat of a fascinating sight, enjoyed much of the posseesion at Spotland, but failed to turn it into a decent number of goalscoring chances.

Mark Warren returned to the side, but limped off to be replaced by Lewis Hunt with just twelve minutes on the clock, and Tes Bramble also returned to the starting line-up with top-scorer Leon Constantine once again shifting out to the right flank.

Unfortunately, with Dale still needing a point to ensure Division Three safety, this match turned into a bit of a dull affair with very few chances at either end. Mark Bentley latched onto a Jim Corbett through ball before firing just over the crossbar from the edge of the area, but that was all the action for almost half-an-hour.

The only further opportunities before the interval saw Rochdale New Zealand midfielder Leo Bertos fire wayward from a tight angle whilst Blues skipper Kevin Maher saw his 25 yard effort blocked by Gareth Griffiths.

However, Dale shot-stopper Neil Edwards had already been forced into action when he pushed out an angled Bentley shot, Corbett then fired over, before the Shrimpers took the lead three minutes after the break. Constantine suddenly producing a stinging half volley from 30 yards which caught out everybody, not least Edwards who gathered the ball but saw his momentum take himself and the ball into the back of the net.

Darryl Flahavan then tipped a dipping Neil Redfearn free kick over the top before the homesters came back into the game courtesy of a most amazing penalty. Bertos’ low right wing cross caused little danger and Nicky Nicolau easily intercepted the ball, but as it bobbled slightly in the air referee Phil Prosser incredibly pointed to the spot for handball. Needless to say the Southend players protested the decision, but it fell on rather deaf and stubborn ears.

Justice was almost done when Flahavan pushed away Gary Jones 58th minute spot kick, but the experienced midfielder managed to force home the rebound from the most acute of angles.

After the leveller, the only further action didn’t really arrive until the dying minutes. Substitute Rory Patterson stabbed a low Griffiths centre at Flahavan before a great drive by Constantine zipped inches over the crossbar.

Then, with the very last attack of the match, Duncan Jupp lost the ball and Jones raced clear before being twice denied by the brave Flahavan. Indeed the climax of that attack brought the final whistle and most of Spotland raced onto the pitch to celebrate their Club’s League survival.

Rochdale

1-1

(Attendance: 3,891)

Southend United

Gary Jones 58 (pen)

Referee: Phil Prosser

Match Time: 96:46

1st half: 47:24, 2nd half: 49:22

Leon Constantine 48

Neil Edwards

Wayne Evans

Shaun Smith

Greg Heald

Gareth Griffiths

Sean McClare

Gary Jones

Scott Warner

Leo Bertos

Neil Redfearn

Lee McEvilly

5

6

6(59)

6

7

6

7

6

8

6(73)

5(82)

Darryl Flahavan
Duncan Jupp
Nicky Nicolau

Leon Cort

Mark Warren
Mark Bentley

Kevin Maher

Leon Constantine

James Corbett

Lawrie Dudfield
Tesfaye Bramble --

8

6

7

7

-(12)

9

7

7

7(87)

7(77)

6

Matthew Gilks

Patrick McCourt

Daryl Burgess

Rory Patterson

Danny Livesey

-

6(73)

6(59)

-(82)

-

Jamie Stuart

Che Wilson

Michael Husbands

Neil Jenkins

Lewis Hunt

-

-

-(87)

-(77)

7(12)

11

6

2

3

0

19

5

6

Total Goal Attempts

shots/headers on target

shots/headers off target

Blocked Shots

Hit Woodwork
Free-Kicks

Corners

Caught Offside

6

2

3

1

0

11

8

1

Match Stats

ROCHDALE...(0) 1 SOUTHEND UNITED (0) 1
Nationwide League Division Three,
Saturday, 1st May 2004 @ Spotland


Goals:
Rochdale: Jones 58 (tapped in rebound after Flahavan saved penalty; inside area; timed at 57:18). Southend: Constantine
48 (a fierce 30 yard drive which saw goalkepper Edwards backpeddle into the goal; outside area; timed at 47:33).
Bookings: Southend: Bramble (62 – diving).

Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 2 minutes (Actual:
02:24), Second Half: 4 minutes (04:22)


Referee:
Phil Prosser (West Yorkshire), 3 out of 10 – Prosser didn’t seem to be doing too badly until he gave Rochdale the most rediculous penalty I have ever seen!. Salt was then rubbed in the wound when Bramble, upended by Griffiths, was cautioned for diving!


Attendance:
3,891 (approx 325 away fans)

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com