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.
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 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 Leon Cort Mark Warren Kevin Maher Leon Constantine James Corbett Lawrie Dudfield | 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 Corners Caught Offside | 6 2 3 1 0 11 8 1 |
Match Stats |
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Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com