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Rushden, denied promotion after losing out in last season's play-off final, threatened right from the start and with United's defence never looking solid, the first goal nearly arrived on just four minutes, but Gary Mills' shot following a pacey run saw the ball fly against thew crossbar with Darryl Flahavan well and truly beaten. The lead arrived soon after however, with the home side being awarded a somewhat controversial penalty on nine minutes, gangly striker Onandi Lowe going to ground rather easily under pressure from Stephen Broad, and Birmingham-based referee Trevor Parkes, with whom United have had differences with before, eventually gave a spot kick after catching a glimpse of his Assistant's half-hearted flag. Stuart Gray found few difficulties in colly slotting a low shot past Flahavan from the spot.
On 21 minutes Southend felt rather agrieved that they were not awarded a penalty of their own when former Shrimper Barry Hunter blatantly upended Mark Beard inside the area, but it seems that Parkes believed that Hunter played the ball.
United's first real attempt at goal arrived eight minutes later, Tes Bramble's mishit shot landing straight at the feet of Mark Rawle who's fierce goalbound effort bounced wuide thanks to a huge deflection off of Diamonds defender Mark Peters; bizarrely Parkes awarded a goal kick.
For all Southend's efforts however, it's fair to confess that it was slack defending that allowed Diamonds to double the advantage on 34 minutes, Gray once again finding himself on the scorsheet having drifted, totally unmarked, into a hole twelve yards from goal from which position he adjusted his body perfectly to powerfully volley home an accurate Paul Hall centre.
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United tried to hit back straight away, and they did come close two minutes later. Bramble crossed to Mark Beard, who, on the edge of the area cut inside before seeing his shot parried by Billy Turley, the ball falling back out to Bramble who's second cross saw Jay Smith's header bring another fine diving stop out of Turley.
Lowe, who was frustrating the Shrimpers not only with his terrific power and pace, but also his rather ungentlemanly antics was very fortunate not to escape punishment after reacting in a most rediculous fashion to a routine flag for offside on 42 minutes. Seconds later his case for injury after a mosty innocuous challenge with Kevin Maher seemed rather unjustified to say the least.
As a frustrating half drew to a close, Rawle shot into the side netting after a strong run when perhaps he should have cut the ball across to Jones who, for a change, had adopted a good position in front of goal.
Things certainly didn't get any better for United in the second half, ans within seconds of the restart, and as far as this reporter could see, for no apparent reason, Diamonds right back Tarkan Mustafa placed a fist in the face of Neil Jenkins. Needless to say it went un-noticed by the dozy Parkes and both his Assistants. Then, two minutes into the half, the home side hit the wordwork for a second time and again it was Mills who's long range effort came back off a post before Flahavan made a good save from Lowe's follow-up.
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Despite Rushden's apparent dominance however, Southend still threatened a goal even though Jones was still loitering up front with little intent, and on 62 minutes Bramble came within inches of connecting with Rawle's dangerous low cross before Bramble curled a shot over the crossbar following a great run two minutes later. Smith was then unlucky when Turley did well to stop his poke towards goal following a Rawle flick before Rawle was the victim of a tantrum by Turley, just what the Rushden goalkeeper was flinging his arms about for I doubt he could tell you.
Anyhow, Rushden sealed the match on 83 minutes, and where United's defence - which now for reason known only to Rob Newman had seen a straight swap, Whelan for Broad, despite being two goals behind - was as Hall raced towards goal is a mystery, but the nippy winger had been put through by Lowe and found no problems in slotting a neat shot past the unguarded Flahavan.
Substitute Barrington Belgrave volleted a Maher cross just over the bar from 8 yards on 84 minutes before United were awarded a penalty a minute later after Paul Underwood had handled a rare Jones shot. Unbelievably though, just as penalty-taker Bramble went to collect the ball, Jones demanded that it should be he that took the kick. The Southend supporters - what was left of them - couldn't believe what they were seeing, and surely it was the responsibility of captain Maher to give the penalty to Bramble, but nevertheless I don't think there was a single fan from Essex that believed Jones would score. Inevitably he duly missed, with Turley making a most simple save from a pathetic spot kick. Minutes later the last so called action of the match saw Jones roll an even more pathetoic shot at Turley. If the Diamonds keeper hadn't have intercepted the shot the ball still wouldn't have reached the goal. To say the least United's supporters werew not impressed.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com