Once the visitors, hardly a dominant force themselves, had taken the lead in just the tenth minute it became obvious that the single goal would be more than enough to see off the 'challenge', if that's what you would like to call it, of Rob Newman's whimpering Shrimpers.
Southend never really threatened the visiting goal and lazy loan striker Dominic Foley somehow managed to play another full ninety minutes much to the disgust of the disgruntled home supporters, although then again Newman took the wise move of not naming a single striker on the substitute's bench. Thankfully this match marked Foley's last for the Club and we all hope he never returns.
Needless to say, on a chilly March afternoon, this match was far from being a classic; in fact it was nothing short of dire especially after Lincoln scored what prived to be the winner with the first action of the game on ten minutes. Amazingly Ben Futcher, by far the tallest player on the pitch, was left unmarked at a corner and the lanky defender was ever so grateful when left with the simple task of heading Ben Sedgemore's flag kick past Darryl Flahavan.
The best move of the match as far as the home side were concerned arrived on 14 minutes. Damon Searle slipped the ball into the path of Tes Bramble who in turn knocked the ball out wide where Daniel Marney smashed a shot wide of Alan Marriott's post.
Marney then shot over following a decent run before the final opportunity of the first period saw Sedgemore volley a shot over Flahavan's crossbar.
The secong did see slightly more action, but it was still a rather un-enthralling forty five minutes for the majority of the 3,912 crowd. Amazingly Flahavan simply stood and watched as Scott Willis ' fierce shot struck the outside of a post before the Shrimpers custodian had no problems in holding Peter Gain's weak shot.
Bramble's acrobatic overhead kick from substitute Neil Jenkins' cross dropped into the arms of Marriott before Kevin Maher curled a 30 yard effort well off target.
Futcher somehow managed to escape a sending-off after deliberately stamping on Searle despite referee Mick Thorpe actually awarding a free kick for the incident before that last action of this dismal match saw Jenkins drill a low angled shot inches wide of the post.
SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2, with ratings out of ten):- Darryl Flahavan 5; Daryl Sutch 5, Damon Searle 6, Leon Cort 6, Stephen Kelly 6; Stuart Thurgood 6, Kevin Maher 5, Daniel Marney 5, Steven Clark 4 (Neil Jenkins 58, 6); Dominic Foley 3, Tesfaye Bramble 7. Unused subs - Mark Beard, David McSweeney, Tom Jordan, Daniel Gay.
LINCOLN CITY (4-4-2):- Alan Marriott; Matthew Bloomer, Stuart Bimson, Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan; Ben Sedgemore, Peter Gain, Allan Pearce, Simon Weaver; Scott Willis (Paul Mayo 71), Shayne Bradley (Richard Butcher 35). Unused subs - Darren Horrigan, Chris Ward, Chris Cornelly.
TLG MAN OF THE MATCH: Tes Bramble.
Certainly not a vintage performance from Tes but undoubtedly the best amongst a very poor mob of United players. Made some very strong and determined forward runs and as usual, always went for goal.
MATCH STATS -NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE - Sat, 8th Mar.
Booked: Lincoln: Futcher (44 - foul).
Shots/headers on target: Southend 3, Lincoln 2
Shots/headers off target: Southend 10, Lincoln 4
Blocked shots: Southend 0, Lincoln 1
Hit woodwork: Southend 0, Lincoln 1
Free Kicks: Southend 17, Lincoln 13
Corners: Southend 3, Lincoln 3
Caught Offside: Southend 3, Lincoln 3
Match Time: First half: 46:45. Second half: 48:45. Total: 94:30.
Attendance: 3,912 (approx 280 away fans).
Referee: Mick Thorpe (Ipswich) 5 out of 10.
Mark Wallis
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