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Southrend did put some effirt in during this match, but I'm afraid that bottling up all your motivation for the final ten minutes of the match is a lot more than too little too late. Southend's players need to realise that football matches, especially at this level, are won by sheer effort, from the very first whistle right up until the very last whistle. Sadly, this current crop of players, somehow, doesn't seem to be up to that task.
In what were far from ideal conditions at Roots Hall, with the rain streaming down for the duration of the afternoon, the match started quite brightly with Kevin Maher seeing a 25 yard free kick tipped over the crossbar by Wrexham goalkeeper Paul Whitfield. Three minutes later another free kick, conceded courtesy of Leon Cort's hand, saw Darren Ferguson curl a shot just wide from 20 yards. Big striker Lee Trundle then came close, dragging an effort just off target.
New loan signing Tony Scully drove a shot just wide following a neat run on 17 minutes before Graeme Jones volleyed wide following a Barrington Belgrave flick on just seconds later.
Flahavan pushed out Trundle's effort following a tidy turn and shot before United's best move of the match saw Jay Smith and Damon Searle combine well before Jones, in space, shot weakly at Whitfield from 15 yards.
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Trundle nodded a Shaun Holmes cross just over the top before the visitor's stole the only goal of the game five minutes before half time, Flahavan needlessly parrying Andy Morrell's shot and leaving Stephen Thomas to volley home from 12 yards into an unguarded net.
As half time approached, and with United no chasing the game, Belgrave smashed the ball just wide after a flick on by Jones. Southend also had the first chance of the second period, Jones heading a Maher free kick against the crossbar. The Shrimpers then had what looked like a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside. Belgrave's long range shot slipped out of the hands of Whitfield and into the path of Jones who tapped in the loose ball.
Leon Cort had to be alert on 65 minutes to scramble the ball away from the danger area after Flahavan again failed to hold a routine Ferguson free kick. Another free kick, ten minutes later then saw Holmes send a 25 yard effort against the top of the crossbar.
Damon Searle saw a header deflected inches wide on 79 minutes after substitute Mark Salter had flicked on a Maher corner. A minute later Salter, through on goal was denied by a superb, brave piece of goalkeeping by Whitfield before the last opportunity arose in injury time, Whitfield parrying Maher's shot before Belgrave hit the rebound against the foot of the post from a tight angle.
SOUTHEND (4-4-2):- Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Damon Searle, Leon Cort, Stephen Broad; Jay Smith, Kevin Maher, Tony Scully, Neil Jenkins (Mark Salter 75); Barrington Belgrave, Graeme Jones (Steven Clark 61). Unused - Ian Selley, David McSweeney, Daniel Gay.
Mark Wallis
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