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Southend United 1 Mansfield Town 0

Last updated : 12 January 2002 By Mark Wallis

Following the midweek FA Cup exit at the hands of Tranmere Rovers much had been discussed regarding Southend manager Rob Newman's negative tactics and just as expected Newman left himself out of the side for the visit of third placed Mansfield Town with West Ham United loanee Steven Clark, cup-tied against Tranmere, recalled to his right wing role as the United line-up saw the welcome return of a 4-4-2 formation.

It was Mansfield who applied the early pressure, forcing four consecutive corners in the seventh minute before the Shrimpers created their first chance after nine minutes. Clark hit the ball against Town defender Allen Tankard for a United corner, Kevin Maher's corner kick which was directed towards the edge of the penalty area was dummied by Carl Hutchings allowing Damon Searle to shoot over the crossbar. Barrington Belgrave then did well to get in front of Adam Barrett to connect to Clark's cross but Belgrave unfortunately could only stab the ball straight at visiting goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington. Darryl Flahavan did well to deny Bobby Hassell when the Mansfield midfielder was through on goal and then Lee Williamson was the booked for diving by referee John Brandwood as he unconvincingly searched for a first half penalty.

It was in the 23rd minute that Bramble grabbed the games only goal, beating Pilkington with a pristine left foot shot out of nothing from just outside the penalty with three defenders in close proximity. Carl Hutchings shot was deflected wide following a mazy run and cross by Clark and Phil Whelan then blocked Williamson's shot. Mansfield once again earned consecutive corner kicks with Belgrave doing well to deflect Martin Pemberton's shot wide of the post. In the dying seconds of the first half Flahavan brilliantly kept Southend's lead intact, saving Liam Lawrence's shot from point blank range.

Leon Cort showed pace early in the second period to stab the ball away from Mansfield's leading goalscorer Chris Greenacre who was probably playing his last match for the Nottinghamshire Club, however Whelan was let off the hook as Williamson shot straight at Flahavan as the Shrimpers captain was completely out foxed by his opponent. Belgrave and Clark were both involved in a goalmouth scramble in the 51st minute, but as neither player could create a shooting opportunity the ball was laid out to Bramble who from a tight angle blazed a shot over the crossbar. Adam Barrett was cautioned for a foul on Bramble as Maher curled the resulting free kick over Pilkington's bar. Stuart Thurgood was inexplicably booked after an hour and only a minute later sulked his way off the pitch having been substituted for Scott Forbes. As Mansfield begun to come into the second half both Lawrence and Wayne Corden sent efforts just wide of the Southend goal. Scott Forbes cross was cleared out to Kevin Maher, but the Shrimpers midfielder fired just over the crossbar and soon after the bar was rattled by Carl Hutchings, latching onto a Phil Whelan flick on, from the edge of the penalty area. As the match moved into the final ten minutes the Southend defence was required to withstand epic Mansfield pressure, with first Williamson bringing a great diving save out of Flahavan and then Lawrence sent a shot into the arms of the Blues custodian. Greenacre and Corden also saw efforts claimed by Flahavan as the match climaxed with three rather uneventful minutes of injury time.