This victory sees Steve Tilson’s men remain in fifth spot in Division Three, but the Shrimpers are joint-second, level on sixty points with Scunthorpe United, Swansea City and Macclesfield Town. League leaders Yeovil Town are also just five points above United.
Only three times in some fourteen years have Southend finished with sixty or more points in a season, back in 2000-01 (61), 1994-95 (62) and 1991-92 (62), but Tilson’s side have now amassed that number by the end of February. Undoubtedly a splendid achievement and one which hasn’t occurred since the promotion clinching campaign of 1990-91.
However, this victory, clinching a League double overt Bury, wasn’t entirely clean-cut, as the Shrimpers stuttered to three points which may well have been a lot less against a better side. Still, you cannot really complain at a poor performance when another three points are importantly, chalked onto the board!
Striker Lawrie Dudfield, suffering from injury, made way in the starting line-up for Wayne Gray whilst Lewis Hunt recovered from the illness which haunted his first half display against Shrewsbury Town, to resume at right back.
It was the Shrimpers who started proceeding when, on five minutes Freddy Eastwood stabbed a low shot wide of the post from 20 yards.
A strong run from defender Adam Barrett resulted in a fierce drive which also zipped past Andy Marriott’s upright before the Shrimpers were grateful for a slice of luck and some less than eagle-eyed officiating. Big, cumbersome striker Bas Savage went down, very easily it must be said, inside the penalty area under Kevin Maher’s challenge, but referee Keith Stroud only awarded the visitor’s a free-kick, taken one yard outside the box, which was easily claimed by Darryl Flahavan.
Shakers shot-stopper Marriott did well on 40 minutes to block, with his feet, at the near post after Gray had latched onto a neat Mark Bentley through ball and blasted at goal from a tight angle.
The crucial goal came two minutes later, and was hugely assisted by a blunder from the usually reliable Marriott. Maher’s 20 yard free kick seemed to be heading straight onto the ex-Wrexham custodian’s hands, but he flapped terribly at the ball, and Eastwood nipped in quickest to poke the loose ball home from close range. (1-0)
Half-time: Southend United 1 Bury 0
The second half wasn’t far from being a complete non-event, but worryingly Blues created very few goalscoring chances against an off-form and very poor Bury side. The Shakers did play with a lot of men behind the ball, but its disappointing that United don’t seem to fully kill teams off. Hopefully Southend won’t be made to pay for it come the end of the season when, with the table as tight as it is now, goal-difference could make the difference between automatic promotion and a place in the play-offs.
Anyhow, the first real chance arrived on 78 minutes, Spencer Prior heading a Mark Gower corner inches over the bar, before six minutes later the final flurry forward saw Bentley fire a shot into the arms of Marriott after a strong run.
Still, back-track exactly a year and Blues had just conceded a last minute leveller against Bury at Gigg Lane and were just one place off of the foot of the Football League. I’d rather be where we are now!
MATCH FACTS
SOUTHEND UNITED…(1) 1 BURY…(0) 0
Football League Division Three, Saturday, 26th February 2005 @ Roots Hall
The Shrimpers (all navy; 4-4-2):- Darryl Flahavan; Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Adam Barrett, Spencer Prior; Kevin Maher, Adam Barrett, Carl Pettefer, Mark Gower (Nicky Nicolau 79); Wayne Gray (Tesfaye Bramble 90), Freddy Eastwood. Unused subs – Michael Kightly, Duncan Jupp, Craig Holloway.
The Shakers (all yellow; 4-5-1):- Andy Marriott; Lee Unsworth, Tom Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, Dave Challinor; David Flitcroft, Colin Kazim-Richard, Jon Newby, Brian Barry-Murphy (Gary Harkins 59), Simon Whaley; Bas Savage. Unused subs – Dave Moore, John Cartledge, Dave Buchanan, Glyn Garner.
Goal: Southend: Eastwood 42 (tapped in from close range; inside area; timed at 41:08)
Bookings: Southend: Gray (17 – foul), Gower (50 – foul). Bury: Savage (21 – foul)
Sent-off: None.
Total Goal Efforts: Southend 15, Bury 3
Shots/headers on target: Southend 4, Bury 1
Shots/headers off target: Southend 8, Bury 2
Blocked shots: Southend 3, Bury 0
Hit Woodwork: Southend 0, Bury 0
Corners: Southend 4, Bury 11
Free Kicks: Southend 16, Bury 18
Caught Offside: Southend 2, Bury 6
Match Time:
First Half: 49:06. Second Half: 49:34. Total: 98:40.
Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 3 minutes (Actual: 04:06), Second Half: 4 minutes (04:34)
Referee: Keith Stroud (Dorset- FA), 5 out of 10 (General Control 1/5, Application of Laws 2/3, Personality & Appearance 2/2)
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com
NB. Shots/headers on target includes all goals and Free Kicks includes all penalties.