Southend United 1 Cambridge United 0

Indeed over 400-minutes of football had elapsed since Leon Constantine's last minute strike in the 4-0 thumping of Rochdale back in November, but just two minutes before half-time in this encounter, Lawrie Dudfield - United's new loan acqusition from Northampton Town - at long last broke the deadlock with a perfectly placed looping header to cap off a perfect debut.

Dudfield took the place of Constantine on the frontline with the Blues leading goalscorer moving out onto the right flank whilst Jay Smith, making an early return from injury, resumed in central midfield ahead of Mark Bentley. However Smith only lasted 35 minutes, he was carried off on a stretcher following a reckless challenge from Cambridge defender Warren Goodhind. Whether otr not it was a re-occurance of the previous injury or simply bad lick on Smith's part we have yet to discover, what is apparent however is that the dimutive midfielder will almost certainly miss Tuesday's LDV Area Final clash at Layer Road.

Southend however, despite Dudfield and Bentley missing out through the ever-annoying 'cup-tied' rule, will go into the crucial match against Colchester United with a new found confidence after deservedly coming out on top in this match, a result which is even more significant given that both Darlington and Carlisle United beneath the Shrimpers both picked-up full points.

Of course Steve Tilson's side picked up their last League victory against Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium on Boxing Day, on that afternoon the U's looked less than dangerous going forward and lucily for Southend the visitor's attack, led by former Shrimper Daniel Webb, never realy threatened once again. That however doesn't detract from the performance of the home side all over the pitch, the Seasiders had by far the best of what was quite an entertaining encounter and should probably have clinched victory by more than just a single goal.

Southend enjoyed all the early possession in what was a somewhat nervy opening few minutes, and it was the homesters who created the first opening on twelve minutes, captain Kevin Maher stabbing a Drewe Broughton flick-on just wide of the far post before, just moments later, a neat vall by Smith out to Constantine brought a neat run by the lanky frontman but when a shot was dragged wide of the post from long range perhaps a more adventurous dash into the penalty area might have been a better bet.

Webb harmlessly headed a Shane Tuder centre into the arms of Blues shot-stopper Darryl Flahavan before Smith's dipping shot bounced just wide of Shaun Marshall's upright from all of 30 yards.

Flahavan then came, and missed, a Stevland Angus cross which saw Webb head badly wide in what was probably the U's best chance of the afternoon on 18 minutes, and just sixty seconds later a long Jamie Stuart ball saw a Broughton flick-on drop to Constantine whose cross then dropped at the feet of Dudfield, and his fierce low drive was brilliantly blocked by the feet of Marshall before Mark Gower slipped a long range rebound just wide of the post.

Maher then sent a difficult half volley crashing into Marshall's side-netting after the Cambridge custodian had made a fantastic save to deny the outside of Constantine's right boot before Gower, having raced through on goal was unfortunate to smash his shot high over the South Bank crossbar after the ball had taken a nasty bobble.

Marshall's legs again denied Dudfield after the ex-Hull City ran had brilliantly raced down the left flank before cutting inside and a Gower free kick saw Leon Cort rise high to head wide of the post.

A 25 yard Gower free kick then drifted over the bar before another - a direct result of Goodhind's foul which ended Smith's game - saw Gower chip a ball into the path of Broughton who in space, headed straight at the grateful Marshall.

Then, with only two minutes remaining before the interval, came what proved to be the only goal of the game. A gower corner was taken short to substitute Bentley who lost the ball but battled hard to win back possession and forced Alex Revell to clear straight to Gower who's dangerous cross was flicked on for Broughton to head on to Dudfield whose superb looping header dropped over the end of Marshall and despite deperate attempts to clear bounced into the net.

Luke Guttridge sent a low drive into the arms of Flahavan for the visitors seconds before the break, but it wasn't enought to prevent his side going in a goal behind at the break.

It was basically more of the same from the Shrimpers in the second half, they were just perhaps a little more careful when throwing numbers forward - and when the points are as vital as they were in this game, quite rightly too.

Anyhow Dudfield, who made a most impressive debut, saw his low ball to Constantine result in a blocked shot from the former Brentford striker before Dudfield magnificantly turned his marker on the edge of the area before shooting just over the top.

Gower screwed a 20 yard effort wide of the post having found plenty of space for himself before a free-kick laid-off by Maher saw Gower's deflected shot well held by Marshall.

As the match ticked into the final ten minutes, and the hosts looked for a second goal to wrap the game up, Bentley fired inches wide from the most acute of angles before, in a heart-stopping moment, John Turner, despite looking at least ten yards offside, crossed into the area where Tudor could only softly knock the ball at Flahavan.

Luckily that was about the only problem Cambrige caused Southend in the second half and the Shrimpers managed to comfortably hold onto what was a most important victory. However this victory is only a small step on the ladder and must, without fail, be followed up by another three points against Kidderminster Harriers, again at Roots Hall, in seven days time as the Shrimpers look to try and pull away from the foot of the table and that dreaded relegation zone.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com