We knew it would be emotional but even your veteran 43-season correspondent was not prepared for how this match ended.
One of the easiest 'possible' Southend elevens selected in yesterday's preview, the returning James Walker replacing the injured Dougie Freedman.
They deservedly saw off a Gillingham side that were lively going forward yet possessed finishing that bordered on laughable, while the back four always looked vulnerable to the lively Southend counter attacks, and in Fuller and the correctly named Nutter, two full backs who were moulded in Gills boss Mark Stimpson's image.
On the positional side Anthony Grant was deemed tall enough to take on the Gillingham forward line, the one big lad Oli being well taken care off by Adam Barrett, allowing Simon Francis to play right-back where he is far more dangerous especially at the Hall.
It was O'Keefe and a trio of kids chatting to Joycey on the subs bench, I don't think they ever left it even for a warm up!
It was one of those first 45 minutes that you wondered how it finished goalless as you queued up for your half time burger.
One minute it was Blues with Francis Laurent storming his way into the box in that manner only the tall Frenchman can, blimey if Laurent's brain and legs ever connect we'll have a million pound player on our hands, which may pay a debt or two at a future date, the next skipper Barrett with a shot, that either forced a returning Roycey save or hit a relieved Gills player to go over the bar.
At the other end the only professional side in the Garden of England, though I think 'disgusted' of Tunbridge Wells pretends Gillingham doesn't exist, were making a nuisance of themselves with the diminutive Jackson particularly useful.
They followed missing a sitter with Andy Barcham seeing his saved shot seeming to be trickling goalwards when Captain Adam somehow headed the ball off the line while laying practically flat out on the ground!
Desperate appealls for a penalty were rightly waved away.
Up the it went for Francis to see his terrific 20 yard strike tipped over the bar by Simon Royce who was determined not to let in any more than the eight goals he's already seen go past him during his last two appearances in south east Essex. Always a great shot stopper our Roycey but his dark side was to be seen later on.
Then a well taken free-kick in the 22nd minute saw the crowd, along with home keeper Steve Mildenhall, all expect left footed John Nutter to lob the ball over the wall into the right hand corner of the net, instead he rifled it into the bottom left hand corner.
Sadly for Gillingham's 837 travelling supporters the referee had already blown for shirt pulling by midfielder Barcham and the goal disallowed.
Now it was Franck Moussa and Walker, who was disappointing overall, to have shots saved by Royce, the former right at him but the latter forcing another stretching parry to safety.
After the bad luck of the first free-kick the away side decided to entertain us with the first of their comical set piece routines, how they must fall about in training, when the ball was played forward on the edge of the area, it passed the wall to supposedly find the overlapping forward, who hadn't moved, and the ball went off forlornly for a goal kick.
Some ludicrous refereeing saw Lee Barnard in getting his fifth yellow for a welcome rest nest week in the cup game away to er, Gillingham. Macca also fancies putting his feet up, and who can blame him, when he also got a fifth yellow close to the end from a referee by then was losing the plot.
Poor Moose, and probably one or two others, must be wondering how they can get the referees attention enough to take a matchday off, Franck has looked particularly tired over recent weeks.
I know we have no choice but with the cold weather eventually hitting us I can see hamstrings going very soon. We should all take a lot more notice of youth team reports from now on.
Anyhow, on to the second half and the second of our the Gills Marks Brother specials, following on from the decision from Mr. Ward in the first place.
Granty decided he wasn't going to let anybody get near the ball by keeping it between his legs, a drop ball is the usual decision, no said the ref, Gillingham will have a free-kick six yards out!
With Shrimpers filling up every available space on the line keeping Big Steve company, up stepped Bentley. A delicate lob? A pinpoint shot into the top left hand corner? Sorry people of Gillingham, he decided to smash the ball over the bar and into Rochford. Oh how we laughed, but not at the man in black, he got something stronger, especially from the West Stand.
Barney and Macca decided to celebrate their short holiday by going close, Roycey saving the first, a header over the top the second.
A mention for Johnny Herd, back in the side due to the transfer embargo forced on the club meaning George Friend went back to Wolves, he was exceptional. If he could grow an inch or two he would have a future in a higher league sooner rather than later.
He was everywhere, breaking up attacks as well as starting and joining them, and of course that throw. No thought of hiding after his error led to Carlisle's winner last week he was S24's man of the match.
On came ex-Captain Kevin Maher in the 71st minute to a huge round of applause from the Roots Hall faithful, matching the earlier one given to Simon Royce. With the lumbering Oli taken off it was obvious Stimson had decided he was happy with a point.
Then hearts in mouth time, a free-kick given on the edge of the box and up stepped Maher. He wouldn't, would he? Of course not, not in the same league as the previous two, yet ex-Captain Kev cheered up the home support by not only shooting into the wall but following up and doing it again before it was cleared.
So after the week that was a point would have better than nothing as the match went into the announced three minutes of stoppage time with the singing around the ground continuous and heartfelt. The atmosphere had been electric all night and they would be a sting in this games tail yet.
Into the final minute of that Francis crossed, Macca headed back into the danger area, Royce, showing that indecision that would always count against him becoming a really top class keeper, stayed on his line. The good Lord Lee Barnard, who else, was on to the ball in a flash, kept his cool, before smashing the ball into the net for his 13th goal of the season, while sending the majority of the 7,830 crowd wild. There was no comeback from this.
Over came Macca first fists pumping, then Captain Adam, the Tilly himself, usually a hand over head clapping type of guy, not this time, the fists were pumping along with the rest of them.
A tear fell down the eye, there was a lot of dust blowing around the old ground, proud to be a Shrimper doesn't say enough.
Not a game of the highest quality but still one of the greatest victories I'd experienced supporting Southend, and whatever the tax man and the football authorities decide to do next, there's life in this team for all to see.
Southend Player Markings: Mildenhall - 7, Francis - 7, Grant - 7, Barrett - 8, Herd - 9, Laurent - 7, Christophe - 7, McCormack - 7, Moussa - 7, Walker - 6, Barnard - 8.
Referee - Mr. Gavin Ward (Surrey) - 6.