Southend United 1 Macclesfield Town 0

It was also the Shrimpers fifth victory in five home clashes with the Silkmen, with the Cheshire side having only found the Roots Hall net on one occassion. At last we've found a side who can claim Roots Hall as their bogey ground!

Anyhow, Caretaker boss Steve Tilson stuck with exactly the same side which came mightily close to snatching victory at Bury the previous Tuesday, with strikers Tes Bramble (sickness) and Drewe Broughton (suspended) still missing.

On a fresh but sunny afternoon in South Essex, Southend enjoyed much of the possession but found breaking down the five-man Macclesfield rearguard a hefty task. The first chance however arrived in the twelfth minute, Town goalkeeper Steve Wilson doing well to turn away Dudfield's shot following a low centre from Mark Gower.

Duncan Jupp did well to head clear a Matthew Tipton free kick before another free kick, from Paul Hatsley found it's way into Darryl Flahavan's side-netting.

A Kevin Maher free kick on 25 minutes was laid off to Mark Warren who blasted over the top before Tommy Widdrington volleyed wayward for the visitors just two minutes later

Then, with 37 minutes on the clock Southend should have been awarded an opening goal, but linesman Neil Appleby failed to spot that Leon Constantine's bicycle kick, after Wilson had pushed out a Maher drive, had crossed the line before Steve Macauley hacked the bal clear.

United, desperate for that elusive goal flung themselves forward in the closing minutes of the first half, but two angled efforts, from Dudfield and them Constantine saw Wilson twice gather the ball at full stretch.

The opening atages of the second half saw an early flurry from the Cheshire side. Tipton shot over the top after a twisting run before Flahavan did well to hold onto a low drive from Harsley.

Lawrie Dudfield's winner was in fourth goal in his five-match Blues career.

Dudfield turned brilliantly before firing just wide from 20 yards before a Constantine run brought a fantastic save out of Wilson, pushing the ball around the post, before a scramble from the resulting Maher corner eventually saw Dudfield flick the ball into the grasp of the Town shot-stopper.

At last Southend really looked like opening their account for the afternoon, with Macclesfield right on the back foot, but Dudfield shot off target after the tireless Wilson had made a great double stop to deny firstly Constantine and then Maher. Indeed if that wasn't enough the beanpole of a keeper managed to block Dudfield's close rane effort after a neat Gower run and cross.

Then, with just seven minutes remaining the deadlock was finally broken with a most crucial goal. Gower's cross saw Constantine strike the bear post, but as the loose ball rolled across the goal line Dudfield was on hand to whack it into the roof of the net to not only seal his fourth goal in five starts, but also to seal victory for the Blues who successfully saw out the closing stage with only a Martin Carruthers shot, in the final minute requiring anything from Flahavan.

Southend now travel to Boston on Wednesday night, and with both sides level on points a victory for Tilson's men would take his side ahead if the Pilgrims, and indeed another result at Bristol Rovers in seven days time would give the Shrimpers some breathing space. But they've got to be won first!

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com