|
Perhaps the angry Southend supporters who jeered their side constantly throughout the second half of this match would disagree however, whether it was wrong or right to get on the teams back however, there is no doubt that disappointed manager Rob Newman will want much more out of his side as they approach the end of August and four or five potentially very difficult matches.
Anyway, United started very brightly against Shrewsbury, and after a spell of early pressure, took the lead in just the eight minute. A huge Darryl Flahavan goal kick fell to Tes Bramble who used his immense strength to force himself into the penalty area where he was eventually dispossesed, but the ball only fell as far as Stephen Broad who's pin-point centre was steered into the net by Neil Jenkins from six yards.
United continued to control proceedings, but for all their efforts couldn't quite manage to add to their tally. A Damon Searle free kick evaded everybody in the box and drifted inches wide of the far post on 17 minutes, before Shrewsbury's first real chance saw Flahavan brilliantly tip a Mick Heathcote toe-poke over the crossbar from point blank range.
A powerful Luke Rodgers run was halted by Broad on 33 minutes, Phil Whelan took the ball away and found Steven Clark in space on the right wing, but after a fine run a good cross was intercepted by Shrews custodian Ian Dunbavin.
Shrewsbury began to take the match to the home side however, and after Ian Woan had dragged a shot just wide of the post, Town equalised five minutes before the interval. Rodgers sprinting onto a long ball before somehow beating Flahavan at his near post from a most acute angle. Three minute later United almost regained the advantage, but Bramble's impressive bicycle kick flew just over after Karl Murray had dallied on the ball.
The second half wasn't far short of a horror story for the exhausted Shrimpers. Rob Newman's men given an early warning of what was to follow when Flahavan did well to dive low and stop a fierce Rodgers shot, before the visitors stole the advantage on 57 minutes. Lazy play from Kevin Maher saw possession conceded, ironically to Rodgers who proceeded to sprint out wide, evading challenges from Maher and Whelan before unleashing a superb shot past Flahavan from a 20 yard angle.
|
Five minutes later and united still hadn't learnt their lesson, allowing 20-year old Rogers 30 yards of space to drill a low shot at Flahavan.
Southend were always looking to get back into the match however, and ten minutes later Maher laid a free kick off to Stuart Thurgood who's effort deflected just wide of the post. Two minutes later Bramble flicked a good Mark Beard cross just wide.
On 76 minutes however, Shrewsbury extended their lead, Leon Cort giving the ball away to Rodgers who steamed toward goal before Flahavan brought an abrupt end to his progress, but only at the expense of a corner, and Woan's flag kick was headed in by the unmarked Mark Atkins.
Southend were given a lifeline four minute later when referee Clive Penton awarded the Shrimpers a rather harsh penalty when Leon Drysdale was adjudged to have shoved Bramble following a Danny Maye ball into the area, and it was Bramble himself who confidently sent Dunbavin the wrong way with a perfectly taken spot kick.
However as the game entered injury time came controversy as United looked set to dramatically equalise. Dunbavin, 25 yards out of goal kicked the ball straight at Bramble, who took a touch and was preparing to slot the ball into the empty net when Matthew Redmile deliberately upended Bramble with a disgusting career-threatenening knee-high lunge to deny Southend their leveller. Understandably the whole ground rose in disgust, and as Penton unbelievably only showed Redmile a yellow card, both players and supporters alike vented their sheer disbelief at possibly the most bizarre refereeing decision seen at Roots Hall!
A bitter end to a bitter match. See you all at Oxford next week...
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com