Southend United 2 Bristol Rovers 1

Once this mayhem had calmed down, the crowd settled in to watch an evening full of entertainment as Southend - who included 17-year old wide man Michael Kightly, making his full firtst team debut, in their side - dominated proceedings against their Third Division conuterparts from the West Country.

Kightly was simply outstanding, with Mark Gower - who enjoyed by far his best match in an United shirt - not far behind as Steve Wignall's side took the game to their opponents right from the start. Indeed a fine run from Tesfaye Bramble on eleven minutes resulted in a fierce shot zipping wde of the post. Just three minutes later however and Shrimpers shot-stopper Darryl Flahavan was tested when he had to be alert to clutch onto Dave Savage's curling shot.

Gower sent a half volley inches wide of the tarhet after Bramble had flicked on a Kightly cross before a fantastc run by Kightly saw the youngster cut inside before seeing a low drive brilliantly saved by Kevin Miller. Fine work by Bramble and Jamie Fullarton then resulted in Leon Constantine lobbing an effort over the crossbar.

However, on 36 minutes and totally against the run of play, Rovers grabbed what can only be described as a soft opening goal. Eighteen-year old striker Lewis Haldane somehow managed to waltze his way through the Southend rearguard before rounding Flahavan and stroking the ball into an empty net from a matter of yards.

Southend, deservedly, soon fought back though and wre level again within three minutes. Once again Kightly was in the centre of the action, this time the pacey winger once again got to the goalline before cutting the ball back to Constantine who smashed the ball home from ten yards.

The match was level as half time arrived, but within literally seconds of the re-start Southend nearly gained a crucial advantage when Gowers superb low drive from 25 yards brought the very best out of Miller who pushed the shot around the post.

Gower saw another decent effort blocked by Gasheads defender Anwar Uddin on 57 minutes following a fine run nd cross from Bramble before Flahavan did well to tip Paul Tait's header, from an Ijah Anderson free-kick, onto the top of his crossbar.

A gower free-kick on 71 minutes saw Bramble impressively turn before stabbing just over the bar before a similar free-kick, once again delivered by the ex-Barnet man, saw Bramble knock a header back only for Constantine to smash a shot just over the top.

Brambled nodded a Kightly cross into the arms of Miller on 83 minutes before normal timed ended with a flourish from United with Miller making a great stop from Constantine following a mazy run before Duncan Jupp's header flew into the custodian's hands from a Kevin Maher corner.

As the match finished all-square after ninety minutes, extra time, and the new 'Sliver Goal' rule had to be called upon. For those who may not know, under the silver goal rule, if a side is winning after the first period of extra time the match finishes at the interval and the team in the lead declared as the winners.

That rule however did not come into force in this encounter as the Shrimpers winning goal, when it eventually came, arrived five minutes into the second period.

Extra Time, like the match itself, started brightly, and within only the first few minutes Flahavan made a decent stop from a Wayne Carlisle free-kick before Maher shot over from long range after a good run from Con stantine had produced the opportunity.

A rare error from the experienced Miller on 102 minutes sw the keeper miskick a clearance straight into the air and Kightly headed the ball back across goal where substitute Drewe Broughton nodded just off target.

The match was then wrapped up on 100 minutes when Gower, hgaving picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, and at a slight angle, curled a magnificent shot into the top right hand corner, giving Miller absolutely no chance.

Once Southend had gained the lead, any further goals were, it seemed, only going to come from the home side, but the closest the Shrimpers came was five minutes from time when a ball forward by Maher saw Kighty completely outpace Uddin before chipping a shot over Miller but agonisingly over the bar.