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Striker Tes Bramble was missing through illness whilst fellow frontman Barrington Belgrave failed a late fitness test on the ankle injury he recieved in a tackle with Ray Wilkins during Steve Tilson's Testimonial match on Monday evening. Defender Daryl Sutch was another absentee, having been given time off to attend to a member of his family who has been taking badly ill.
In came Tottenham Hotspur right back Ronnie Henry, making his League debut despite having been twice named on the Spurs bench in the Premiership this season, and ex-Coventry City midfielder Gavin Strachan, making his full Shrimpers debut following his outing as a substitute at Bootham Crescent. Nineteen-year old winger Brett Darby also made his full debut on the right flank as Robson adopted a 4-5-1 formation with Mark Rawle playing as a lone striker.
It was Rawle who had the first chance of the match, on nine minutes, curling a shot over the top of visiting goalkeeper Andy Collett's crossbar following a neat run.
Quakers midfielder Ashley Nicholls laid a ball off for Sam Russell to fire a fierce shot just wide of Darryl Flahavan's post before a good twist and turn by Steven Clark on the edge of the penalty brought a snapshot which fizzed inches over the top.
A decent lob by Damon Searle brought the very best out of Collett who pushed the ball up in the air where it dropped at the back post and Darby, at full stretch, could only poke the ball into the side netting from a very acute angle.
A match that had been a rather nondescript encounter suddenly came to life five minutes before the interval when United grabbed the lead. A Rawle centre was nodded out of the danger area but only as far as Strachan who's low drive appeared to be heading for the arms of Collett but the ball took a wicked bounce off of the foot of Kevin Maher and sailed into the net.
Within two minutes the advantage had been doubled and the game was effectively over, Strachan again provided the assist, this time looping a cross into the area and a misunderstanding between Collett and defender Gary Pearson left Neil Jenkins with the task of breezing in between the two and heading into the bottom corner from ten yards.
The second half was very much a none-event, Darlington perhaps dominated possession but in all honesty they were a very poor side and never threatened United, indeed they never managed an effort on target.
Rawle chipped a superb shot inches over the top following a neat lay off by Damon Searle on 59 minutes but that was the only real opportunity of the second period.
This victory takes the Shrimpers on to 51 points and it'll now take a mirac;e for United to slip through thre trapdoor. Of course nothing is assured in football but Southend fans can certainly take a huge sigh of relief this evening.
SOUTHEND UNITED (4-5-1, with ratings out of ten):- Darryl Flahavan 6; Ronnie Henry 7, Damon Searle 7, Leon Cort 7, David McSweeney 7; Kevin Maher 5, Gavin Strachan 8, Neil Jenkins 7, Brett Darby 6 (Mark Beard 85), Steven Clark 6 (Stuart Thurgood 73, 7); Mark Rawle 7. Unused subs - Michael Kightly, Tom Jordan, Daniel Gay.
DARLINGTON (5-3-2):- Andy Collett; Sam Russell, Simon Betts (Neil Wainwright 68), Craig Liddle, Stuart Whitehead, Gary Pearson; Neil Maddison, Ryan Valentine, Ashley Nicholls; Danny Mellanby (Ian Clark 25), Jim Corbett. Unused subs - Glen Naylor, Paul Campbell, Chris Porter.
TLG MAN OF THE MATCH: Gavin Strachan.
A very impressive full debut for the young ex-Coventry City midfielder. Strachan worked his socks off in midfield and often displayed a great passing ability. Not everything he tried came off but at least he was always willing to try something, if if it failed, he tried something else. Never stopped running and is definately worth a run in the side.
MATCH STATS -NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE - Sat, 5th April.
Booked: Southend: Clark (66 - unsporting behaviour). Darlington: Betts (2 - foul), Liddle (48 - foul).
Shots/headers on target: Southend 4, Darlington 0
Shots/headers off target: Southend 8, Darlington 11
Blocked shots: Southend 1, Darlington 5
Hit woodwork: Southend 0, Darlington 0
Free Kicks: Southend 7, Darlington 10
Corners: Southend 4, Darlington 6
Caught Offside: Southend 1, Darlington 5
Match Time: First half: 46:46. Second half: 47:03. Total: 93:49.
Attendance: 3,053 (approx 75 away fans).
Referee: Grant Hegley (Bishops Stortford) 5 out of 10.
Programme Cover Photo: United legend Stan Collymore takes a penalty at half time during Steve Tilson's Testiomonal match last Monday.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com