Southend United 3 Kidderminster Harriers 0

However, despite still just a single point off the drop zone themselves, Southend have now risen to their highest League position since September and are within touching distance of Boston United (goal difference), Cambridge United, Rochdale (two points) and Scunthorpe United (three points). Perhaps just as importantly though, this was a most comfortable victory despite the fact that it was far from being Southend;s most convincing display of the season, let's hope that United have suddenly found the knack of winning the matches in which they didn't play so well.

Anyhow, this result has is foundation set with the two penalties the home side were awarded in the opening stages of both the first and second halves. Penalties have had an incredible influence on this most bizarre of seasons, not least because of the incredible seven the Shrimpers had missed prior to this fixture. However, Southend's eleventh and twelfth spot-kicks of the campaign saw Leon Constantine, the Shrimpers eighth different taker, twice make no mustakes with two perfectly executed penalties before Lawrie Dudfield finally wrapped things up eleven minutes from time.

Southend created some substantial early pressure, and captain Kevin Maher drove a shot wide of the near post after just three minutes, but then in the sixth minutes the Seasiders took an early lead. A dangerous Mark Gower cross from the left flank saw Dudfield head over the crossbar, but in the process the loanee frontman was blatantly shoved in the back by Craig Hinton and referee Andy Bates immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Constantine then confidently stroked his twelve-yard effort into the bottom right hand corner with goalkeeeper Stuart Brock diving the wrong way.

Something however had obviously upset Harriers boss Jan Molby who began a shouting spree on the touchline, only for Bates to banish the former Liverpool legend into the stand.

On thirteen minutes the visitors created their first half chance, Blues custodian Darryl Flahavan doing well to hold onto Dean Bennett's 20 yard drive before, at the opposite end, Kevin Maher laid a free kick off to Gower who's fierce effort was blocked by the Harriers defence and then Drewe Broughton head just off target following an impressive centre by Carl Pettefer - making his full debut having signed on loan from Portsmouth for a month.

The visitor's then began to enjoy their best spell of the match as Southend were caught napping on a few occassion, in fact the Shrimpers found themselves quite fortunate not to find themselves on level terms, especially when Flahavan had to make a great full-stretch save to deny Jesper Christiansen after the tall striker had been played clean through on goal by Graham Ward. Ian Foster also slipped a low shot wide of the far post having found himself umarked only a few yards from goal and Flahavan also had to deal with a header Abdou Sall following a long Adam Murray free-kick.

Harriers' best chance however arrived on 43 minutes when Christiansen somehow managed to head over the target from point blank range after a right wing cross from Matthew Gadsby.

Southend stole the last opportunity of the first period however ewhen a fine Constantine run through the centre saw Brock make a decent save, diving to his left, from the resulting shot. From that moment on, and into the second half, Southend dominated possession and proceedings.

Fantastoc footwork by Constantine saw the Blyes leading goalscorer fire inches wide of the upright before the second penalty arrived nine minutes after the re-start. Bates needed the flag of his assistant to ward the kick, but their was no doubting that Leon Cort's shot, after Broughton had initially headed a Duncan Jupp cross against the post, struck the right hand of Hinton. Once again Constantine stepoped up and this time the ball was smashed straight down the cemtre of goal giving the diving Brock absolutely no chance.

After the second goal it was simply plain-sailing for Southend, but a goal from open play would have been ideal, and that arrived on 79 minutes. Dudfield latched onto a loose ball before haring down the left flank, cutting inside ad drilling a low angled shot past Brock and the desperate attempt oif Sall to clear wasn't enought to stop the ball rolling into the net.

In the meantime Cort had nodded a Maher cross just off target and Brock had done ever so well to tip an effort from substitute Tesfaye Bramble around the post. Maher had also zipped an effort just over the top from 25 yards and Dudfield had shot inches off target having been played through by the Unired skipper.

Once the three goal lead had been established, Southend could possibly have added to their tally. Gower drove wide of the post after a neat run and a free kick from the same player saw Cort, having found yards of space inside the penalty area, head inches wide of the upright.

Still, it doesn't matter at this crucial stage of the season how the victories come - just as long as they do - and nobody can argue with a three-nil home triumph, all that is needed now is for Southend to aviod defeat on Tuesday night...

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com