Of course following the tough hurdle of Ryman Leaguers Canvey Island in the first round Shrimpers supporters were just pleased, and indeed maybe a little relieved, to be watching their side in the second phase. Now however those loyal supporters can look forward to another Third Round payday where United could of course land a tie with one of the Premiership's giants. We will find out whether a trip to Old Trafford or Highbury beckons tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon with the draw taking place at three o'clock.

Southend's name will go into the hat alongside the big names and after this performance deservedly so. Since the sacking of Steve Wignall over a month ago Southend seem to have come along way and the disappointing 2-0 home defeat against the same opponents back in September now semms more than a distant memory. Unfortunately with Darlington picking up League points on the same afternoon United have now dropped back into the Division Three relegation zone, but with showings like this it won't be lomng until the side currently led by Steve Tilson will begin to pull themselves out of danger.

The visitors from Lincolnshire did start the game as brightly as their hosts however and managed to create the first opportunity of the match on thirteen minutes, Gary Fletcher holding off the challenge of Che Wilson before laying the ball back to Simon Yeo who's shot was well held by Darryl Flahavan in the Southend goal. Five minutes later a neat run by Peter Gain saw the midfielder fire a 25 yard effort inches off target.

The home sides first chance arrived on 23 minutes, Jay Smith sending a ferocious 30 yard volley, somewhat out of the blue, just over the top of the bar. Monents later a Mark Gower corner saw Leon Cort's downward header hacked clear from under the North Bank crossbar by Paul Morgan.

As Tilson;s men really began to apply the pressure a Gower free kick saw Tes Bramble flick a header on to Cort who could only manage to poke the ball into the arms of Alan Marriott before Michael Kightly's cross saw Gower crash an angled shot just wide of the upright from the edge of the area.

A goal was on the cards however and it finally arrived in the 39th minute. A superb twisting run by Bramble saw the big striker find space 25 yards from goal before unleashing a superb low shot which beat the long dive of Marriott and bounced in off of the inside of the left hand post.

Coming just six minutes before the interval it gave United a huge boost going in at the break, and despite a short spell of Lincoln pressure immediately after half time, it became the perfect building block for a comprehensive victory.

The Imps early second half chances saw Futcher send a header straight at Flahavan and the second, by far the visitor's best of the match, on 54 minutes when a looping ball dropped in the area just perfectly for Yeo to smash a shot against the top of the crossbar. Another decent chance also arrived when a brilliant diving clearance by Cort on the goalline denied Paul Mayo.

Southend soon began to dominate again despite the scares and a Gower corner saw Cort head at Marriott before another flag kick, this time from Kevin Maher drifted to the edge of the area where Gower drove an effort inches off target.

The lead was then doubled on 64 minutes. A good ball by Bramble picked out Gower, just outside the box, and he twisted and turened his way into the box before suprising everybody, especially City keeper Marriott, with a stunning curling shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Gower again was prominate when his low run into the box saw a neat cut back before shooting at Marriott before the decisive third goal arrived a minute from time a needless to say the ex-Barnet man was involved as it was his low centre which saw Jim Corbett slid a great low finish past Marriott from fifteen yards.

There was still enough time for Bramble to stab a shot a Marriott following fine work by Gower and late substitute Leon Constantine, but United had already comfortably seen their way into Round Three by that stage and hopefully it'll give the Shrimpers another chance to prove that they have finally turned the corner at home...

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com