Wycombe Wanderers 0 Southend United 1

Last updated : 27 December 2004 By Mark Wallis

Freddy Eastwood’s fantastic first half goal gave Southend a huge victory in their toughest-looking match over the Christmas and New Year period as the Shrimpers sit three points clear of fifth spot and just four points behind third-placed Swansea City.

The match only just survived a 2pm pitch inspection, and the frosty sirface meant that good football was at a minimum as many players clearly struggled to keep their footing.

Despite the conditions, Southend adapted the better early on and quickly created opportunities. Indeed with just five minutes on the clock United should have had a penalty when Roger Johnson blatantly handled a Mark Gower cross, bur referee Paul Melin waved away Southend’s pleas.

Craig Faulconbridge rippled Bart Griemink’s side netting with an angled drive before Southend pressurised again when Wayne Gray managed to weave himself into space before shooting into the arms of shot-stopper Frank Talia.

The all-crucial goal arrived on 17 minutes, Eastwood pouncing on an error by Johnson before beating two defenders and firing a brilliant low shot past Talia at his near post. (0-1)

In a first half which quickly saw chances, and indeed many passes, peter away, Southend had a huge slice of luck on 35 minutes. Stephen Cooke drifted a corner into the six yard box when Faulconbridge headed onto the underside of the bar before turning around and accidently clearing his own effort off the line with his hand.

Half-time: Wycombe Wanderers 0 Southend United 1

Steve Tilson’s side seemed to sit back on their slender advantage in the second half, but the more Wycombe came at United, the more confidently the visitor’s seemed to deal with the pressure.

Ian Stonebridge sent a low shot zipping into Griemink’s grasp ten minutes after the break, before the big Dutchman somehow managed to to push a Faulconbridge header, from a Cooke corner, onto the post before Che Wilson bundled the ball clear.

The final chance of a half with few chances saw Andy Edwards, recalled for the injured Spencer Prior, whose looping header from a Maher flag kick dropped onto the top of the crossbar.

The victory meant a third successive 1-0 win for United who now confront a double of home games against Mansfield Town and Rushden & Diamonds before travelling to bottom-placed Kidderminster Harriers.

MATCH FACTS
WYCOMBE WANDERERS...(0) 0 SOUTHEND UNITED…(1) 1
Division Three, Sunday, 26th December 2004 @ Adams Park

Line-ups:
The Chairboys (4-4-2; navy and sky quartered shirts, navy shorts, sky socks):- Frank Talia; Gus Uhlenbeek, Roger Johnson, Tony Craig, Mike Williamson; Keith Ryan, Danny Senda, Stephen Cooke (Clint Easton 81), Craig Faulconbridge; Nathan Tyson, Ian Stonebridge. Unused subs – Gary Silk, Stuart Nethercott, Matt Bloomfield, Steve Williams.

The Shrimpers (4-4-2; red with white trim, white, white):- Bart Griemink; Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Adam Barrett, Andy Edwards; Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Carl Pettefer, Mark Gower (Lawrie Dudfield ht); Wayne Gray, Freddy Eastwood. Unused subs - Nicky Nicolau, Jim Corbett, Tesfaye Bramble, Darryl Flahavan.

Goal: Southend: Eastwood 17 (great run and low shot past Talia at near post; inside area; timed at 25:16).
Bookings: Southend: Edwards (65 – foul).
Sent-off: None.
Total Goal Efforts: Wycombe 10, Southend 6
Shots/headers on target: Wycombe 2, Southend 3
Shots/headers off target: Wycombe 4, Southend 2
Blocked shots: Wycombe 2, Southend 0
Hit Woodwork: Wycombe 2, Southend 1
Corners: Wycombe 5, Southend 4
Free Kicks: Wycombe 17, Southend 7
Caught Offside: Wycombe 1, Southend 4

Match Time:
First Half: 46:05. Second Half: 47:20. Total: 93:25.
Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 1 minute (Actual: 01:05), Second Half: 2 minutes (02:20)

Referee: Paul Melin (Surrey FA), 6 out of 10 (General Control 3/5, Application of Laws 1/3, Personality & Appearance 2/2)

Attendance: 5,669 (approx 1,600 away fans)

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com

NB. Shots/headers on target includes all goals and Free Kicks includes all penalties.