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GAME DETAILS
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Premier League
Attendance: 7,858
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DT92 Members at this game: (you can click here to load your profile picture) |
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gashead eric
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SOUTHEND UNITED
Bentley 14
Gray 26 (pen) 2-0 BRISTOL ROVERS
ATTENDANCE: 7,858
SOUTHEND UNITED: Darryl Flahavan, Duncan Jupp, Spencer Prior, Adam Barrett, Che Wilson, Carl Pettefer, Mark Bentley, Kevin Maher, Mark Gower ( Alan McCormack 84), Freddy Eastwood (Lawrie Dudfield 80), Wayne Gray
Unused Substitutes: Luke Cuttridge, Andy Edwards, Craig Holloway
BRISTOL ROVERS: Ryan Clarke, Craig Hinton (Chris Carruthers 83), John Anderson, Steve Elliott, Robbie Ryan, Aaron Lescott, James Hunt, Craig Disley (Ryan Williams 45), Dave Savage, Richard Walker, Junior Agogo (Jamie Forrester 74)
Unused Substitutes: Christian Edwards, Paul Trollpope
REFEREE: Iain Williamson
Southend United climbed to the top of League Two this evening after a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory over Rovers at Roots Hall.
Ian Atkins opted for a 3-5-2 starting formation, with no changes to the eleven players that began the games against Mansfield Town and Darlington over the Easter weekend.
The contest started off at a frenetic pace, but it was the home side that was asking the majority of the questions in the early stages.
Adam Barrett headed wide of the left post after a Kevin Maher cross, before Mark Bentley produced the best from Ryan Clarke as the Rovers goalkeeper saved well at his near post.
John Anderson headed wide of the target for Rovers, before Bentley was involved in the thick of things again, as he shot wide of the left upright.
Southend took the lead just ahead of the 15-minute mark as Bentley made it third time lucky after making the most of a Clarke parry from a Wayne Gray drive. Bentley was in the right place at the right time to collect the loose ball, before slotting home into the bottom left corner of the goal to give his side the advantage.
Rovers came back with a Junior Agogo shot that was blocked by Mark Gower, before the striker went close again with a header from the middle of the penalty box that was well claimed by Darryl Flahavan.
Southend doubled their lead on 26 minutes after the referee awarded the home side a soft penalty for a foul on Gray by Craig Hinton after a Bentley cross. Gray himself stepped up to take the spot-kick, and he slotted the ball calmly into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Spencer Prior blocked a shot from Robbie Ryan as Rovers looked for a quick response, and then Richard Walker went close with a drilled left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area that Flahavan was pleased to see go wide of the target.
Steve Elliott shot wide for Rovers after moving forward for a corner, and then Craig Disley saw his dangerous looking effort well blocked by Barrett.
Clarke needed to be at his best to save well from Freddy Eastwood, before moments later Gray struck the Rovers woodwork with a header from close range that had Clarke beaten.
The second half began at a less frantic pace, although the home fans were generating a terrific atmosphere inside the stadium as the game progressed towards its conclusion.
Clarke needed to be alert to save from Gray after good work down the right from Che Wilson, before Gray was again involved moments later as he skied a shot from six yards after terrific work from Gower down the right flank.
Agogo lobbed a speculative effort towards the Southend goal that Flahavan managed to save easily with his chest, before Gower was involved again shortly after as he cut in from the left with a right-footed shot just wide of the upright.
Aaron Lescott drove a hopeful shot towards goal that Flahavan scooped up easily, before Walker tried his luck with a right-footed volley that sailed high over the crossbar much to the amusement of the home supporters.
Clarke came off his line to deny substitute Lawrie Dudfield after the Southend man had broken through from out wide, before Ryan Williams unleashed a powerful effort that sailed seven yards wide of the right post.
Rovers tried in vain to pull back a consolation effort with a Chris Carruthers free-kick that was well blocked by the Southend defensive wall, before the referee below his whistle moments later to signal the end of the contest.
The final score was a deserved victory for Southend who sailed to the top of the table after a comfortable win, and although Rovers came back at times in the second half, the home side always looked to have the edge on proceedings.
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KristofShrimper
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Southend
69 |
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BlueWes
65 |
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tannis
63 |
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richardstad
42 |
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markbrimson
37 |
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Johnners8
6 |
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Bentley 14, Gray 26 (pen)
