Tranmere 1 - 0 Southend

Attendance: 5,482

Match Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATS AND INFORMATION

Southend hopes of automatic promotion were dashed by a 1-0 loss to Tranmere Rovers who were well worthy of the three points.

After a rollercoaster of a year which has seen many highs and many lows, the day had come for the final home game of the regular Coca-Cola League One season for Tranmere Rovers which saw them do the double over two United’s this season in contention for a place in the Championship, Southend and Carlisle respectively.

Though a playoff push had gone up in smoke a couple of weeks previous, there were still matters to finish the campaign on a high and leave the fans to mull over a charge for the top two spots next year.

While Southend were sitting comfortably in a play-off spot and still had a slight chance of automatic promotion to bounce straight back up, the Rovers players were playing for new contracts and the manager Ronnie Moore insisted he wanted his team to go out with two wins following three consecutive defeats.

Before this encounter, Southend were the form team in the division going thirteen matches unbeaten, which had propelled them from mid-table at the start of January 2008 to fifth in the final three months. Tranmere have only the highest possible position of eighth to play for to gain some pride out of a super season.

Ronnie Moore only made one change to the sixteen that travelled to the Galpharm last Saturday with Steve Davies who was out with an abductor problem last time replacing Mike Jones on the substitutes bench.

-----------------------------------------------Danny Coyne----------------------------------------------

--Robbie Stockdale--------Ben Chorley---------Ian Goodison-----------Andy Taylor---

--Chris Shuker-------Steven Jennings---------Antony Kay------------Shane Sherriff--

--------------------------Ian Moore-------------------Chris Greenacre------------------------------

With the game underway, the 1000 or so Southend fans were loud and up for the game, the home contingent happy and making some noise.  There was as little as three minutes gone when Ian Goodison needed treatment from Les Parry after stretching to retrieve the ball via an overhead clearance.

While the central defender was off the pitch, Southend tried to take advantage with the extra man and Charlie Mulgrew whipped in a free kick which had to be tipped over the bar by Coyne.

With Southend on a resurgent run up the table and still going for a top two finish, many people expected for them to be going hammer and tong from the off but apart from the opening 45 minutes, they didn't really look as though they were confident enough to go and grab the win they needed.

The opening stages were being played at a frantic pace, with end to end attacking football which meant great viewing for the spectators.

Numerous chances were created during the first 17 minutes, but the most clear cut fell to the Aussie's left foot of Shane Sherriff.  With Gary McAllister in the crowd and apparently after the winger this was the perfect way to show off to his possible new suitors.

Unfortunately for Rovers after good build up play from the dynamic Steve Jennings failed to find the back of net, being thwarted at the last by a strangling leg of ex-loanee here Simon Francis, the full back getting just enough on the ball to turn it behind for a corner kick.

Two minutes later Chris Shuker found his way through their last line of defence after again the influential figure of Jennings got on the ball and found the pass. Shuker's cut back was met with a Southend defender in adversely sliding the ball towards the keeper Darryl Flahavan who pushed it wide.

This early pressure was then put back on Rovers as they were forced to propel a few opportunities of the oppositions.  Alan McCormack was close to giving the visitors the lead on 21 minutes when he fired passed Danny Coyne's left hand post from the edge of the area.

Southend had a couple of shots that were here or there after that and Nicky Bailey in midfield was instrumental in all of their attacks, definitely a bargain at £125,000 from Barnet.

Tranmere full back Andy Taylor then sent a 25 yard free-kick wide after Chris Greenacre had been fouled, and then Greenacre himself had the chance to open the scoring but he put his header over the bar, being supplied by the right wing of Chris Shuker who was firing better ammunition into the box than last weekend's poor showing away at Huddersfield, these two chances were both on the 25 minute mark.

Rovers continued to create, and Shane Sherriff connected with a volley which sailed over after Robbie Stockdale brought down a long raking ball and curled a beautiful first time cross, the end product all that was between the sides.

The Rovers faithful were then on their feet when Ian Moore angled his run to perfection and Shane Sherriff played him through with an exquisite ball to match, with the outside of his foot in fact. One on one with Flahavan you expected the net to ripple with the arrival of the ball, but it was not to be as he stopped the strikers shot which was weak and central to him.

"We need to take advantage while on top" Ronnie had said in his previous three post match comments and it was feeling as though a case of Déjà vu was coming yet again when these great chances had gone begging, and with Southend thirteen unbeaten, they themselves may only have needed one opening to snatch a lead, similar to Forest a fortnight back if you wish.

Alex Revell, a former Brighton Hove Albion man had two decent attempts on the home goal when firing a low shot into the hands on Coyne the assist coming from James Walker and then on 44 minutes he had a header which needed to be parried away for a corner.

The set piece that followed was poor, and the sides went in all square at the interval. Rovers shading the first half and having more of the possession.

HALF TIME:  TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 0 SOUTHEND UNITED

The teams came out for the second half revved up with energy and both teams tried to set the tempo of the game with strong, fair challenges being put in. Steve Jennings had the first chance of the second period, when he twisted and turned before firing a shot from 25 yards which never troubled the keeper.

Tranmere had got out of the blocks the best and it paid dividends when Antony Kay broke the deadlock on 54 minutes.  The midfielder had been big and courageous in the heart of midfield, standing in for the suspended Paul McLaren and this was his milestone sixth League goal of the season which is very impressive.

Shane Sherriff worked an opening down the left hand channel and put in a cross which Kay duly met with style flashing it past Flahavan before he even saw it.  He went off with his typical celebration.

Antony Kay - Goal Hero!

Southend now had to come out and show why there are playoff contenders and they nearly replied four minutes later Mulgrew curled in another free kick, it was heading into the top corner but Coyne got a firm grip on the ball and left the full back astonished.

Two minutes later Southend's McCormack nearly got a tip on a ball from the left which eluded everyone including Coyne and could easily have been 1-1.

The game was broke up with a few substitutions from Southend, but once play resumed Kay could have had another goal when he worked well with Ian Moore when the striker saw the space for him to attack so he dummied the return ball to allow Kay in but his powerful drive on 68 minutes was saved. Shortly after Chris Greenacre headed over from a tight angle.

Then came a bizarre moment as Robbie Stockdale advanced up the field and had the ball at his feet in the box, he had a dig at goal but Flahavan was equal to it punching it away, someone though in the crowd was desperate for the defender to return to his normal duties!  Stockdale is still waiting to break his duck in a Rovers shirt.and the bet is safe for another week at least!

Ronnie Moore decided to make a change of his own, and on 78 minutes he brought youngster Craig Curran into the fray replacing Chris Shuker.  Ian Moore then moved to a wide right position.

With that tactical switch, it nearly paid off when Moore raced clear on a break and had Greenacre for support.  However the top scorer could only blaze his shot into Row Z after having all the time in the world.

The last ten or so minutes was as expected decent pressure from the Essex club but Rovers held out for the win and the Super White Army went home happy.

The players then followed a traditional lap of honour around the pitch congratulating all three parts of the ground. Supporters were behaving well by not running onto the pitch as in previous years some fans have decided to do this but no trouble was seen this time around.

A great season and Ronnie will look to tweak his side and add that bit of extra quality that can hopefully see them put a consistent charge next year.

Thanks, to the team, supporters and everyone associated with the club for another fanatical football calendar year.

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