A late James Hunt volley saw struggling Southend United crash to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at high flying Bristol Rovers on Friday evening.
Frustration - Mark Gower reacts to missing an opportunity as Southend's search for a win continues Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
The former Oxford United midfielder steered home an Ali Gibb cross just four minutes from time as Ian Atkins' men fortuitously climbed back to the top of the League Two table with an unconvincing display.
Former Rovers skipper Adam Barrett had earlier cancelled out a close range header from the home side's Lee Thorpe but it was the promotion chasing Pirates who started the stronger of the two sides.
As a result Nicky Nicolau did well to divert a 10-yard effort from Thorpe around the right post after the speedy Junior Agogo had raced past Spencer Prior in just the third minute of the match.
Moments later, Bart Griemink palmed away a low effort from the lively Agogo before tipping away Thorpe's looping follow up effort.
But, from the resulting Paul Trollope right wing corner, Rovers took the lead as Steve Elliott's high back post header, which sailed over the head of a stranded Griemink, was bundled over the goal-line from close range by a well positioned Thorpe.
But the shell-shocked Shrimpers nearly registered an equaliser just four minutes later when a curling Kevin Maher free-kick drifted just inches wide of the right upright after somehow evading a whole host of players in a congested Bristol penalty area.
Rovers soon replied, with Griemink denying Thorpe with his legs in a one-on-one situation before a low, Mark Gower shot was then scrambled off the goal-line by Craig Hinton following a partially cleared curling Nicolau corner.
Mark Bentley then headed another Maher free kick off target and, with Blues now beginning to dominate proceedings, Lawrie Dudfield sent Nicolau's left wing centre sailing over the home-side's cross-bar in the closing action of an exciting opening half.
After the break, Stuart Campbell fired a low, 20-yard drive into the grateful gloves of Griemink before a diving Drewe Broughton just failed to reach a well struck, mis-hit Kevin Maher shot as the Shrimpers again attempted to equalise.
Rovers were not to be denied and, in the 86th minute, they heaped further misery on the Shrimpers as Ali Gibb escaped the attentions of Nicolau to fizz over a right wing cross which the on-rushing Hunt volleyed, first time into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Published Monday August 30, 2004
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