Southend United were forced straight on the back foot at Third Division strugglers Boston yesterday.
After three minutes, veteran Pilgrims midfielder Neil Redfearn had a shot from the edge of the box charged down by Damon Searle, following a strong run from Simon Weatherstone and a Simon Rusk pass.
No joy - striker Mark Salter struggled as Southend failed to register a shot on target
And on 13 minutes the home duo combined again, with Rusk whipping over a right-wing centre which Redfearn headed into Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan's hands.
The Seasiders came within a whisker of taking the lead on 19 minutes with their first real chance, giant defender Leon Cort meeting Kevin Maher's corner and flashing a header across goal and just past the right upright.
The Pilgrims had an even better chance to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark when wideman Weatherstone found Paul Ellender unmarked, but the big centre-half volleyed past the left post from 12-yards.
And right on the stroke of half-time, Boston striker Peter Duffield hit the top of the Southend bar with a 25-yard blockbuster which bounced to safety.
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A lucky deflection off Blues midfielder Gavin Strachan left the home team's substitute forward Stewart Douglas free in the six-yard box on 53 minutes, but he could only hook the ball straight into Flahavan's gloves.
A 70th-minute slip from Cort allowed Douglas to reach Boston substitute Mark Angel's quick left-wing throw, but Flahavan stood up well and parried the dreadlocked frontman's close-range effort.
Douglas then found space on the right hand side of Southend's six-yard box, but could only lift the ball over the bar from a tight angle, before burly Pilgrims defender Ellender was just off target from a Redfearn free-kick.
Boston came within a lick of paint of taking the lead on 79 minutes, when Redfearn curled a tremendous free-kick from the left-hand side of Southend's box against the underside of the crossbar.
But a split second of criminal misjudgement from Blues defender David McSweeney gifted the relegation threatened hosts three precious points six minutes from time.
The Basildon-born centre-half tried to guide the ball back to his keeper under pressure from Douglas, but his header lacked power and was cut out by Boston substitute David Town, who was pulled to the floor by the completely stranded Flahavan.
Wideman Angel took the responsibility and remained cool, sending the Shrimpers shot-stopper the wrong way from the penalty spot, finding the top right-hand corner of the net in the process.
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Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003
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