Southend United tried to make an early breakthrough against Darlington at a sun-drenched Roots Hall.
Quakers defender Gary Pearson got his body in the way of Blues skipper Kevin Maher's second-minute effort, before frontman Mark Rawle blazed over from 18 yards after being fed by Steven Clark from the right flank.
Flat out - Quakers' goalkeeper Andy Collett is beaten by Kevin Maher for Blues' first goal
Darlo replied on 12 minutes when striker Danny Mellanby teed up loan Leeds United left wing-back Tom Newey for a 20-yard drive which whistled just past the post.
Southend's midfield duo of Gavin Strachan and Maher combined to find Clark on 28 minutes, but the front-runner could only send a 16-yard effort into the south stand after twisting and turning the visitors' defence.
The Quakers went close two minutes later when Shrimpers left-back Damon Searle played Leon Cort into trouble, allowing Simon Betts to send over a right-wing cross, which midfielder Ashley Nicholls headed wide at the far post.
Neil Maddison fired a 20-yard half-volley over the barfore Darlington on the half hour mark, before visiting captain Craig Liddle was forced off the pitch following an aerial clash with Rawle.
Darlington decided to play on with ten men for the rest of the half, while Liddle received treatment, and Blues immediately seized control.
Southend broke the deadlock on 40 minutes.
Rawle's left-wing cross was headed clear by Darlington defender Stuart Whitehead, but Strachan hammered the ball back goalwards from 25 yards, for Maher to nip in and divert the Scotsman's shot inside the left post from close range.
And Blues doubled their advantage within two minutes with Strachan again the provider, this time picking out Neil Jenkins' well-timed run with an inch-perfect pass which the former England under-20 player headed low past Collett.
Straight after the break, and with Liddle back on the pitch, Darlington tried to make amends, with Newey bending an 18-yard effort past the right post.
But Darlington could not get back on terms.
And as the game petered out, Cort got in a block to stop visiting forward Jim Corbett getting on the scoresheet, before Liddle headed Maddi-son's free-kick over the bar.
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Published Monday, April 7 , 2003
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