Shimpers Win Not Enough - Southend United vs. Macclesfield Town

Roots Hall

I opted for league football this weekend as I headed to Essex for Southend United's home match against Macclesfield Town. I've always wanted to visit Roots Hall and with the possibility of a new stadium in the medium future, I decided I couldn't wait until Scunthorpe and Southend were in the same league again. My lasting memory of Macclesfield was Scunthorpe losing at Moss Rose 4-3 and then getting delayed on the way home and missing all of the Germany vs. England game where England won 5-1. Southend had an outside chance of promotion. If they won and results involving Crawley and Torquay went their way they would be promoted.

First half action

Southend start a little nervously but soon settle down. The Macclesfield keeper makes a decent save but the home side are soon ahead. Peter Gilbert is unmarked from a corner and his low effort beats the keeper. The Macclesfield keeper makes another great save to deny Bilel Mohnsi on the volley. At half time as results stood, Southend were going up. Macclesfield at the start of the second half have a few half chances but the Southend keeper is largely untroubled. News filters through of a Crawley goal but the home fans still keep the faith. Jose Veiga in the Macclesfield goal makes a couple more saves to keep the score down but he is beaten in injury time by Neil Harris. Southend go on to play Crewe in the play offs while Macclesfield face up to life in The Conference.

The packed South Stand

Roots Hall is a short walk from Prittlewell Station which is served by trains every half hour from Liverpool Street. The journey takes just under an hour. There are several pubs on the walk from the station to the ground. Firstly there is The Railway Tavern which was extremely busy but had a good atmosphere and football on TV.  Then just up the road there is The Blue Boar which is a lot quieter. Underneath the South Stand there is a bar which had a couple of ales on.

The East Stand.

The goals from the game are on the BBC website.