Chesterfield v Southend

Southend claimed what is to be the most exciting game of the season at the Recreation Ground on Saturday with a
4-3 win over promotion chasers Chesterfield.

The Shrimpers found themselves being a goal down twice, but Eastwood was the man who changed everything. Janos Kovac’s sending off was the turning point in the match, and Eastwood managed to secure a hat-trick to help Southend extend their lead at the top of Division One.

Southend were the first team to be down to ten men, when Kevin Maher had to be removed from the pitch to stop a bleeding nose from a head clash. Maher was ready to resume playing, when official Mr Deadman noticed some blood on Maher’s new shirt, and denied Maher to come back on the pitch, so it was James Lawson who returned to a long awaited game.

Southend went 1-0 down in the 27th minute, when a flick on from a corner, left Colin Larkin the simple job of side footing the ball into the net from close range.

Half time saw a change in the lineup with Carl Pettefer replacing the injured Kevin Maher, and Adam Barrett taking the skippers duties.

Southend came out fighting in the second half, and came close to a penalty when Shaun Goater was pulled back by Kovac but the referee waved play on.

A penalty was given to Southend when Janos Kovac deliberately handled the ball in the area, and was immediately dismissed. Freddy Eastwood smashed the ball home and Southend were level.

Southend then went 2-1 up when Eastwood went on a superb run, rounding four players but appeared to have lost the ball, but managed to get a deflected shot over the head of Chesterfield’s keeper Roche.

Chesterfield responded with two goals within minutes, with a superb top corner goal by Derek Niven brought them level, and a minute later, a shot from Kevan Hurst found the bottom corner, to put them in the lead.

The Shrimpers weren’t finished there, when Eastwood flicked a corner on for Goater to easily header the ball home from close range. Eastwood then got himself a yellow card for kicking the ball away, so that will put him out for one match.

Then the moment came, when Mark Gower got Southend a free kick 25 yards out. Eastwood placed the ball down, and rifled a curling shot over the wall and into the top corner. Southend were now 4-3 up.

Chesterfield put everything into the match to try and get that much needed goal at the end of the game, but their efforts didn’t pay off.