Southend’s place at Wembley was booked with us deservedly beating Stevenage Borough on Thursday in the end, however it did look for a while as if it wasn’t going to be our night at Roots Hall. A missed Barry Corr penalty deep in injury time didn’t prove costly in the end with two extra time goals giving us a three one win and four two aggregate win for a place in the League 2 play off against Wycombe Wanderers.
With less than 10 minutes a penalty apiece could’ve been awarded with Ben Coker fortunate to escape a clumsy challenge on Ben Kennedy when Corr impeded by Simon Walton with things evened up.
A cagey first half didn’t have too many chances but we had the better of the ones thee were with David Worrall and Corr combining but Worrall was denied by Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, who was our nemesis throughout the night.
Joe Pigott had gone close before a chance in the last minute of the first half should’ve seen Corr give us the lead but he failed to hit the target when he should’ve done better.
Stevenage, as they had in the first leg, took the lead in the second half when Thomas Pett was in the right place to turn home as the ball ricocheted around the area. Dean Parrett’s shot was deflected to the feet of Pett who did the rest but as the pressure grew we made it one one when Stephen McLaughlin crossed to Ryan Leonard who finally beat Day.
Pigott had chances to win it and should’ve been given a penalty when he went down in the area but nothing was given then in the dying seconds a somewhat controversial penalty was given as Leonard went down under a challenge from Parrett. Corr didn’t look convincing from the penalty spot with his effort hitting the bar.
Day continued to deny us with McLaughlin, who was offside but wasn’t given as such, was denied by him he then saved well from Corr with a penalty shootout looming White’s great ball into the box was headed home by Nottingham Forest loanee McLaughlin with the result put beyond doubt in injury time when Michael Timlin, who made it when it wasn’t sure he would, curled home the third.
Half the job is done now we’ll look to finish the job over the Bank Holiday weekend!
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