Friday August 20, 1971 - Division 4
Southend Utd (2) 3 (Lindsey 35' (pen}, Moore 40', Best 48')
Darlington (0) 0
Venue: Roots Hall. KO: 7.30
Attendance: 6,360
Southend Utd: J Roberts, K Lindsey, A Smith, D Elliott, B Albeson, J Jacques, T Johnson, B Best, B Garner (P Taylor 80'), G Moore, R Ternent.
Darlington: J Wealands, J Peverell, B Horner, K Hale, G Barker, P Carr, A Gauden, A Sproates, C Sinclair, P Graham, A Harding.
Match Report
The fact that it might have been six, seven or eight makes no difference to the fact that United won their first home league game of the season when trampling Darlington into the dust at Roots Hall on Friday night. While more goals would have been welcomed by the 6,360 fans, most of them seemed quite happy with the final result, writes ALF.SMIRK.
In fact, this was a contest for just over half-an-hour. But once United went in front 10 minutes before half-time and increased the lead five minutes later, it was all over bar the shouting. Another goal three minutes after the restart completed the scoring and killed off any chance of a Darlington revival.
But until Blues went in front the game had been one of defensive domination and stalemate which was sheer boredom. It may have resulted, of course, from the fact that defenders on both sides were playing against their former clubs.
In the Darlington back four was Geoff Barker, who was with United on loan from Hull City for the major part of last season. United’s back four contained skipper Joe Jacques and Brian Albeson, colleagues together at Darlington before joining the Roots Hall pay-roll.
Each side had boasted only one break in the first half-hour and neither led to anything. Then in the 35th minute. United were awarded a penalty which, like quite a few of referee Mr. A. A. Teal’s decisions, had the fans in a state of bewilderment.
It looked from the stands as though full-back John Peverell had held Gary Moore’s legs but Keith Lindsey didn’t stop to ask questions as he belted his spot-kick well wide of goalkeeper Geoff Wealands.
United’s second goal five minutes later was a much more clear cut affair. Bill Garner did the spade work out on the left before parting to Terry Johnson. His chip into the middle was headed home by Moore.
It was all over as a competition when Billy Best increased the lead after 48 minutes. A cross from the left was turned back by Moore, Johnson’s shot was going well wide when Wealands pushed It out for Best to hammer it back into the net.
It was all United from then on and they might have had a hatful of goals. but the nearest they got was a Best shot which was cleared off the line by Horner and a Garner piledriver from the edge of. the box which hit the post.
Darlington were never in the game from then on as a fighting force. Although Blues failed to add to their total, their superiority was never in question.
Once again the back four were sound and rarely in trouble. The mid-field trio commanded most of the space between the two penalty areas and the front three showed plenty of bite and spirit in their finishing.
A limping Garner was replaced by Spud Taylor 10 minutes from the end by which time it was simply a case of waiting for the final whistle.
