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A cool and dull evening was the scene for tonight's second leg semi-final of the Play-Offs. With a near capacity crowd in attendance it should turn out to be a good Cup-Tie. It will be a cup-tie because the result rests on this one game, which both teams start with a blank scoreline. The Rovers make one enforced change, James Hayter for the suspended Paul Heffernan and Richie Wellens takes over from Lewis Guy, who drops to the bench. Also on the bench is goalkeeper Ben Smith replacing Martin Woods. Southend make one change to their starting line-up, Franck Moussa replacing Tommy Black, who drops to the bench. Whoever wins tonight know that they will meet Leeds United at Wembley. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

The Rovers attacked from the kick-off but were held up then came again. The visitors then got into the Rovers half a couple of times before the Rovers forced a corner on their right. This was cleared and southend attacked down their right wirth Francis. A good cross to the far post was met on the half volley by Walker, about ten yards out but the ball thudded against the post  before being cleared. After 10 minutes the Rovers came again, with the ball going into the Southend penalty area where Price and Clarke engaged in a race for the ball. They appeared to collide leaving Price sprawling on the turf and Mr Halsey immediately pointed to the penalty spot. STOCK took the kick and with Flahavan going to his right put the ball where he had been. One nil to the Rovers. Four minutes later and Southend won their first corner but it finished up being put wide. On 17 minutes the Rovers won another corner on their right following a good move. The corner was cleared but came back for Price to go clear on goal but Flahavan was out quickly and saved with a leg as Price tried to slot the ball past him. But on 20 minutes BARRETT scuffed the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0. A cross from the Rovers right by Hayter went just beyond the far post and was headed back to the middle by Green where Jason Price attempted to prod the goal home. The Afro Goal Machine claimed the goal, but replays later showed that it was the Southend defender who got the last touch. Two minutes later and Coppinger running across field from the right fired wide from 25 yards. Minutes later and Southend won a corner on their right, which Clarke headed wide. A minute later and Clarkehad a try from 30 yards that Sullivan pouched comfortably. Then it was the Rovers turn to have a corner on their left which Mills put over the bar with an overhead kick. Swapping corners again Sullivan managed to get a hand and push away Southend's and another one to the Rovers came to nothing. On 38 minutes, Bailey on the Southend right got to the byline before firing in. He claimed Sullivan got a fingertipped it over the bar but the referee gave a goal kick. The Rovers then went upfield with Price on a run. He lost and won the ball a couple of times before feeding Coppinger on the right. COPPINGER cut in beating a couple of defenders on the way before firing in from the edge of the penalty area after 39 minutes. As time ran down to the break, Hird headed wide from another Rovers corner but Southend finished the half on the attack. A good half by the Rovers who had controlled the match and, of course, had scored three goals.

Southend came out in the second half all fired up to attack but the Rovers once again controlled things in the middle of the park and set up their own attacks. Three minutes in and Gower cut in from the Southend left and from 20 yards shot well wide of the far post. Four minutes later after prolonged possession by the Rovers, the ball was given to COPPINGER on the right. He moved inside and across the pitch past at least three defenders before rifling in a low, left footed shot from 20 yards that nestled in the bottom corner of the Southend net. The Rovers continued to have most of the possession putting Southend on the back foot. A good build up by the Rovers was finished by Stock firing just wide then, on 70 minutes, Barrett hit a stinging shot from 30 yards that Sullivan had to fly to his left to tip over the bar. Successive corners to Southend were cleared but Gower then had a run down the Southend left before firing wide from the edge of the penalty area. The Rovers then won successive corners with no end result but on 80 minutes Coppinger was brought down on the edge of the penalty area to the right of goal. COPPINGER took the kick, played a 1-2 with Green and hit a great shot into the far top corner of the net.  Southend tried hard to get something from the game and succeeded on 88 minutes when McCormack chased a ball out to the right before crossing to the middle for BAILEY to slide the ball into the net. The whistle finally went on a famous victory for the Rovers done in some style.

WEMBLEY HERE WE COME!!

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Sam Hird, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Jason Price, James Hayter.

Subs used - Lewis Guy for G.Roberts 68mins; Mark McCammon for Wellens 72mins; Gareth Taylor for Price 76mins;

Subs not used - Graeme Lee, Ben Smith gk

Southend United - Darryl Flahavan; Simon Francis, Peter Clarke, Adam Barrett, Charlie Mulgrew; Franck Moussa, Nick Bailey, Alan McCormack, Mark Gower; Lee Barnard, James Walker

Subs used - Alex Revell for Barnard 62mins; Charlie McDonald for Walker 62mins;

Subs not used  - Zoltan Liptak, Tommy Black, Steve Collis gk 

Caution - Barnard, McCormack, Mulgrew