A hot, sunny summer's day at the seaside turned to a warm, dry evening with the water sprinklers working on the pitch for a fair length of time for tonight's televised 1st Leg League 1 Play-Off semi-final between the Rovers and Southend United at Roots Hall. The 2nd Leg will be at the Keepmoat Stadium next Friday and also televised live on Sky Sports. This will be the second time that both teams have appeared in the Play-Offs and both clubs have a 100% record in their first appearance. So something will give over these next two games. The Rovers made three changes from last Saturday's starting line-up at Cheltenham, with Lewis Guy, Jason Price and Paul Heffernan coming in for Richie Wellens, out with a hernia, Mark McCammon and Gareth Taylor. The Rovers defended the North Stand end in front of their supporters, all 825 of them.

The Rovers set the game in motion bang on quarter to eight and progressed to the other end of the pitch but only to give a throw in to the home team. Even play followed in the opening 15 minutes, the only incident of note being a free kick by Mulgrew on the Southend right just into the Rovers half. He swung it left footed to the far post where Sullivan had to punch off Walker's head and when it came back in Walker fired over the bar. On 16 minutes, a good move by the Rovers to move upfield found Coppinger in space 35 yards out but he fired a low shot just wide. Four minutes later, Gower on the home left drove in from the left causing Sullivan to go down at the post to gather. It was such an even game all round. Barnard shot over from 20 yards, O'Connor had a great cross from the right pulled out of the air by Flahavan then Price's 25 yarder was held by the keeper and Mills had a header to a free kick go just wide. It was another ten minutes of industrious midfield play before a cross from the home left was met by Barrett on the right byline and headed back across goal where Sullivan caught it under the bar. Six minutes from the break, the first corner of the game went to Southend United but it was cleared. Three minutes later a cross from Mulgrew on the home left was well held by Sullivan at the back post then minutes later Barnard got in a fierce drive that was deflected for another corner, which came to nothing. The Rovers then took a turn to go to the home end where Green hit a rasper from 30 yards that was deflected into the airand going under the bar but flafavan was able to get to it and save. Into added-on time, Walker fed Francis on the home right just inside the angle of the Rovers penalty area. His piledriver was beaten out by Sullivan at the near post. Southend piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the half but the teams went in at the break with the score-line still goalless. 

Southend were the first to show two minutes into the second half when a good bout of inter-passing provided Walker with a great chance from 18 yards but he fluffed his shot and put tamely wide. Three minutes later and the Rovers were awarded a free kick on their left just outside the penalty area when Guy was brought down. Stock put the kick high to the far top corner of the net but Flahavan was able to get to it and tip away for a corner. The Rovers dominated for the next 20 minutes. Heffernan fired wide from 25 yards then a good build up by the Rovers saw Stock play Price in on goal but Flahavan stuck a leg out to deflect Price's shot. Then Price had another effort blocked and within seconds put wide. Finally Green chipped into the middle where Heffernan volleyed over. The home team then entered into the game and visited the Rovers half but didn't cause too many problems. With ten minutes to go the home side began to push on. Walker had a go from 20 yards but Sullivan pouched it easily. The Rovers then attacked down the left with Gareth Roberts, who put over a cross from the corner flag that Price, under challenge, headed over the bar. The home team came again but Bailey scuffed a 20 yarder wide and Barnard had a 25 yarder from their right saved by Sullivan. The Rovers defended well but, on 88 minutes, Heffernan was adjudged to have caught Mulgrew in the face and was shown a straight red card. Five minutes of added-on time was played but the ten men defended well although a header from Barrett to a cross from the right by Bailey was cleared off the line by Gareth Roberts. Then a cross from the home left by Mulgrew was headed over by Barnard and a final corner to the home team was safely cleared. The referee brought an end to the game, with it all to start again next Friday from a level score-line.

Teams - Southend United - Darryl Flahavan; Simon Francis, Peter Clarke, Adam Barrett, Mark Gower, Alan McCormack, Tommy Black, Charlie Mulgrew, Lee Barnard, Nicky Bailey, James Walker.

Subs used - Alex Revell for Black 62mins;

Subs not used - Charles MacDonald, Hal Robson-Kanu, Franck Moussa, Steve Collis gk

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Sam Hird, Matt Mills, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Lewis Guy; Jason Price, Paul Hefferenan

Subs used - James Hayter for Guy 80mins; Mark McCammon for Price 89mins; Gareth Taylor for Coppinger 90mins;

Subs not used --Graeme Lee, Martin Woods

Sent off - Heffernan 88mins;