Late September and here at Southend-on-Sea it's 22 degrees, with the sun shining brilliantly and shirt sleeve order being the order of the day. The Rovers take on Southend United, who were relegated from the Championship Division at the end of last season and at present they are lurking just outside the play-off positions in 8th place just two points better off than their visitors in 14 th place. The Rovers made one change from last Sunday's win over Crewe Alexandra, Gordon Greer coming in to form a back five and James Hayter dropping to the bench. Steve Roberts replaced Jason Price on the sub's bench. Charlie MacDonald and Darryl Flahavan, for Southend United, had recovered from injury but only take a place on the substitutes bench. The Rovers defended the South Stand end, in front of their fans, in the first half.

The home team produced the first incident of note after three minutes when Black, on the right, put over a good cross going just under the bar forcing Sullivan to tip it away for a corner. Five minutes later and the Rovers won their first corner of the game. A free kick to both sides just outside the area came to nothing in each case so the game was pretty even, if drab, for the first twenty minutes. The game sparked into life in the 25th minute when BARRETT took a pass from Maher, cut in from the left and slammed past Sullivan for the opening goal to the Shrimpers. The Rovers tried to hit back straight away and were awarded a free kick on their right about thirty yards from goal. Stock ran over it leaving Gareth ROBERTS to drill a low shot through the wall of defenders past a bemused Collis, the keeper, who seemed unable to see the ball as it flashed past him. A couple of minutes later and Maher, for the home team, flashed in a strike from 25 yards that Sullivan, going full length, managed to tip round a post for a corner. Indeterminate play followed but on 36 minutes, the Rovers took the lead when Roberts weighted a through ball for Guy to run on to. He tried to shoot past the oncoming keeper, the ball rebounded on to GUY and looped into the empty net. The last five minutes came up, with Southend winning a corner then, down at the other end, Guy put in a low cross across the face of goal but there wasn't anyone near enough to touch in. A free kick to the Rovers from 20 yards was put high and wide by Stock, who, on the stroke of half time ended a well worked move by firing wide. The Rovers went in at the break leading by 2 goals to 1.

Four minutes into the second half and Southend made the score level at two goals each when Black, on the left, swung over a cross that was back headed by Harrold to the far post where McCORMACK  had all the time he needed to place his header into the far corner of the Rovers net. Five minutes later, Guy went down the left to the byline before pulling the ball back for the onrushing Heffernan. Unfortunately it was behind Heffernan and a good chance was lost. Back came Southend, with a cross from the left being headed over by Harrold at the far post. Continuing to pressurise the Rovers defence they were awarded a penalty when Mills was adjudged to have pulled down Leon Clarke, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, in the 59th minute. CLARKE took the kick himself and planted it past Sullivan to put the home team in the lead by 3 goals to 2. Past the hour mark, Wilson had a shot saved at one end and Black similarly at the other. With 16 minutes to go the rovers made all three substitutions but still Southend continued to press. On 78 minutes, following a Rovers attack, Southend had a 2 on 1 situation as Bailey took the ball through with Clarke to his right against Lockwood. Bailey delivered the ball to Clarke at the opportune moment but he slipped and the ball went past him to be cleared. With 4 minutes to go to the end of normal time, Wilson hit a ferocious drive from 30 yards that Collis could only beat out and McDaid, picking up the ball, fired wide.

The referee added five minutes on and in the fourth of those minutes the Rovers raided down their right flank before a good low cross from O'Connor created mayhem in the Southend 6 yard box. Two attempts by Rovers to put the ball in the net were blocked before the Rovers heatedly claimed a penalty only to see the referee pointing for a foul to the home team. The match was then brought to a close by the referee with Southend claiming the points from a 3-2 win.

The Rovers can consider themselves unlucky to lose a match that they, for the most part, dominated - but it was clear that the half-time break undoubtedly helped the home side and hindered the away side.

Teams - Southend United - Steve Collis; Lewis Hunt, Peter Clarke, Adam Barrett, Kevin Maher, Garry Richards, Alan McCormack, Tommy Black, Matt Harrold, Nicky Bailey, Leon Clarke

Subs used - Charlie MacDonald for Harrold 83 mins; Richie Foran for McCormack 85 mins;

Subs not used - Che Wilson, Eric Odhiambo, Darryl Flahavan gk

Cautions - Maher 

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Gordon Greer, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; Lewis Guy, Paul Heffernan

Subs used - Sean McDaid for Stock 74 mins; James Hayter for Heffernan 74 mins; James Coppinger for Greer 74 mins;

Subs not used - Steve Roberts, Paul Green,

Cautions - Mills,