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Friday September 17, 1971 - Division 4
Southend Utd (0) 3 (Best 48', 66', 74')
Grimsby Town (1) 1 (Hickman 43')
Venue: Roots Hall KO: 7.30
Attendance: 6,211
Southend Utd: J Roberts, R Ternent, A Smith, D Elliott, B Albeson, J Jacques, T Johnson, B Best, B Garner, G Moore, B Lewis. Sub: K Lindsey.
Grimsby Town: H Wainman, D Worthington, A Campbell, J Thomson, G Rathbone, C Wigginton, S Brace, S Gray, M Hickman, D Boylen, A Woodward.
Match Report
Billy Best, the man the Blues have been trying to convert into a midfield terrier, showed just what he thinks of the idea at Roots Hall on Friday night. With Gary Moore in midfield, Best was pushed forward into the striking role he loves and he celebrated with a vintage second-half hat-trick, writes Colin Price.
It completely destroyed previously unbeaten Grimsby Town and must set them worrying about their promotion prospects. Although the Town’s lively forwards pushed the ball around neatly and ran intelligently they never showed the attacking variety that was needed to break down Southend’s much tighter defence.
Southend, however, know just what to do. The created and missed a number of first-half chances but even when they fell behind to an untidy Hickman goal two minutes before the break I thought it only a matter of time before Blues got their just reward.
And it came three minutes into the second half. Former Welsh Under 23 international Bernie Lewis gave a glimpse of his old magic with a teasing piece of touchline play before centring perfectly for the unmarked Best to head home.
Stuart Brace gave the Blues defence some anxious moments before Best struck again for the best goal of the game. Ray Ternent picked up a clearance from just outside his own penalty area, sped down the wing and another centre found the diving head of Best and Southend were 2-1 up.
It was all United now and the effervescent Blues striker completed a great hat-trick in the 74th minute when he turned in a short corner again from the left.
So at last the Blues fans had something to shout about - and they did just that. Manager Arthur Rowley must have been delighted with the way In which the crowd answered his call for more patience and support. Even when things weren’t going quite right In the first half the players got plenty of encouragement and, eventually, they kept faith.
That first half was memorable for two fine Blues efforts. The first was in the opening minute when Best fired his first warning with a lob which bounced off the top of the crossbar.
After a Gary Moore piledriver had cannoned off the chest of a surprised Wainman, the Grimsby goalkeeper pulled off a great reflex action save from the same player.
It was a great pity that such an entertaining match was spoilt by the name-taking of two players. Grimsby defender Alan Campbell and Blues’ Alex Smith, both for offences which would probably have earned them only a talking-to last season.
In this vastly improved performance, none did better for Southend than skipper Joe Jacques on whom many a Grimsby attack foundered and he was often the springboard for United’s counters. And up front Best showed most of his old sharpness while Bill Garner had one of his best games.
League Table
Southend Utd (0) 3 (Best 48', 66', 74')
Grimsby Town (1) 1 (Hickman 43')
Venue: Roots Hall KO: 7.30
Attendance: 6,211
Southend Utd: J Roberts, R Ternent, A Smith, D Elliott, B Albeson, J Jacques, T Johnson, B Best, B Garner, G Moore, B Lewis. Sub: K Lindsey.
Grimsby Town: H Wainman, D Worthington, A Campbell, J Thomson, G Rathbone, C Wigginton, S Brace, S Gray, M Hickman, D Boylen, A Woodward.
Match Report
Billy Best, the man the Blues have been trying to convert into a midfield terrier, showed just what he thinks of the idea at Roots Hall on Friday night. With Gary Moore in midfield, Best was pushed forward into the striking role he loves and he celebrated with a vintage second-half hat-trick, writes Colin Price.
It completely destroyed previously unbeaten Grimsby Town and must set them worrying about their promotion prospects. Although the Town’s lively forwards pushed the ball around neatly and ran intelligently they never showed the attacking variety that was needed to break down Southend’s much tighter defence.
Southend, however, know just what to do. The created and missed a number of first-half chances but even when they fell behind to an untidy Hickman goal two minutes before the break I thought it only a matter of time before Blues got their just reward.
And it came three minutes into the second half. Former Welsh Under 23 international Bernie Lewis gave a glimpse of his old magic with a teasing piece of touchline play before centring perfectly for the unmarked Best to head home.
Stuart Brace gave the Blues defence some anxious moments before Best struck again for the best goal of the game. Ray Ternent picked up a clearance from just outside his own penalty area, sped down the wing and another centre found the diving head of Best and Southend were 2-1 up.
It was all United now and the effervescent Blues striker completed a great hat-trick in the 74th minute when he turned in a short corner again from the left.
So at last the Blues fans had something to shout about - and they did just that. Manager Arthur Rowley must have been delighted with the way In which the crowd answered his call for more patience and support. Even when things weren’t going quite right In the first half the players got plenty of encouragement and, eventually, they kept faith.
That first half was memorable for two fine Blues efforts. The first was in the opening minute when Best fired his first warning with a lob which bounced off the top of the crossbar.
After a Gary Moore piledriver had cannoned off the chest of a surprised Wainman, the Grimsby goalkeeper pulled off a great reflex action save from the same player.
It was a great pity that such an entertaining match was spoilt by the name-taking of two players. Grimsby defender Alan Campbell and Blues’ Alex Smith, both for offences which would probably have earned them only a talking-to last season.
In this vastly improved performance, none did better for Southend than skipper Joe Jacques on whom many a Grimsby attack foundered and he was often the springboard for United’s counters. And up front Best showed most of his old sharpness while Bill Garner had one of his best games.
League Table
