Southend United wasted no time knocking promotion seeking Rushden and Diamonds out of their stride at Roots Hall on Saturday.

With just three minutes gone, Blues skipper Kevin Maher got the better of visiting midfielder Stewart Wardley and fired an 18-yard effort into goalkeeper Billy Turley's gloves.

Big shout - Damon Searle is mobbed by his team-mates after putting Southend 2-0 up

But Turley was picking the ball out of his net just 60 seconds later.

Mark Rawle looked to be a couple of yards offside when he ran on to Dominic Foley's pass, but the linesman's flag never even twitched, allowing the Southend striker to poke the ball through Turley's legs from 12-yards.

And it got even better two minutes later when Shrimpers left-back Damon Searle opened his season's account with one of the greatest goals ever to be seen at Roots Hall.

Rushden defender Barry Hunter headed clear as Rawle put Turley under pressure, but Searle was first to the loose ball and with the keeper out of position thundered a tremendous first-time volley inside the right post from some 35-yards out.

Rushden began to regroup and took a firm grip on the game with wideman David Bell forcing a fine save out of Blues goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan from 20-yards.

But the visitors' pressure finally paid off after 38 minutes when they reduced the deficit. Wardley was allowed to rise free and head Stuart Gray's left-wing free-kick back across goal for Hunter to bundle the ball over the line past a startled Shrimpers defence.

And Diamonds continued to hold the upper hand after the break, with substitute Andy Burgess drilling an 18-yard effort at Flahavan, before striker Tony Battersby lashed Searle's miscued clearance over the bar from just six-yards.

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Published Monday, February 24, 2003

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