Luton Town went top of Division Three as Plymouth Argyle were denied a controversial penalty against Southend this afternoon.

Pilgrims centre-back Paul Wotton pumped the ball forward towards striker Michael Evans after 69 minutes. But as he ran into the box shadowed by Shrimpers defenders he handled the ball.

Referee Ray Olivier immediately pointed to the spot and then confirmed the decision after consulting with his assistant M Hawken.

But as Blues' players vociferously contested the penalty while Wotton waited to take the spot-kick, the man in black spoke to his other assistant, G Beale, and then awarded a goal kick, much to the frustration of the Home Park faithful among the 10,021 crowd.

Plymouth, already promoted along with the Hatters, should not have been relying on the penalty to bring them the points however.

After a positive opening spell, Southend had to rely on a fine one-handed save from Darryl Flahavan to turn away Evans' overhead shot after 15 minutes.

A minute later either Evans or fellow frontman Ian Stonebridge looked certain to score as they ran past a committed Flahavan.

Yet as the duo raced after the goal-bound ball, Shrimpers left-back Daniel Kerrigan beat them to it and cleared off the line.

Southend found scoring opportunities were at a premium as their striker injury list meant defender Phil Whelan again partnered forward Barrington Belgrave again.

Left-winger Damon Searle and central midfielder Kevin Maher both tried long-range efforts, before Maher found right winger Mark Beard on the edge of the Argyle box.

But he scuffed his shot into the arms of home keeper Romain Larrieu after 36 minutes.

The visitors' best chance after the break came on 68 minutes when substitute striker Adam Wallace, making his first team debut, beat the offside trap but hit a tame shot at Larrieu, after appearing to think he was offside.

After the penalty that never was incident, Plymouth desperately sought an opening but the Seasiders held firm to earn a point that kept them in 12th place.

Plymouth slipped to second place on goal difference after Luton beat Hull City 4-0 at Boothferry Park.

Southend: Flahavan, Kerrigan, McSweeney, Cort, Broad, Searle, Maher, Thurgood, Beard, Whelan, Belgrave (Wallace).

Full match report and pictures in Monday's Echo.

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Published Saturday April 6, 2002