An impressive fightback saw Southend United recover a two-goal deficit to run out convincing winners against Rushden and Diamonds at Roots Hall.
This was a match which truly lived up to the cliche of football being a game of two halves. The visitors belied their status as the newcomers to the Third Division with two well-taken first-half goals.
Garry Butterworth struck for the visitors after five minutes, with Scott Partridge adding to the lead ten minutes before half-time.
But whatever Blues boss Rob Newman said to his players at the interval yesterday, it worked like a dream.
A storming second half saw Blues put four past the startled Rushden keeper. Leon Cort set the ball rolling, and there was a goal for Tesfaye Bramble sandwiched between two strikes from Barrington Belgrave.
Full match report and pictures in today's Evening Echo
More on Southend United FC
Published Thursday December 27, 2001
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