Southend United finally clocked up their First home league win of 2001 on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over perennial away-day strugglers Lincoln City.

Ben Abbey headed the all important match winner, maintaining his phenomenal strike-rate for the Shrimpers as he netted his tenth goal in 20 appearances.

However, Blues should have found a much easier route to their first three point haul at Roots Hall for more than a month, against a Lincoln side who have yet to win on their Third Division travels this season.

And they probably would have, if it hadn't been for the athleticism of visiting goalkeeper Chris Day, who prevented the Seasiders from running up a cricket score during a completely one-sided first-half.

The Lincoln custodian, on loan from First Division promotion chasers Watford, used every part of his giant frame to deny Southend the goals they deserved for their adventurous approach.

Day used his legs, chest and hands to smother goalbound efforts from a host of Blues players, as the Shrimpers cut Lincoln's travel sick defence to shreds.

And the visitors' chief tormentor was left-winger Scott Forbes, who instigated most of Southend's numerous attacking raids during the opening period.

The wideman's biggest fault this term has been his frustrating failure to consistently deliver quality crosses after using his raw energy to force his way into dangerous positions.

But Forbes, in his first season as a league footballer, certainly got his game together against the Imps, as he fired over a multitude of teasing centres, which left Lincoln frantically clearing their lines.

And another player who deserves special mention is man-of-the-match Kevin Maher. He was at the heart of Blues' best moments as he pulled the strings in central midfield, allowing the likes of Forbes to break forward.

However, Southend nearly shot themselves in the foot after letting Lincoln off the hook.

The visitors returned for the second-half fired up and pushed Blues back into their own half for long periods. But the Imps wasted the few opportunities they managed to carve out.

Even when they were under the cosh, Blues still looked the more likely as they hit Lincoln with rapid counter movements.

But again Southend were outdone by that man Day, or their own limitations, as they failed time after time to deliver the final killer pass, with players screaming for the ball in threatening positions.

However, Blues, who stretched their unbeaten sequence to six matches, will be happy that they have finally broken their Roots Hall jinx, following a run of just three points from their last four home league matches.

And if the sixth placed Shrimpers can add a little fine tuning in the goalscoring department to compliment the quality of their first-half performance against Lincoln, then a play-off spot should be well within their grasp.

(Right) Hands off - Blues defender Carl Hutchings holds off former Southend hit-man Tony Battersby

(Left) It's mine - Midfielder Leon Johnson shields the ball from opposite number Justin Walker.

Pictures: ROBIN WOOSEY

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.