Soccer: Abbey answers Blues' prayers

The visitors made the better start and after two minutes midfielder Ben Sedgemore guided a close-range effort past the right post as he beat Scott Forbes to Nigerian defender George Abbey's centre.

Four minutes later, Blues replied with frontman Trevor Fitzpatrick lashing wide from inside the box, before midfielder David Lee hit an awkward half-volley inches past the right post after visiting keeper Tony Bullock flapped at Forbes' left-wing cross.

And soon after all hell broke loose as Macclesfield defender Darren Tinson was booked for smashing Forbes in the face, before Bullock was sent packing for a crazy double dissent decision within 60 seconds after 17 minutes.

The Silkmen, spurred on by midfielder Karl Munroe, were not prepared to lie down and die however, and shrugged off the loss of their keeper, who was replaced by Sedgemore.

Macclesfield's highly-rated hitman Richie Barker should have headed his side in front after 23 minutes when John Askey flicked on Lee Glover's left-wing free-kick, but the unmarked forward nodded wide from six yards.

Southend midfielder Kevin Maher found his 15-yard goalbound effort blocked by Macclesfield defender Steve Hitchen on 29 minutes, after Sedgemore had missed Forbes' right-wing corner.

But the Silkmen kept their composure and pushed forward again with Glover testing Blues keeper Andy Woodman with a rasping drive from the edge of the box. However, within a few seconds a startled Martin Carruthers found himself facing Sedgemore one-on-one, but a poor first touch let the Southend goal-getter down.

Macclesfield struck back as full-back George Abbey's raking pass allowed Glover to beat the Shrimpers' offside trap, only for Blues defender Leo Roget to deny the forward with a superb last ditch challenge.

From the following right-wing corner, taken by Adams, Fitzpatrick charged down an effort from Munroe, who had latched on to a feeble punch from Woodman. And back on the offensive, Fitzpatrick headed a precision centre from Blues left-back Damon Searle over the bar.

But the final word of the first-half went to Southend's new central midfielder Russell Williamson who blazed Forbes' right-wing flag-kick over the bar from a good position.

Straight after the interval, Williamson motored forward and lobbed the ball into the box for Carruthers to chase, but the out-of-sorts striker was muscled out by Tinson.

Lee then awoke from his slumber to have a shot charged down by Adams, before Maher warmed Sedgemore's hands from 20 yards. And Macclesfield's right-back George Abbey embarked on a jinking run and drove wide of the left-post after 50 minutes.

Two minutes later, Woodman nearly miscued a routine back-pass from Blues skipper Phil Whelan over his own goal-line. And soon after, the Southend custodian handled the ball outside his box, but escaped a booking, before Adams smashed the resulting free-kick into the South Stand.

Forbes and Carruthers both went close from good openings, before frustrated Southend boss David Webb changed things around after 60 minutes.

And cometh the hour, cometh a new Roots Hall hero - substitute forward Ben Abbey, who was pushed up front alongside fellow replacement David Morley and Carruthers.

Within seven minutes of his introduction the speedy frontman opened the scoring with a spectacular close-range volley, finishing off a knock-down from Morley, who had flicked on a long punt from Searle.

However, the striker's joy was short-lived as Macclesfield equalised within 60 seconds. Munroe beat a hesitant Woodman to a right-wing cross and drilled the ball inside the left-post from 15 yards, despite Searle's efforts on the goal-line.

With 83 minutes gone, Ben Abbey forced a full-stretch save out of Sedgmore, before Blues skipper Phil Whelan thumped the rebound into the keeper's arms from 20 yards.

However, a minute from time the Ben Abbey show hit town again as the tricky frontman gave Southend an unexpected lead. Morley was again the catalyst, heading Booty's right-wing centre back across goal for the former Oxford United man to control the ball, swivel and shoot home in one stunning movement from six yards.

And with the referee reaching for his whistle, Forbes picked up Lee's pass on the left-flank, skinned George Abbey and drove a shot across Sedgemore three minutes into injury-time for his first goal of the season.

(Right) Bullock sees red - Macclesfield keeper Tony Bullock is dismissed by referee Paul Alcock

(Left) Heads up - but Blues forward Trevor Fitzpatrick had an undistinguished game

(Below right) Late show - from Scott Forbes, who sealed Southend's win with an injury-time goal, his first of the season

Abbey habit is goalscoring

Super-sub Ben Abbey was the toast of Roots Hall on Saturday after inspiring Southend United to a fortunate 3-1 victory over ten-man Macclesfield Town with two cracking goals.

The 22-year-old striker, a recent free-transfer signing from Second Division strugglers Oxford United, was only on the pitch for 29 second-half minutes.

But that was all the ex-Crawley Town hitman needed to mark a remarkable home debut as he fired Blues ahead with a stunning volley, before visiting midfielder Karl Munroe capitalised on hesitation from Southend keeper Andy Woodman to equalise.

Abbey was not to be outdone though and he demonstrated tremendous individual technique to shoot the Shrimpers in front again in the dying minutes, leaving winger Scott Forbes to wrap up a flattering final scoreline in injury-time.

But it could have been so much different as Macclesfield battled bravely and indeed outplayed the Seasiders for long periods, despite losing their goalkeeper Tony Bullock in bizarre circumstances.

An extraordinary chain of events unfolded after 16 minutes when Southend wideman Forbes was blatantly knocked to the floor by Macclesfield skipper Darren Tinson inside the visitors' penalty area.

Both linesmen raised their flags in recognition of the altercation, but bumbling referee Paul Alcock unbelievably allowed the Cheshire outfit's defender to escape with just a booking, much to the outrage of the Roots Hall faithful.

However, there was a twist in this tale and within another 60 seconds the Halstead official gave Macclesfield goalkeeper Tony Bullock his marching orders for a double flurry of yellow cards.

The angry shot-stopper sarcastically applauded Alcock for taking his name after protesting against Tinson's booking, which the referee instantly responded to by showing another yellow card for dissent, followed by a red.

Bullock ripped off his shirt and kicked the ball into the crowd in disgust. And with no reserve custodian in their party, Macclesfield were forced to throw midfielder Ben Sedgemore between the sticks.

However, Blues failed to make the visitors pay. The Seasiders were over-elaborate far too many times, when they should have intimidated the makeshift goalie by peppering the Macclesfield danger area with crosses from all angles.

But that changed soon after the break. Having watched his side splutter around impotently for another quarter-of-an-hour, Southend boss David Webb swapped things around.

On came Abbey for new boy Russell Williamson, with defender David Morley pushed into a targetman role in place of static forward Trevor Fitzpatrick.

Webb reverted to a 4-3-3 formation and Blues bombarded the Macclesfield goal for the final 30 minutes, with full-backs Martyn Booty and Damon Searle providing most of the ammunition, which eventually paid off.

But this was by far Southend's worst performance since Webb returned to Roots Hall last month. Play-off chasing Macclesfield, though depleted in numbers, were inventive and vastly superior in football terms, finding their own players' feet with embarrassing ease at times.

Too many of Webb's men had an off day, which the Southend manager is sure to remind them this week, even if they did stretch their unbeaten run to 13 games (just!).

By Bernie Friend

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

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