Southend United 3 Exeter City 1.

Easter Monday 1 April 2002.

Match report

Southend stormed back to win against Exeter after falling behind midway through the first half.

The turning point of the game came on 39 minutes when visiting full-back Paul Buckle was sent off for handling a Barrington Belgrave shot on the line.

Kevin Maher thumped home the penalty to level the scores after Graeme Tomlinson had put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes.

A minute later Southend took the lead after Steve Clark broke down the right and his pinpoint cross was headed in at the far post by Phil Whelan.

The home side coasted through the second half but had to wait until the 75th minute before underlying their superiority with a third goal.

This time substitute Steve Broad heading full length to take advantage of a ball played in by the impressive Maher.

Southend: Flahavan, Beard, Cort, McSweeney, Searle, Anthony Clark, Maher, Selley, Kerrigan, Whelan, Belgrave. Subs: Gay, Thurgood, Lunin, Broad, Szmid.

Exeter: Van Heusden, Buckle, Chris Curran, Chris Curran, Watson, Goff, Roscoe, Ampadu, Cronin, Breslan, Flack, Tomlinson. Subs: Fraser, Whitworth, Richardson, Barlow, McCarthy.

Referee: J Ross (Chingford).

Attendance 3588 with 188 Cty fans