Southend 1, Scarborough 0

Four minutes into stoppage time, Scarborough's striker Chris Greenacre had a chance to earn his side a priceless point, but with only goalkeeper Martyn Margetson to beat, scuffed his shot wide from only twelve yards.

After the game, Scarborough manager Mick Wadsworth said "Chris is very upset about it, but he didn't miss it on purpose and I think we deserved a point."

Greenacre, on loan from Manchester City, had earlier bought the best out of a Margetson with a fierce drive, which the goalkeeper pushed over the bar,

From a resulting corner, defender Alex Marinkov thundered a header against the bar with the ball being scrambled away to safety.

Marinkov made an impressive return to the side, playing as one of three centrebacks with 36-year -old Derek Mountfield making his debut and bringing all his experience to steady a defence which had been leaking goals in previous matches.

The third centre back was teenager Michael McNaughton and once again he gave an assured performance.

The game itself was a poor spectacle, with Scarborough content to play on the break, which they did to some effect. They were quite prepared to soak up the somewhat ineffectual Southend pressure, to such an extent that Luke Weaver in the Scarborough goal had little to do.

But Weaver was beaten eight minutes from time by Simon Livett, who produced a precise sidefoot shot from just inside the penalty area after Scott Houghton had laid the ball to him.

Houghton, signed recently from Peterborough for £60,000, always looked lively and dangerous, although for the most part, Richard Jackson kept him under fairly close control.

Mountfield's presence will prove even more valuable when he gets fitter and there was a much better spirit clearly evident in the side.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.