Southend Utd 1, Huddersfield Town 1

Aug 22 2005 By Mel Booth, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Firstly, his powerful downward header from a corner was blocked near the line by a combination of keeper Darryl Flahaven, colleague Luke Guttridge and Town striker Abbott, who then did his best to scramble the ball home.

Then, barely 60 seconds later, McIntosh aimed a free header agonisingly wide after Abbott had flicked on a Jon Worthington cross.

If that wasn't hard enough to take, Danny Schofield hit the outside of a post just four minutes later when playing a one-two with Abbott and dancing past two would-be tacklers.

At that stage it seemed certain Town would get a winner, even though Southend maintained two solid defensive banks of four and did their best to upset the fluent passing which their visitors produced in wave after compelling wave.

McIntosh brought a save from Flahaven after another surging raid from the excellent Danny Adams, while Abbott's quick free-kick was denied and Mark Hudson - having his most promising game to date - was twice off target from decent shooting positions.

An offside flag from Adams' cross would have denied Gary Taylor-Fletcher a late winner to mark his first start for the club, although he should have hit the target when flashing a 16th-minute shot wide as Southend were caught still celebrating Eastwood's opener.

The former Grays Athletic striker could have no complaints about his dismissal by Surrey official Paul Melin after pushing Andy Holdsworth in the chest, while Town's Abbott will need to show more restraint in future after talking his way into the book.

Fortunately he made amends in first-half stoppage time with a cracking finish when forcing his way ahead of full-back Che Wilson from Rachubka's pinpoint clearance.

It was the sort of clinical edge Town could find later in the game, but they played well and are still nicely placed.