Harrold sent Southend goalkeeper Cameron Belford the wrong way by sending his spot-kick straight down the middle four minutes from time after Mustapha Carayol had been upended when trying to find a route through to goal.
It was no more than Rovers deserved after enjoying the better chances during what was largely a cagey and uninspiring first 45 minutes – before promotion-chasing Southend made a much better fist of the second-half.
Craig Stanley went close with a swerved effort from just outside of the penalty area as early as the sixth minute in what was Rovers first attack following a bright start from Paul Sturrock's side.
Chris Zebroski was the next to trouble the Southend goal with an angled drive that flew across the face of goal and wide of the far post in the 12th minute.
Zebroski was at the heart of Rovers' next opportunity when producing some clever link-up play to tee strike partner Harrold up with a shooting chance that was tamely struck into the body of Belford from all of 12 yards out.
Belford was made to work a bit harder to repel Matthew Lund's dipping volley soon after before Mustapha Carayol side-footed an attempt high and wide 10 minutes before the break.
There was still time, however, for left-back Jim Paterson to maraud down the left and unleash a vicious effort that Belford was forced to push out of harm's way before the referee brought the first half to a close.
Rovers started the second-half in much the same way and should have probably been ahead in the 55th minute; Zebroski racing to the byline and cutting back for Carayol, whose scuffed shot towards goal was blocked by a defender.
Southend had to wait until a minute later for their first real chance of the game – but debutant Freddy Eastwood failed to make any contact with what would have been a free header less than six yards from goal following a delicious set-piece delivery.
Eastwood, who was signed on loan from Coventry City on Thursday afternoon, almost made amends a minute later when an audacious shot from distance took everybody in the ground by surprise before it dipped and swerved over the crossbar.
The striker was involved again seconds later when directing a long ball into the path of on-rushing Michael Timlin. The Southend midfielder could only arrow a powerful effort wide of the post whilst on the run to give Rovers the opportunity to nick all three points following Harrold's late intervention.
Rovers: Bevan; Woodards, Bolger, Parkes, Paterson; Lund (Richards, 78) Gill (Dorman 82), Stanley, Carayol, Zebroski (Brown, 60), Harrold. Subs: Smith, Anyinsah.
Southend United: Belford; Clohessy, Phillips (Mohsni, 72) Barker, Prosser; Dailly (Hills, 60), Hall, Timlin, Grant, Eastwood, Benyon (Harris, 82). Subs: Ferdinand, Martin.
steve dui lawn mower dallas air conditioning services locksmith 20003
No comments:
Post a Comment