Eastwood sells Southend a bargain-price promotion
Lincoln City 0 Southend United 2, Aet; 0-0 at 90 minutes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This was not a game that will linger long in anyone but Southend's memory. Even the referee seemed in a hurry to get this League Two play-off final over with as quickly as possible as he started the match early.
The official must have known what was coming. A first-half with no discernible quality was followed by a second one with only a marginally higher incident quotient. It all led to extra time where the Essex team eventually found their way to goal and promotion to League One.
That Steve Tilson's side ended seven years in the lowest tier of the Football League was largely down to Freddy Eastwood, a former West Ham United trainee, who spent a year helping his father sell second-hand cars when the Hammers released him in 2002. "Don't buy one - they're dodgy," joked Tilson.
However, a season with Grays Athletic reignited Eastwood's desire. "I didn't know what I wanted to do when I stepped out of football," he said. "But I missed it and wanted to get back into it straightaway." Eastwood's 24th goal of a prolific season broke the deadlock, as he lashed the ball in from a yard after Matthew Bloomer's clearance off the line from Spencer Prior's header.
With Lincoln, who have now lost in the play-offs in three consecutive seasons, committed forward, Eastwood picked them off with a counter-attack, letting in Duncan Jupp for his first goal in 10 years.
Eastwood can now enjoy his impending holiday at Disneyworld before League One's finest defenders stop him trying to take the Mickey Mouse.
Goals: Eastwood (105) 0-1; Jupp (110) 0-2.
Lincoln City (3-4-3): Marriott; McCombe, Morgan, Futcher; McAuley, Butcher, Gain, Sandwith; Yeo (Asamoah, 91), Taylor-Fletcher (Bloomer, 95), Green (Beevers, 105). Substitutes not used: Rayner (gk), Hanlon.
Southend United ( 4-4-2): Flahavan; Jupp, Prior, Barrett, Wilson; Bentley, Pettefer, Maher, Nicolau (Gower, 119); Eastwood (Edwards, 119), Gray (Dudfield, 81). Substitutes not used: Griemink (gk), Guttridge.
Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).
Booked: Lincoln Futcher; Southend Bentley.
Man of the match: Eastwood.
Attendance: 19,653.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments