5:00pm Saturday 13th March 2010
By Chris Phillips
DAVID Webb's latest stint with Southend United started with a dull 0-0 draw against relegation rivals Exeter City this afternoon.
Webb, who has had four previous spells with the Shrimpers, replaced Paul Brush as the club's assistant manager last week.
But the Shrimpers remain four points from safety and without a win in 11 games after struggling to create goalscoring chances during an uneventful encounter with the Grecians at Roots Hall.
Exeter are also struggling to survive in League One and are locked level on points with Southend but they started brightly and forced two early corners before Ryan Harley fired a low 25 yard shot straight at Steve Mildenhall.
In reply, the fit again Anthony Grant then did likewise with his left foot in the 12th minute of the match and, moments later, Damian Scannell fired over from an acute angle.
The Shrimpers continued to attack and soon wasted what was to prove to be their best chance of the afternoon as a fine ball from Simon Francis picked out Matt Paterson and his low pass from the right hand side teed up Scott Vernon.
But the on loan Colchester United striker could only produce a tame scuffed shot with his right foot which was easily saved low to his right hand side by Exeter goalkeeper Paul Jones.
Having survived the scare, the Grecians hit back with a low, long range shot from James Dunne which was smartly smothered by Mildenhall.
No further chances followed in the remainder of a quiet first period but Blues initially came out strongly at the start of the second half.
Francis Laurent saw a curling 20 yard shot tipped over by Jones and the City custodian then did well to twice deny Vernon in quick succession with a fine double save.
But City then also came close to breaking the deadlock in the 49th minute as a scorching half volley from Dunne was impressively pushed up onto the crossbar by Mildenhall.
Adam Stansfield, who netted the winner against Blues when the sides last met in December, headed home the resulting rebound but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The relieved Shrimpers replied with Franck Moussa volleying wide of the left post in the 55th minute but clear-cut chances and any real quality remained in short supply as the sides showed exactly why they are fighting against relegation.
Fifteen minutes from time, Stansfield had an effort deflected to safety by a sliding Adam Barrett before substitute Stuart Fleetwood allowed the ball to run away from him in front of goal when he appeared to have been presented with an excellent opportunity to score.
In a bid to improve his side going forward and in search of a late winner, Blues boss Steve Tilson introduced Scott Spencer into the action in the 80th minute as he replaced Matt Paterson in attack alongside Vernon.
But it was Exeter pushing forward late on and only a brave header from Pat Baldwin stopped Fleetwood latching onto Ryan Taylor's knock down from Scott Goldbourne's left wing cross.
Mildenhall then easily gathered a two tame headers from City substitute Richard Logan to ensure his first clean sheet in 21 games but a point may not prove to be enough for either of the struggling sides who could well meet again in League Two next season.
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