JOHN White’s second goal in 12 years saw Southend United move to within two rounds of Wembley with a 1-0 win against Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall last night.

The Shrimpers skipper settled the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy southern area quarter final with an 11th minute header.

But Blues were thankful for a number of fantastic second half saves from goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

The League Two visitors certainly posed problems for their hosts and, after just three minutes, Rovers winger Jake Gosling skipped past a mistimed challenge from the fit again Adam Thompson before slicing a deflected effort wide of the left post.

In reply, Shrimpers striker David Mooney then curled a long range effort straight at visiting goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.

But, with 11 minutes on the clock, Blues made an early breakthrough with White the unlikely goalscorer.

The Shrimpers skipper was picked out by an excellent left wing cross from Kevan Hurst and netted with a firm downward header which flew into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

The header handed White just his second goal in 374 games but Blues remained on top and soon came close to doubling their lead when Jack Payne had a swerving effort parried to safety by Nicholls.

Moments later, Hurst drilled a low, left footed shot just past the right post after neat approach play from David Worrall.

In reply, Rovers came close to equalising with Billy Bodin volleying a left wing cross from Lee Brown inches wide of the right post.

And, in the 40th minute, the visitors thought they had drawn back level when Bodin netted with an excellent effort from 25 yards.

But, after initially signalling to give the goal, referee Andy Woolmer was persuaded to speak to his linesman by agitated Shrimpers defenders before deciding to disallow the effort for offside against Matty Taylor who had dummied to play the ball before it nestled in the back of the net.

After the break, the Pirates again went close to scoring when Brown’s speculative strike from long range was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Bentley.

And, with Rovers still pushing for an equaliser, Bentley again did well to deny Jermaine Easter with another fine stop after the striker had been played through on goal.

However, the visitors continued to push forward and, in the 63rd minute, Bentley pulled off another great save as he diverted a powerful effort from Easter to safety.

After surviving the scares, Southend hit back with Hurst having a cross-shot tipped over by a backpedalling Nicholls but Rovers soon replied with Cristian Montano also being denied by Bentley who tipped the substitute’s 20 yard shot over the crossbar.

In a bid to become more of a threat, Blues made their first change of the night in the 82nd minute with Joe Pigott coming on to replace Mooney.

But it was Rovers who continued to attack with Mark McChrystal volleying a fantastic opportunity wide of the left post before Bodin saw a low shot sliced inches his own crossbar by Ryan Leonard.

That was as close as Rovers came to equalising but the Shrimpers should have doubled their lead at the death when Pigott fired wide of the right post from 12 yards.