Southend were promoted to League One
after an unbelievable turnaround against Wycombe saw them prevail on
penalties after it finished 1-1 after extra time at Wembley.
At 0-0 after 90 minutes, Daniel Bentley's own goal in extra time, unfortunately rebounding the ball back into his net after Joe Jacobson's brilliant free kick, had looked like sending Wycombe up.
But the Chairboys sat back for the remainder of the game and Joe Pigott capitalised with a low strike in the last minute of injury time to send the contest to penalties.
Ben Coker missed for the Shrimpers but Matt Bloomfield and Sam Wood's crucial miss meant a 7-6 shootout victory and League One football next season for Southend.
With nothing separating the sides in the league after both finished on 84 points, it was always going to be a close game.
In a nervy first half, it was the Essex side that looked likely to opening the scoring. The Shrimpers did have the ball in the net, but Barry Corr saw a header disallowed after an alleged foul from Cian Bolger, with replays showing there was little contact.
Bolger had Southend’s best chance early on in the first half, but his free header went a yard wide of the post.
Wycombe’s best chance of the opening period came after 39 minutes. Paul Hayes sticking his foot out from an inswinging cross and his effort went straight into keeper Bentley’s hands. Midfielder Wood also saw an effort from 25 yards fly over the bar.
The second half started like the first, with nerves preventing both teams from playing their normal game. Past the hour mark, Southend started to take control of the game and Corr threatened again but his header was easily saved by Alex Lynch.
Extra time seemed inevitable, even in the first half and after 94 minutes of football, it took just five additional minutes for a goal.
Jacobson’s 25 yard free kick was curling into the top right corner, it rattled the underside of the crossbar and as Bentley attempted to save the effort, the falling ball hit the keeper and rolled into the net.
But Wycombe took their foot off the pedal and paid the price, as Pigott fired through a crowd of legs in the dying seconds to earn Southend an unlikely penalty shootout.
The Chairboys players were dead on their feet as the full time whistle went, and spotkicks went the way of the Shrimpers after Wood's penalty was brilliantly saved by Bentley, who had the last laugh after such a cruel own goal appeared to have downed his side.
At 0-0 after 90 minutes, Daniel Bentley's own goal in extra time, unfortunately rebounding the ball back into his net after Joe Jacobson's brilliant free kick, had looked like sending Wycombe up.
But the Chairboys sat back for the remainder of the game and Joe Pigott capitalised with a low strike in the last minute of injury time to send the contest to penalties.
Ben Coker missed for the Shrimpers but Matt Bloomfield and Sam Wood's crucial miss meant a 7-6 shootout victory and League One football next season for Southend.
With nothing separating the sides in the league after both finished on 84 points, it was always going to be a close game.
In a nervy first half, it was the Essex side that looked likely to opening the scoring. The Shrimpers did have the ball in the net, but Barry Corr saw a header disallowed after an alleged foul from Cian Bolger, with replays showing there was little contact.
Bolger had Southend’s best chance early on in the first half, but his free header went a yard wide of the post.
Wycombe’s best chance of the opening period came after 39 minutes. Paul Hayes sticking his foot out from an inswinging cross and his effort went straight into keeper Bentley’s hands. Midfielder Wood also saw an effort from 25 yards fly over the bar.
The second half started like the first, with nerves preventing both teams from playing their normal game. Past the hour mark, Southend started to take control of the game and Corr threatened again but his header was easily saved by Alex Lynch.
Extra time seemed inevitable, even in the first half and after 94 minutes of football, it took just five additional minutes for a goal.
Jacobson’s 25 yard free kick was curling into the top right corner, it rattled the underside of the crossbar and as Bentley attempted to save the effort, the falling ball hit the keeper and rolled into the net.
But Wycombe took their foot off the pedal and paid the price, as Pigott fired through a crowd of legs in the dying seconds to earn Southend an unlikely penalty shootout.
The Chairboys players were dead on their feet as the full time whistle went, and spotkicks went the way of the Shrimpers after Wood's penalty was brilliantly saved by Bentley, who had the last laugh after such a cruel own goal appeared to have downed his side.
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