Southend eased to victory over Macclesfield, but missed out on the final automatic promotion position.

Peter Gilbert shot low into the bottom corner after the visitors failed to clear Ryan Hall's corner.

Neil Harris doubled the home side's lead in the last minute after Jose Veiga could only parry Elliot Benyon's powerful header.

The result sees Southend finish fourth, one point behind Crawley, setting up a play-off semi-final against Crewe.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Southend United

  • 35 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Gilbert
  • 06 Bilel
  • 15 Phillips
  • 23 Barker
  • 04 Hall
  • 07 Grant
  • 08 Timlin Booked
  • 09 Harris
  • 37 Eastwood (Benyon - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Morris
  • 16 Prosser
  • 18 Leonard
  • 14 Martin
  • 24 Benyon

Macclesfield Town

  • 01 Veiga
  • 05 Brown
  • 14 Diagne (Fairhurst - 87' )
  • 07 Chalmers
  • 08 Draper
  • 11 Daniel (Bakare - 64' )
  • 12 Mendy
  • 17 Wedgbury
  • 20 Hamshaw
  • 26 Roberts Booked (Mills - 77' )
  • 23 Tomlinson Booked

Substitutes

  • 13 Cudworth
  • 04 Kay
  • 18 Fairhurst
  • 29 Mills
  • 34 Bakare
Ref: Adcock
Att: 9,122

Match Stats

Shots

20 8

On target

10 2

Corners

7 5

Fouls

7 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:19 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:02

The ball is sent over by Matthew Hamshaw, save made by Cameron Belford.

90:00 +0:58

Elliot Benyon provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +0:58 Goal scored

Goal - Neil Harris - Southend 2 - 0 Macclesfld Neil Harris grabs a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Southend 2-0 Macclesfield.

90:00 +0:42

Elliot Benyon takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Veiga.

90:00 +0:32

Neil Harris takes a shot. Blocked by Nathaniel Brown.

89:34 Substitution

Substitution Elliot Benyon replaces Freddy Eastwood.

89:34

Centre by Ryan Hall, Ben Mills manages to make a clearance.

89:22

A cross is delivered by Anthony Grant.

88:47

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall from the left by-line, clearance made by Ben Mills.

88:01

Anthony Grant fouled by Waide Fairhurst, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ryan Hall, Ben Mills makes a clearance.

88:01

Foul by Waide Fairhurst on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ryan Hall.

87:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Bakare on Anthony Grant. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

86:39 Substitution

Substitution Waide Fairhurst replaces Tony Diagne.

83:31

Peter Gilbert gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Hamshaw. Free kick crossed by Matthew Hamshaw, clearance by Peter Gilbert.

81:10

Unfair challenge on Mark Phillips by Ben Mills results in a free kick. Sean Clohessy takes the direct free kick.

80:50

Michael Bakare gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sean Clohessy. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

79:56

The ball is swung over by Matthew Hamshaw, clearance by Sean Clohessy.

79:26

The ball is swung over by Ben Tomlinson, clearance by Chris Barker.

77:36

Effort on goal by Michael Bakare from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

77:32

Centre by Matthew Hamshaw.

76:28

Lewis Chalmers takes the direct free kick.

76:28 Substitution

Substitution Ben Mills comes on in place of Adam Roberts.

76:28

Tony Diagne fouled by Anthony Grant, the ref awards a free kick.

75:56

The ball is delivered by Anthony Grant.

75:41

Michael Timlin produces a cross, clearance by Lewis Chalmers.

74:51

Michael Timlin takes a shot. Save made by Jose Veiga. Corner taken by Anthony Grant from the right by-line. Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall, save made by Jose Veiga.

73:50

Ryan Hall takes a shot. Jose Veiga makes a save. Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Hall, clearance by Tony Diagne. Ryan Hall takes a inswinging corner.

70:19

The assistant referee signals for offside against Ross Draper. Indirect free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

69:15

Freddy Eastwood takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

68:09

Centre by Sean Clohessy, Neil Harris takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

67:08

The ball is delivered by Ryan Hall, save made by Jose Veiga.

66:43

Centre by Matthew Hamshaw, clearance by Peter Gilbert.

66:03

Bilel Mohsni challenges Tony Diagne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Hamshaw.

65:24

Ross Draper crosses the ball, Chris Barker makes a clearance.

65:06

Matthew Hamshaw takes a shot. Blocked by Peter Gilbert.

64:30

Neil Harris takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

64:04

Anthony Grant produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

62:50

Cameron Belford takes the direct free kick.

62:50 Substitution

Substitution Michael Bakare is brought on as a substitute for Colin Daniel.

62:50 Booking

Booking Ben Tomlinson receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

62:42

Peter Gilbert fouled by Ben Tomlinson, the ref awards a free kick.

62:04

The ball is swung over by Ryan Hall, Header on goal by Neil Harris from just inside the area goes over the target.

60:42

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Hamshaw, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Tony Diagne misses to the right of the goal.

59:52

Foul by Bilel Mohsni on Tony Diagne, free kick awarded. Jose Veiga takes the direct free kick.

59:47

Centre by Ryan Hall, clearance by Tony Diagne.

59:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Gilbert by Ross Draper. Chris Barker takes the free kick.

58:19

Freddy Eastwood takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

56:37

Sam Wedgbury delivers the ball, clearance by Chris Barker.

56:11

Shot by Freddy Eastwood missed to the left of goal.

52:59

Ryan Hall sends in a cross, Jose Veiga makes a save.

50:46

Bilel Mohsni is penalised for a handball. Nathaniel Brown takes the direct free kick.

49:50

Mark Phillips takes the direct free kick.

49:50 Booking

Booking Adam Roberts booked.

49:32

Adam Roberts gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sean Clohessy.

48:57

Foul by Ben Tomlinson on Peter Gilbert, free kick awarded. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

48:18

Ryan Hall concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Hamshaw. Sam Wedgbury restarts play with the free kick.

46:33

Foul by Ben Tomlinson on Mark Phillips, free kick awarded. Cameron Belford takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +1:10 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

44:46

Colin Daniel has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target. Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Hamshaw from the left by-line played to the near post, Nathaniel Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bilel Mohsni. Cameron Belford takes the direct free kick.

43:56

The ball is sent over by Tony Diagne. Matthew Hamshaw takes the inswinging corner, Bilel Mohsni manages to make a clearance.

42:45

Ben Tomlinson takes a shot. Cameron Belford makes a comfortable save.

40:29

Ryan Hall fouled by Sam Wedgbury, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

39:42

Peter Gilbert crosses the ball.

38:18

Freddy Eastwood is ruled offside. Jose Veiga takes the free kick.

37:11

Free kick taken by Nathaniel Brown.

37:11 Booking

Booking Booking for Michael Timlin.

37:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lewis Chalmers by Michael Timlin.

35:38

The ball is sent over by Sean Clohessy, Jose Veiga makes a save.

33:35

Bilel Mohsni produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar. Corner taken short by Ryan Hall, The ball is swung over by Anthony Grant, save made by Jose Veiga. Centre by Peter Gilbert, clearance by Tony Diagne.

33:15

Ross Draper sends in a cross, clearance by Peter Gilbert.

31:57

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy.

31:45

Ross Draper is adjudged to have handled the ball. Bilel Mohsni restarts play with the free kick.

31:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Hamshaw by Ryan Hall. Sam Wedgbury takes the direct free kick.

26:54

Neil Harris sends in a cross, clearance by Adam Roberts.

23:27

Ryan Hall provided the assist for the goal.

22:52

Shot from 20 yards by Michael Timlin. Jose Veiga makes a save. Neil Harris takes a shot. Clearance made by Jose Veiga. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Hall.

23:27

The assist for the goal came from Ryan Hall.

23:27 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Gilbert - Southend 1 - 0 Macclesfld Peter Gilbert finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southend 1-0 Macclesfield.

22:52

Shot by Michael Timlin from 20 yards. Jose Veiga makes a save. Neil Harris takes a shot. Jose Veiga manages to make a clearance. Ryan Hall takes a inswinging corner.

19:58

Anthony Grant handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Nathaniel Brown restarts play with the free kick.

19:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Draper on Chris Barker. Chris Barker restarts play with the free kick.

19:07

Long range shot by Bilel Mohsni goes wide right of the goal.

16:45

Freddy Eastwood takes a shot. Save made by Jose Veiga.

15:50

The official flags Tony Diagne offside. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

15:20

Matthew Hamshaw delivers the ball, clearance made by Bilel Mohsni.

14:30

Matthew Hamshaw sends in a cross, clearance made by Mark Phillips. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Hamshaw.

13:53

The ball is crossed by Sean Clohessy.

13:07

Neil Harris takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

11:53

Handball decision goes against Neil Harris. Jose Veiga takes the direct free kick.

10:54

Michael Timlin takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

10:10

Matthew Hamshaw produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

7:48

Ben Tomlinson takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

7:43

Centre by Matthew Hamshaw.

7:22

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Hamshaw from the right by-line, clearance by Peter Gilbert.

4:37

Ben Tomlinson takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

2:38

Unfair challenge on Peter Gilbert by Matthew Hamshaw results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Timlin.

0:57

The offside flag is raised against Neil Harris. Jose Veiga takes the free kick.

0:43

Ben Tomlinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant. Free kick taken by Chris Barker.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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