Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's League Two playoff semi-final second leg between Southend United and Crewe Alexandra.
Crewe enter the match with a 1-0 advantage having triumphed in the first leg on Saturday, and therefore the match is delicately poised with a trip to Wembley on offer.
Seasiders boss Paul Sturrock has bemoaned his injury list in recent days, and the club face a tough test against a team who are now unbeaten in their last 17 matches.
Crewe have won four of their last six meetings with Southend, but the Blues did the double over Alexandra in the league this season.
(Please refresh this page for the latest updates)
So there we have it. Crewe have advanced to the final of the League Two playoff after overcoming Southend 3-2 on aggregate. It was the away side who moved into an early lead, before Southend levelled it in the second period. Clayton moved Crewe 2-1 ahead late in the match, before Barker levelled it at 2-2 on the night. Southend will feel that they deserved it after they rattled the woodwork twice, but Crewe also had a series of chances in the first period. Our full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the coverage.
FULL-TIME: Southend 2(2)- 2(3) Crewe (Crewe advance to the final)
90 min+3: Throw-in to Crewe in the Southend half, which should be just about it for this one.
90 min+2: Another chance for Mohsni as Hills finds the midfielder in the box, but his header is over.
90 min+1: Still Southend attack with a series of balls into the box. Harris on the ball, but he loses possession.
90 min: We will play an additional four minutes.
90 min: Crewe have a free kick in the Southend half, just where they want it. Time is drifting away.
89 min: All Southend with moments of normal time remaining.
Southend are back in this as Hall finds Barker with a cross, and the defender powers it into the back of the net!
88 min: GOAL! Southend 2-2 Crewe (Barker)
87 min: It's so unkind on Southend. Football is such a cruel game, and we have seen that this evening.
Clayton surely sends Crewe into the final as he evades Luke Prosser in the box before finding the bottom corner.
86 min: GOAL! Southend 1-2 Crewe (Clayton)
85 min: Flag up for offside as Mohsni attempts to win yet another header. Time is certainly on Crewe's side.
84 min: Chance! What a chance for Southend as Hills finds Mohsni in the box, but he can only head straight at Phillips.
83 min: Straight out of play from Clohessy as he searches out Hall. Little over 10 remaining with Southend on the attack.
82 min: It's poor from Eastwood who heads straight out of play from inside the box. It's all in the air for Southend at the moment.
80 min: Wonderful ball from Hall as he whips a cross into the box, but it's headed away for a corner. Mohsni meets the set piece, but it's over the bar.
80 min: Chance for Matt Tootle as Westwood finds the defender in the box, but he drags it wide.
78 min: Another Mohsni flick, but Southend cannot capitalise on the chance. He has literally won every single header this evening - quite stunning.
77 min: Crewe continue to waste time as we approach the final 10 minutes. Can Southend score?
76 min: The clock is not on Southend's side as they continue to push for the leveller. It's all gone a bit quiet in the past few moments, just as Crewe would like it.
75 min: Change for Crewe as Leitch-Smith is replaced by Max Clayton.
73 min: Another chance for Powell as he evades Barker in the box, but he fires it over the bar.
72 min: Southend continue to launch balls into the box with 20 minutes remaining. Can they force this one into extra time? It certainly seems that way, as Powell is booked for diving.
70 min: Another header from Mohsni, but his flick-on is collected by Phillips. He was won every header this evening.
69 min: Mohsni continues to win every header. You get the feeling that he will create something in the latter stages.
68 min: Another chance for Southend as Hills finds Hall with a cross, but his header is collected by Phillips.
67 min: Southend just need to be careful here as Crewe are a real danger on the counter, with Powell beginning to influence the match.
66 min: It's all Southend as we approach the last 25 minutes and I honestly cannot call it.
65 min: Powell so nearly sends Crewe back into the lead with an effort from the edge of the box, but it drifts just wide.
Southend are back in this match as Harris pounces on a loose ball in the box before finishing with ease. Brilliant from the experienced forward.
64 min: GOAL! Southend 1-1 Crewe (Harris)
64 min: Another chance for Southend as Mohsni finds Eastwood with a header, but Crewe clear the danger.
62 min: Good work from Powell as he challenges Grant on the edge of the box, but he fires it straight over the bar.
61 min: Really nice work from Harris as he releases Hall. The winger cuts inside but can only fire his effort straight over the bar.
60 min: Suddently it's all Southend with 30 minutes remaining. They need one back, but the threat of Crewe is still there as Powell hits the side-netting.
59 min: That is how quickly football can change. Southend are still in this match, and don't they know it.
57 min: Chance! Wonderful play from Eastwood as he evades the Crewe defence before smashing an effort on goal, but it hits the inside of the post. So, so unlucky.
55 min: It seems that Harris will play just behind Eastwood for this second period, as Southend begin to attack. They come close with an effort from Eastwood, but Phillips gathers.
53 min: Chance! Glorious chance for Southend as Timlin strikes an effort from the edge of the box, but it smashes off the post. Change for Southend as Benyon is replaced by Neil Harris.
53 min: Chance! Another fine chance for the away side as Powell evades Hills before striking an effort on goal, but it just goes high of the bar.
51 min: More good work from Ashley Westwood as he finds Powell in the box, but it breaks down at the vital moment.
49 min: Still isn't quite happening for Southend in attacking areas, with Crewe coming close via Powell and Leitch-Smith.
47 min: Wonderful save from Belford after Moore evades Hills and strikes a brilliant effort on goal. Great strike, great save.
47 min: Really nice work from Grant to gain possession for the home side. They have, once more, started on the front foot.
46min: We are underway in the second period. Can Southend respond? They need two without reply to send this into extra time.
So there we have it, an early strike from Leitch-Smith has given Crewe a 2-0 aggregate lead over Southend at the break. It might and perhaps should have been three with efforts from Moore and Leitch-Smith, but Southend have arguably played the better football, and have had a series of chances of their own. It's so delicately poised ahead of the second period.
HALF-TIME: Southend 0-1 Crewe (Crewe lead 2-0 on aggregate)
46min+2: It's a waste from Southend late in the half as Mohsni plays it straight out of play.
45 min: We will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half.
44 min: Still Southend push forward in the latter stages of the half as Hills finds Eastwood in the box, but his strike is blocked.
42 min: The home side look ever so shaky at the back as we approach the break. Southend need some sort of inspiration here.
40 min: Chance! Another wonderful chance for Crewe as Leitch-Smith finds himself in the box, but he tries to chip Belford, who gathers the ball. Crewe should be three up.
37 min: Clohessy searches out Mohsni in the box, but his header is high and wide of the target.
36 min: Southend resume play on the attack, but still Crewe continue to resist the pressure.
34 min: Chance! Glorious chance for Crewe as Cameron Belford presents the ball to Moore in a one-on-one position, but somehow he fires over. What a miss that is.
33 min: Southend really need to get Hall involved in this match, every time he has had it he has made something happen. Little over 10 minutes to play of the half.
32 min: Change for Southend as Lee Hills replaces Gilbert, looks to be an injury for the defender.
31 min: Chance! Southend have the ball in the net as Phillips can only parry a Hall shot into the feet of Eastwood, but the offside flag is raised.
31 min: It's more possession play from the home side but they just cannot force that final ball into Eastwood.
29 min: One goal for Southend changes this match, as they continue to push forward.
27 min: Chance for Southend as Peter Gilbert finds Mohsni in the box, but Phillips punches the ball clear.
26 min: It's harsh on Southend, who have looked the most likely thus far. You get the feeling that they need a goal back before the break.
Wonderful goal from Leitch-Smith as he checks inside Clohessy before firing an effort into the bottom corner. Just brilliant there from the youngster.
24 min: GOAL! Southend 0-1 Crewe (Leitch-Smith)
24 min: Still Southend continue to look the most likely as Timlin delivers a ball into the box, but it's too near Phillips. Not great from the midfielder.
22 min: Really good spell for Southend with Michael Timlin and Eastwood both involved, but the danger is cleared. We haven't seen much from Benyon thus far.
21 min: Both sides have had an equal share of possession thus far, just as you would expect in a playoff encounter.
20 min: Chance for Southend as Clohessy strikes from the edge of the box, but it goes horribly wide when he might have done better.
19 min: More good work from Southend as Ryan Hall searches out Eastwood in the box, but once more the danger is cleared. You just get the feeling that Mohsni will have a say in this match.
17 min: Penalty shout for Crewe as Leitch-Smith falls in the box under the challenge of Chris Barker, but no decision is forthcoming.
16 min: Another chance for Southend as Sean Clohessy searches out Eastwood in the box, but it's too near Phillips. We remain 0-0 with 16 minutes on the clock.
14 min: Stoppage in the match as Grant receives treatment, he seems okay to continue, however.
13 min: Chance! Really smart work from Mohsni who feeds Benyon in the box, but his shot is straight into the face of Adam Dugdale.
13 min: It's been an enjoyable start to the match with both sides carrying a threat. Eastwood and Mohsni are the obvious threats for the home side.
11 min: I'm not sure what Grant had for breakfast this morning, but I want some. He has been everywhere in the Southend midfield thus far.
10 min: Nice work from Nick Powell as he finds Byron Moore, but the home side resist the danger. Crewe are just starting to exert some attacking pressure with AJ Leitch-Smith an obvious threat.
8 min: First real spell of pressure for the away side as they force a corner. However, Mohsni heads the ball clear before Lee Bell fires over from the edge of the box.
7 min: Crewe haven't really started this match yet, as Mohsni dips an effort straight at Steve Phillips.
5 min: Really nice work from Anthony Grant as he collects the ball in midfield and drives forward. He really is a fantastic player at this level. Still Southend make the early noises.
4 min: The home fans are in good voice this evening, and their side has started the brighter.
2 min: It's nice work from Freddy Eastwood as he searches out Elliot Benyon in the box, but it's cleared.
1 min: The home side immediately on the attack with Bilel Mohsni, but his touch is heavy and the ball is collected by Kelvin Mellor.
1 min: Here we go then, Southend get us underway on this mild evening in Essex. Next stop for one of these two teams, Wembley.
19.35: The players are training on the pitch ahead of kickoff, Freddy Eastwood has come into the Southend side tonight, with Neil Harris dropping to the bench.
19.25: We are just 20 minutes away from the beginning of tonight's encounter. Crewe have a slight lead entering the match, but a goal for either side would change the mood dramatically. Tonight's referee is Darren Drysdale.
Matt Law
