SOUTHEND 0 CITY 1

IT WAS five years to the exact day that a jubilant Peter Jackson had lobbed his tie into the away end at Hereford.

A 1-1 draw at Edgar Street had ensured City would remain in the Football League and Jacko went to milk the moment with their 254 travelling fans.

On April 30, 2016, a victory at Southend guaranteed the Bantams their place in the League One play-offs – and more than 1,500 from Bradford were there to see it.

Gone are those dark days when ears were craned listening for the scores affecting Lincoln, Barnet and other 'relegation' rivals.

Instead news that Barnsley had collapsed to a late goal and Gillingham’s freefall goes on were met with glorious indifference with City’s fate already secure through their own efforts.

For those who still seem to doubt Phil Parkinson’s ability to keep moving this club on, the date April 30 should act as the ultimate proof. No further questions, M’lud.

The five seasons since a draw with Hereford – a club who have since had to reform – was seen as a cause for celebration have registered progress each time.

With a position in the top five now secure, City can finish the season with 80 points – their largest tally since going up to the Premier League in 1999.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, this campaign has been another step in the right direction.

Of course, nobody right now is sitting back and thinking about the job being done.

As Parkinson allowed his squad an extra day off to “chill” and enjoy the moment, his thoughts were already looking to the next challenge.

But City could not be hitting the play-offs in a richer vein of form. They should fear nobody.

That’s not cockiness but a confidence in what they do well.

I caught a Periscope interview with Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony on Friday night answering his critics over a season of under-achievement for the Posh.

It was entertaining listening but halfway through there was a pointed dig about style of play.

Without naming names, MacAnthony mentioned “certain teams” heading into the play-offs on the back of grinding out 1-0s and not conceding goals.

A back-handed compliment maybe but it was not hard to work out who he was talking about.

And yeah, his own team may have come out on the right side of a 4-3 thriller this weekend. But where are they in the end-of-season shake-up?

The respect might be grudging but there will be a lot of envious eyes cast in Valley Parade’s direction as three quarters of the division check their passports for the imminent summer hols.

There is no denying what a great job Parkinson and his squad have done over the second half of the season to reel in and bypass most of those above them.

When referee James Adcock at last blew the whistle on six-and-a-half minutes of five extra minutes, there was no need for an extravagant gesture from the manager.

No items of clothing were hurled into the packed stand behind the goal; just a cheery wave, a clap and a hug for his back-room staff at part one of this particular mission being accomplished.

The boisterous backing from West Yorkshire – many in fancy dress ranging from anything from Hawaiian shirts to priests to “Bradford Jesus Man” - were not after souvenirs.

They had got their reward with another 1-0 and another three points to make sure that the season would extend by at least another three weeks.

“I’m so pleased for the supporters,” beamed Parkinson afterwards as many queued up for selfies by the team coach.

“We got up in the morning, looked out of the hotel and there were Bradford fans everywhere.

“The team went for a walk and we could see them in all the pubs. It was such a great sight.

“You can see the momentum building and they are like the 12th man.

“They’ve spent a lot of money and time to come and watch and we had a duty to make sure they went back up the motorway having seen a good, committed performance – and they definitely saw that.”

It was not always the prettiest even after Lee Evans had swept City into an early lead.

James Meredith alertly picked off a loose pass from defender Piotr Malarczyk and then it was all down to Evans as Southend obligingly left him room to turn and shoot precisely into the bottom corner.

Maybe City thought that would be it and the Shrimpers, with little to play for but pride, would roll over at that point and accept defeat.

But keen to offer their own fans something to cheer from the final home game, Phil Brown’s side responded by throwing caution to a fairly gusty wind.

Long throws were hurled into the box and Southend looked to hit targetman Tyrone Barnett at every opportunity. It made for a testing afternoon for newly-crowned player of the year Reece Burke in front of his own travelling contingent of family and friends.

I came in for some flak for recent comments about Ben Williams following his aberration at Shrewsbury. But clean sheet number 21, or 26 in all as he rightly mentions to include the FA Cup, owed as much to the keeper’s agility as the diligence of those protecting him.

Williams made an athletic tip-over from Ryan Leonard in the first half and then a scrambling block from his legs after the midfielder’s long throw caused havoc in the goal mouth in the second.

His one moment of real concern came from an overhead kick by Barnett that crashed against the bar and bounced out.

But City had their chances to create some breathing space in a surprisingly physical encounter.

Evans could have had a second within ten minutes of his goal and City had two strong penalty shouts rejected – the second for hand ball against Ben Coker looking particularly convincing.

Stephen Darby was a whisker away from breaking his league duck with a far-post slide and Southend keeper Ted Smith denied sub Jamie Proctor.

And there was almost a fairy-tale end when Paul Anderson, entering the pitch for the first time since breaking his leg in September, clipped a shot against the top of the bar.

But City’s day beside the seaside had gone swimmingly for those on and off the pitch. And bigger days out beckon this month.

REFEREE: James Adcock (Nottingham)

BOOKINGS: McLaughlin (Southend); Reid, McArdle, Darby (City)

ATTENDANCE: 8,571

Shots on target: Southend 3, City 3

Shots off target: Southend 4, City 8

Corners: Southend 7, City 7

Fouls committed: Southend 18, City 17