Squad Numbers 2002/03 & Chelmsford City 1 Southend United 6 (Pre-Season Friendly August 2002)

The numbers are as follows, although surprisingly neither Daniel Lunan nor Rio Alderton have as yet been allocated a number:-

1 - Darryl Flahavan
2 - Stephen Broad
3 - Damon Searle
4 - Leon Cort
5 - Phil Whelan
6 - David McSweeney
7 - Stuart Thurgood
8 - Kevin Maher
9 - Tesfaye Bramble
10 - Barrington Belgrave
11 - Mark Rawle
12 - Steven Clark
13 - Daniel Gay
14 - Tony Richards
15 - Mark Beard
16 - Danny Maye
17 - Daniel Webb
18 - Ian Selley

(Article first appeared July 17 2002)

Mark Rawle notched a brace.

Manager Rob Newman, as pleased as he's sure to be, will be a very relieved man having been convinced that his side can outclass lower league oppostion that his team has struggled so badly against in recent weeks, and ironically enough Chelmsford are probably the best of the non-league sides United have faced.

United began the match with a near full strength side, although Daniel Gay started in goal and the Shrimpers were still without the injured former City frontman Tes Bramble, nine half time change however saw Southend field virtually an entirely different side in the second half with trialists John McGrath, Jay Smith, Wayne Burnett, Neil Jenkins and goalkeeper Dale Brightley all getting a run out.

Southend started off the better side and despite Sam Kevell curling an early free kick well over Gay's crossbar, Leon Cort came close to giving United the lead on six minutes when his header from a Kevin Maher corner was deflected inches wide of the post. It was within sixty seconds though that Southend stole the intiative, another Maher flag kick finding its way to Cort who's header hit goalkeeper Richard Hurst before Mark Rawle poked home the loose ball from close range.

As United began to look threatening from their corner routines, Phil Whelan ficked another Maher kick just wide before City grabbed an unexpected equaliser on the quater hour mark, and rather worrying it once again came whilst United were defending a corner themselves. Lee Kersley finding space to powerfully drill the ball home from a Dean Gibbs corner despite a crowded penalty area.

Three minutes later and City were given a great chance to take the lead as referee John Hayto awarded the home side a penalty following an innocous Stephen Broad challenge on Kevell. Daniel Gay however got down very well to push Phil Gray's spot kick up and over the crossbar.

Manager Rob Newman will be much happier with his team.

Within four minutes and Southend got back in the driving seat, Kevin Maher more than rattling the goal frame with a marvellous long range shot that came back off the top of the inside of the post, before Rawle somehow managed to scuff a shot well away from goal following a neat build up involving Ian Selley and Graeme Jones. The leads was regained on 33 minutes, and it came from yet another Maher corner, this time Cort managed to plant a firm header past the helpless Hurst from 12 yards.

As the encounter swayed into a rather one-sided affair, the Shrimpers extended their advantage in the 38th minute, Mark Rawle, despite slightly mishitting his shot, managed to slot a shot past Hurst from 10 yards having connected on to a Selley cross. Kersley then had to be on his toes to hack clear a Steven Clark shot before Maher's corner was flicked on by Whelan as far as Damon Searle who oked the ball into the side netting.

However the fourth goal wasn't far away, it came on 43 minutes in fact, with Seleey's long cross out wide to Rawle starting the move off as Rawle sprinted towards goal, shot past Hurst with Jones making sure by knocking the ball over the line.

As the second half got off to a rather slow start, the first action didn't arrive until the 57th minute, with Hurst's fine diving save denying Neil Jenkins after a good run and shot. City's Nicky Gyoury should have done better two minutes later however, blasting over Gay's goal having been played almost clean through on the Srimpers custodian.

Tony Richards had an excellent second half.

Tony Richards, who despite his many knockers, had a very good forty-five minutes, and he was unlucky, when also through on goal, that his shot was blocked and eventually scrambled away for a corner. Soon after an excellent move played Daniel Webb in but the final ball was just an inch too far in front of the young striker.

Richards chipped just wide following a long Jay Smith ball before the strong striker did well again on 67 minute, turning and sending a fierce shot just wide of the far post. Two minutes later Richards turned provider, flicking the ball onto Webb who volleyed wide. As the Southend's pressure refused ti come to an end, Webb's turn and shot brought a great stop out of Hurst, but the stocky goalkeeper dropped the resulting John McGrath corner, although luckily for Hurst his defence managed to bundle the ball clear. Richard then flicked the ball just wide following a neat, swirling, cross from Barrington Belgrave.

United's fifth goal arrived on 78 minutes, a good Webb run eventually saw the ball into the box where Selley - the only player to be given a whole ninety minutes - slid the ball into the bottom corner from eight yards.

McGrath curled a free kick just wide following a clumsy foul on Belgrave before the scoring, anmd United's emphatic victory, was completed in the 81st minute, McGrath's fine cross being met with a neat, looping Daniel Webb header which saw Hurst floundering as the ball dropped into the net from close range.

Belgrave slipped a shot just wide of the post on 87 minutes following a Jenkins ball across goal, but even without a further goal Rob Newman, and the Southend supporters will be more than happy with a fine evening's work.

SOUTHEND:- Daniel Gay (Dale Brightley 76); Stephen Broad (Mark Beard 46), Damon Searle (Neil Jenkins 46), Leon Cort (Wayne Burnett 46), Phil Whelan (David McSweeney 46); Ian Selley, Kevin Maher (Barrington Belgrave 46), Steven Clark (Jay Smith 46), Danny Maye (John McGrath 46), Mark Rawle (Tony Richards 46), Graeme Jones (Daniel Webb 46).

CHELMSFORD:- Richard Hurst; Brian Statham, Ian Cousins, Lee Kersley (Nicky Gyoury 46), Ian Wiles; Sam Kevell, Gareth Street (Russell Williamson 46), Mike Rutherford, Dean Gibbs (Dean Grey 65); Phil Gray (Ben Eaton 61), Junior Samuels. Unused sub - George Ley.

GOALS - Rawle 7, 38, Cort 33, Jones 43, Selley 78, Webb 81.

REFEREE - John Hayto (Chelmsford)

(Article first appeared August 1 2002)