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Wignall soon got down to business and spent £25,000 on Mark Gower from Barnet as well as bringing in goalkeepers Carl Emberson (Luton Town) and Ryan Robinson (Blackburn Rovers), defenders Duncan Jupp (Luton), Mark Warren (Colchester United) and Che Wilson (Cambridge City). Midfielders Jim Corbett (Blackburn), Leke Odunsi (Millwall) and Jamie Fullarton (Brentford) arrived to accompany Gower and Drewe Broughton (Kidderminster Harriers) and Michael Husbands (Aston Villa) were frontline signings.
Another signing, which has undoubtedly worked out as a major coup, arrived in late August when Leon Constantine arrived on a free transfer from Brentford. Constantine has proved to be the first Shrimpers player to score eelven goals before the new year since Brett Angell twelve years ago.
It was a rather truncated pre-season schedule for United who played just four home and one away match. Unfortunately it was only the away tie at Maldon Town which brought a victory - 1-0 thanks to a Leon Cort header - and even Canvey Island came away from Roots Hall with a single goal win. However despite going down 4-2 at home to Ipswich Town, United were two goals ahead early in that game and showed clear signs of promise. Wignall's men were also unluckily beaten by one goal to nil against Gillingham.
Colchester United then visited the Mouth of the Thames seven days before the start of the season and equalised late on after another Cort header had given United the lead.
The Division Three campaign began in near 40 degrees centigrade as Cheltenham Town visiting a sweltering Roots Hall, and United duly turned the heat on even more turning in a fantastic performance to triumph 2-0 courtesy of a Mark Gower brace, with the latter coming from the penalty spot. Another fine performance arrived three days later in the first round of the Carling Cup, but Second Division Swindon Town, courtesy of a winner from ex-Shrimper Tommy Mooney, edged United out 3-2 after Kevin Maher and Broughton had put Wignall's side into the lead.
A disappointing awayday at Doncaster Rovers, freshly promoted from the Conference brought a 2-0 defeat before an Iyesden Christie hat-trick earned Mansfield Town an emphatic 3-0 trimumph at Roots Hall. Another away defeat then followed - 2-0 at York City - as the Shrimpers were left flondering in the lower reaches of the League table.
Thankfully a winning service returned for the home clash with Bury when Leon Constantine smashed home a late winner despite a missed penalty from Gower, but United slipped to a 2-0 reverse at Oxford United seven days later.
Southend then travelled to the mightily impressive Kingston Communications Stadium - the new home of Hull City - looking to avoid what would be Club record thirteenth away defeat. It all started well as Constantine poked Southend into the lead on just two minutes, but United found themselves 3-1 behind wiuth ten minutes remaining when Tes Bramble nodded home a second. Then, in the final minute the Shrimpers were awarded a penalty, but in a season of missed penalties, Bramble saw his effort saved and the awayday hoodoo continued to haunt.
Meanwhile, United were also struggling at home and a 2-0 defeat against Lincoln - including a missed penalty by Duncan Jupp - saw Southend drop into the relegation zone before a two goal lead was dropped in a 2-2 draw with Carlisle United, Kevin Maher missing a penalty in that game.
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A late winner for Huddersfield Town brought a 2-1 reverse at Roots Hall despite Leke Odunsi's early opener in the first match of October before, finally, an away victory was forthcoming. Mark Warren had opened United's account at Aggborough against Kidderminster Harriers with a fierce free-kick but JJ Melligan had levelled for the home side before Bramble poked home a winner with the very last kick of the match.
However that away joy was ruined by back-to-back home defeats against Leyton Orient - 1-2 (Constantine) and Boston United, 0-2, sandwiched in between though was a 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy victory over Bristol Rovers, Gower grabbing a 'silver' goal after Constantine had cancelled out Lewis Haldane's effort. Still, Southend were now flying away from home and Jay Smith Smith even managed a goal from the penalty spot as he doubled the lead given to United by Constantine in a 2-1 win at Macclesfield Town.
Unfortunately though a 0-1 home defeat against Northampton Town on the first day of November signalled the end of Wignall who was fired on the Monday. David Webb, three times Blues boss took over on a temporary basis and it seemed to work as a third successive away win arrived in the LDV at Swansea City, 2-1 courtesy of Bramble and Jim Corbett.
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The away run finally ended with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat at Yeovil Town before the Canvey replay brought a dramatic finish at Park Lane. Lee Boylan had put the Gulls aheadearly on but Bramble's close range strike brought United level before Canvey, through Jeff Minton, struck again on the stroke of half time. However it took Smith just twenty second half seconds to equalise again before the same player struck a glorious winner deep into the third minute of injury time to hand Southend a second round berth, owever Webb's reign as caretaker was over and Steve Tilson and former Leyton Orient boss Paul Brush took over whilst the search for a new boss continued.
Then, a 4-0 home victory over Rochdale courtesy of Bramble (2), a Corbett penalty and Constantine brought the Shrimpers biggest victory for over ten years, but a 3-0 defeat against Torquay United at Plainmoor brought November to an end.
The FA Cup second round brought a superb performance and a 3-0 victory over Lincoln City (Gower, Bramble, Corbett) before Luton Town, of Division Two, also succumbed 3-0 in the LDV courtesy of Constantine. Michael Kightly and Broughton.
A second trip to Swansea of the season then brought a most remarkable victory. Southend had fought back from an early goal down to equalise through Constantine before David McSweeney was sent-off, but even with ten men, Gower put the Shrimpers ahead before the break. However, with five minutes remaining Gower, and Smith were both sent-off leaving United with only eight players. With just eight players though Warren smashed Southend 3-1 ahead deep into injury time and earned a most unlikely victory despite City grabbing a consolation in the seventh minute of time added on.
Unfortunately despite a great performance Southend were defeated 1-0 by Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall with Gower and Broughton both missing penalties.
A Boxing Day away victory at Cambridge United then followed though, with Constantine stealing the winner just before half time. The year ended on a sour note with a 1-0 defeat home to Oxford United with ex-Shrimper Mark Rawle grabbing the visitor's goal.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com