With Bart Griemink picking up a six-week knee strain in the 4-1 win against Rushden & Diamonds and Nick Morgan decreed not strong enough for first-team football at this junction, ex-Southampton trainee Flahavan was the only Shrimpers shotstopper on the field as United went down by two goals to one against Wycombe Wanderers, although the 25-year-old could not be faulted alone for either strike.
Morgan, the youth-team custodian, was allowed to travel to the Garrison ‘B’ Ground, where Southend’s Under-18 side defeated Colchester United two-nil in a pre-cursor to the LDV Vans Trophy first round clash at Layer Road in a fortnight. While he did so, Tilson revealed to the club’s official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, that midfielder Bentley was prepared to go between the sticks if Flahavan had have been injured.
The 38-year-old said, “Mark Bentley was on stand-by as back-up keeper because he fancies himself between the sticks which isn’t ideal”. Earlier in the interview, Tilson had commented, “Obviously we didn’t have anyone on the bench against Wycombe which is a situation we are not keen on”, having earlier told the assembled masses at the Shrimpers Trust Question & Answer session that he would be looking for a young Premiership star to bring in on loan.
Amongst those Tilson could be looking at are Arsenal trio Michael Jordan, Mark Howard and Chris Wright, whilst another possible target, Craig Holloway, who was formerly with the Gunners, is thought to be out of the question after becoming Farnborough Town’s number one during the summer.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com