The good news for the Shrimpers was that their strongest side, in the first half, more than dominated proceedings and after Drewe Broughton had handed Steve Tilson’s men a fourth minute lead the League side should have taken a far more superior lead into the interval than that of a single goal.
However, Broughton himself limped out of the action shortly after the half hour mark after twisting his ankle whilst colliding into the advertising boards following a challenge on Billericay goalkeeper David McCarthy.
A less experienced Southend side, including youth team starlets Ben Price, Max Porter, Stuart Williams – the only Southend player to fulfil the whole ninety minutes – and Tommy Byrne. Almost inevitable it was defender David McSweeney, released by United during the close season, who headed home the Ryman Premier League side’s equaliser with twenty minutes remaining. McSweeney, on trial at New Lodge, joined Leon Hunter, Michael Black and Frankie Everett as the ex-Shrimpers on show for the home side whilst another, Danny Kerrigan, sat out through injury.
Playing once again in their silver LDV Vans Trophy Final shirts, Southend were quick of the starting blocks against Justin Edinburgh’s side and the opening goal on four minutes came courtesy of a fine mover. The ever diminutive Che Wilson won the ball on the half way line, before being forced to win it back again and then played a nonchalant ball through to Broughton to confidently chipped the ball over the advancing McCarthy and into the unguarded net. (0-1)
Dutch shot-stopper Bart Griemink was also called into early action when he was called upon to grasp former Millwall frontman Danny Hockton’s low shot before Bradley Allen, once of Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic, headed just off target moments later.
The visitors were soon back in the thick of attacking action though when Lawrie Dudfield first flicked a shot into the arms of McCarthy before firing into the side netting not long afterwards.
Broughton, who has enjoyed a fine pre-season up until his injury in this match, curled a shot just wide of the upright following neat work by eighteen-year old Michael Kightly.
Billericay, however, squandered a glorious chance shortly before the thirty minute mark when Keiran Gallagher nodded a Neil Cousins cross over the crossbar from close range despite finding himself rather alarmingly unmarked.
Southend it was though who enjoyed by far the best end to the half. Jimmy Corbett side-footed over the top from 20 yards from a low Kightly ball before Nicky Nicolau’s speculative chip, following a decent run, bounced off the top of the crossbar. It was then, in the ensuing action, that Broughton picked up his unfortunate injury, luckily for United though it did not look particularly serious.
The first half then came to close only seconds after skipper Kevin Maher had driven a fierce effort just wide of the upright following a strong run.
Half-time: Billericay Town 0 Southend United 1
The second half unfortunately petered out for a much-changed United side, but they still started stronger than their hosts immediately after the interval and the first opportunity saw Adam Barret’s thunderous diving header, from a Mark Gower free kick, superbly blocked before young Max Porter zipped the loose ball inches off target from 25 yards.
As the half ticked on chances for either side seemed few and far between despite some neat build-up play, but a fine one-two involving Wayne Gray and Gower resulted in the former turning acutely before poking a shot into the grateful arms of McCarthy.
It was only moments later though, with the clock showing 70 minutes, that the home side eventually found an equaliser and it came when McSweeney rose high at the far post to plant a firm header past Darryl Flahavan from a Danny Jones corner. (1-1)
After the leveller, virtually everybody in the rather healthy pre-season crowd expected nothing more thsan for the score to remain the same, and that is just what happened although United did have some final chances.
Corbett, returning to the field for the final fifteen minutes, as did Andy Edwards, curling a 20 yard effort just off target before the ex-Blackburn Rovers man also saw his shot, three minutes from time, thwarted by the blocking legs of goalkeeper McCarthy.
MATCH FACTS
BILLERIAY TOWN...(0) 1 SOUTHEND UNITED (1) 1
Pre-Season Friendly, Monday, 26th July 2004 @ New Lodge
Line-ups:
The Blues (4-4-2; blue shirts with black trim, white shorts shorts, blue socks):- David McCarthy; Gavin Herrea, Jamie Dormer, David McSweeney, Robin Trott (Danny Jones 32); Stuart Fergus (Pappy Kanyuka 46), Leon Hunter, Neil Cousins (Michael Black 67), Keiran Gallagher (Danny Stanley 46); Danny Hockton (Ludovic Quiston 56), Bradley Allen (Ross Wareham 56). Unused subs – Frankie Everett, Gary Henty, Chris Stowe, Mark Hardingham.
The Shrimpers (4-4-2; silver, navy, navy):- Bart Griemink (Darryl Flahavan 46); Stuart Williams, Nicky Nicolau (Ben Price 65), Andy Edwards (Lewis Hunt 46), Adam Barrett (Jimmy Corbett 76); Che Wilson (Andy Edwards 76), Kevin Maher (Max Porter 46), Jimmy Corbett (Tesfaye Bramble 46), Michael Kightly (Mark Gower 46); Drewe Broughton (Wayne Gray 36), Lawrie Dudfield (Tommy Byrne 77).
Goals: Billericay : McSweeney 70 (headed home a Stanley corner at the far post; inside area; timed at 69:56). Southend: Broughton 4 (latched onto a Wilson through ball before lobbing the ball over McCarthy from 20 yards; outside area; timed at 03:53).
Total Goal Efforts: Billericay 7, Southend 18
Shots/headers on target: Billericay 3, Southend 4
Shots/headers off target: Billericay 3, Southend 9
Blocked shots: Billericay 1, Southend 4
Hit Woodwork: Billericay 0, Southend 1
Corners: Billericay 6, Southend 7
Free Kicks: Billericay 14, Southend 14
Caught Offside: Billericay 4, Southend 9
Match Time:
First Half: 45:02. Second Half: 45:42. Total: 90:44
Referee: Ray Lee (Rayleigh)
Mark Wallis
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