Braintree Town v Southend United - Preview

Manager Rob Newman takes another opportunity to examine his squad.

Trialists Mark Salter and Neil Jenkins, both of whom impressed at Burnham Ramblers on Friday night should play a part in proceedings once more as Newman will undoubtedly opt to play two differing sides in each half once again.

Thankfully there are no fresh injury worries ahead of the Braintree match as Newman goes into the encounter with a fully fit squad to choose from and it is thought that Shrimpers fans will see Portugese winger Paulo Martins, who sat out the Burnham clash, in action for the first time.

Braintree Town, in their first season in the top flight of the Isthmian League -having worked their way from the basement after switching from the Southern League - flirted with the top spot during the early stages of last season and will be looking for similar success this time around.

Former United midfielder Nicky Smith, last season's Club captain, has left the Cressing Road outfit but another ex-Shrimper still with The Iron is left back Mark Jones.

Braintree boss Ben Embery will be relying on his array of new signings however, the most notable being the aquisition of AFC Sudbury hitman Sam Banya. Other new arrivals at Cressing Road include midfielders Adam Gillespie (Heybridge Swifts) and Wayne Houghton (Tiptree United).

This will be the Shrimpers first visit to Braintree for over six years, the last coming in the 1996 Essex Senior Cup semi-final. The origfinal tie went into extra time at Cressing Road before Steve Tilsaon gave a strong Southend side the lead, but a Wade Falana equaliser brought a Roots Hall replay which saw United dumped out of the competition with a miserable 1-0 reverse. Revenge was sweet just over twelve months later however as an early strike from Danish forward Peter Dursan and a superb extra time winner from Wesley Thurley saw United defeat Braintree, 2-1 to life the 1996-97 Senior Cup in a final played at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Striker Tony Richards will be looking to add to his pre-season tally.

SOUTHEND (from):- Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Damon Searle, Mark Beard, Neil Jenkins, Phil Whelan, Stephen Broad, Daniel Lunan, Leon Cort, Rio Alderton, Stuart Thurgood, Kevin Maher, Ian Selley, Danny Maye, Paulo Martins, Mark Rawle, Barrington Belgrave, Steven Clark, Tony Richards, Mark Salter, Tesfaye Bramble, Daniel Webb.

BRAINTREE (from):- Paul Catley, Simon Morden, Brett Girling, Mark Jones, Gavin Cowan, David Culverhouse, Gary Waters, Dave Kreyling, Adam Gillespie, Dean Parratt, Bradley Quinton, Nicky Simpson, Wayne Houghton, Tommy Noble, Neil Cousins, Richard Blackery, Sam Banya.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com