Drewe Broughton should lead the attack

Two weeks ago, following heavy rainfall in the Clacton area over the previous weekend, club officials finally informed Southend United that the match was postponed at 15:30 on the day of the game. Some Shrimpers did manage to get as far as the ground without having prior knowledge, but thankfully many, unlike last season’s debacle at Dagenham & Redbridge in the same competition, were informed early enough and called off their travel arrangements.

Now, with little rainfall in North Essex since a torrential downpour on Saturday, the odds are tipped more favourably towards the clash going ahead, and hopefully this will be the case – in the interests of reserve team fixture congestion more than anything else. Once again a Pontin’s Holidays Cup match has fallen by the wayside to accommodate this game, this time against Norwich City at Roots Hall, so United really would like to get this tie out of the way.

Of course, Southend will be sending a reserve side for tonight’s match, with the likelihood on a strong youth contingent being involved as in the third round encounter against Ford United, in which Jamie Gray sealed the win with the club’s eighth penalty kick. With injuries to Jamie Fullarton, Jamie Stuart and Steven Clark, who have all been involved in light training recently, the youngsters will be required tonight.

In goal, though, will be a much more experienced head. Fresh from saving three spot-kicks in that Ford game, Carl Emberson will continue trying to impress Steve Tilson and Paul Brush enough to win back his first-team spot. Behind him is Ryan Robinson, likely to fill a spot on the bench this evening, who just one month ago was plying his trade just down the road from Clacton at Ryman League Division One side Wivenhoe Town.

In front of Emberson, Saturday’s goalscoring hero Mark Warren is expected to be involved in the centre of defence having missed out on a start in the last couple of first-team fixtures. Warren is another to have experience of playing in the north of the county with Second Division rivals Colchester United. Alongside him should be Gray, who was sent off in his last trip to the northwest corner of Essex as he received his marching orders in the Under-19s game at the Garrison ‘B’ Ground against the U’s in August.

Two more youngsters are also likely to play in the full-back positions. Stuart Williams continues to impress with a series of composed displays at right-back, whilst Jordan Kelly has also been earning rave reviews by those that have seen him play – either in the centre or on the left-hand side of defence. Nick Skelton and Ben Price could both be named on the substitute to provide cover. For all the club’s scholars, this will be their final game before Christmas as they now embark on a four-week rest period for festivities.

The midfield is also seemingly about to be packed with youth-team scholars. Since the last fixture the situation has worsened, so all four positions could now be occupied by second- and third-years. Michael Kightly looks set to start on the right flank having been sacrificed only 23 minutes into the match at the Vetch Field at the weekend to compensate for Dave McSweeney’s dismissal. On the opposite side, Daryl Plummer should return to his more favoured left-wing role as he looks to earn a professional contract. Another seeking to do that, Anthony Clark, will line up alongside one of Frankie Everett, Luke Moore and David Bryan.

Up front, the experienced old head of Drewe Broughton should be fresh enough from his exploits at the weekend to spearhead the attack. He will be joined by the goalscorer in last week’s 2-1 Pontin’s Holidays Combination defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion – a result that put the Shrimpers second-string bottom – Michael Husbands, who has netted twice in just three reserve outings.

Games between the two clubs are hard to research, but by far the most important clash was the 1960 F.A. Cup tie at the Seasiders’ former Old Road ground. Southend ran out 3-1 winners on that occasion, and they twice defeated Clacton in the Essex Professional Cup final in the same generation. It is fifteen years now since Town moved from that ground, which they shared with Clacton Cricket Club, to the Rush Green Bowl.

Their present abode is some one-and-a-half miles from Clacton station on the First Great Eastern branch line, and the last service, which returns to Colchester for a connecting train to London Liverpool Street, departs at 22:25, causing problems should the tie go to (a conventional thirty minutes) extra time. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, but for those that would rather not risk it, we at The Little Gazette will be providing our usual comprehensive coverage of the fixture as soon as we return.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Wednesday 10th December 2003 - Pontin's Holidays Combination @ Roots Hall
Southend United Reserves 1 (Michael Husbands 1) Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves 2 (Mark Warren [o.g.] 8, Daniel Marney 37) [attendance: 54]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Carl Emberson; Stuart Williams, Jordan Kelly, Jamie Gray (Nick Skelton, half-time), Mark Warren; Steven Clark (Joe Ilett, half time), Anthony Clark, Frankie Everett (Luke Moore 75), Neil Jenkins; Michael Husbands, Daryl Plummer. Sub not used: Ryan Robinson.

Saturday 6^th December 2003 – Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Premier Division

Clacton Town 2 (Sean Hiller 17, Keith Hetherington 87) Newmarket Town 3

Clacton Town line-up: Darren Gould, Danny Cattermole, Dave Downs, Steff Falla, Gary Hudson, Lenny Pack, Sean Hillier, Paul Westren, Julian Charles, Keith Hetherington, Cameron Gove. Subs: Scott Gove, Richard Cox (both used).

Last Five Matches

Southend United Reserves
L1-2 (home; Brighton & Hove Albion; Pontin’s Holidays Combination; Michael Husbands)

D2-2 (away; Northampton Town; Pontin's Holidays Cup; Drewe Broughton 2)
D1-1 [won 6-5 on pens] (home; Ford United; Essex Senior Cup; Michael Husbands)
D0-0 (home; Norwich City; Pontin's Holidays Combination)
L0-5 (away; Reading; Pontin's Holidays Combination)

Clacton Town

L2-3 (home; Newmarket Town; Eastern Counties Premier Division; Sean Hillier, Keith Hetherington)

D0-0 (away; Lowestoft Town; Eastern Counties Premier Division)

W4-1 (home; Tiptree United; East Anglian Cup; Dave Downs, Scott Gove, Cameron Gove, Keith Hetherington)

D3-3 (away; Bury Town; Eastern Counties Premier Division; Steff Fella, Keith Hetherington 2)

W2-1 (home; Wroxham; Eastern Counties Premier Division; Sean Hillier, Paul Westren)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Pontin’s Holidays Combination League

Played: 5 | Won: 0 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 4 | Scored: 3 | Conceded: 12 | Goal Difference: -9 | Points: 1 | Position: 15^th

Pontin’s Holidays Cup Group B

Played: 1 | Won: 0 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 0 | Scored: 2 | Conceded: 2 | Goal Difference: 0 | Points: 1 | Position: 5^th

Essex Senior Cup

Third Round: beat Ford United (home) 6-5 on penalties after 0-0 draw after extra time

Clacton Town

Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Premier Division

Played: 21 | Won: 9 | Drawn: 8 | Lost: 4 | Scored: 28 | Conceded: 28 | Goal Difference: 0 | Points: 35 | Position: 8^th

F.A. Cup

First Preliminary Round: lost to Enfield Town (away) 1-2

F.A. Vase

First Round: lost to Sawbridgeworth Town (home) 1-2

East Anglian Cup

First Round: beat Needham Town (home) 3-1

Second Round: beat Tiptree United (home) 4-1

Essex Senior Cup

First Round: beat Waltham Abbey (away) 2-1

Second Round: beat Brentwood Town (away) 2-1

Third Round: beat Waltham Forest (away) 3-2

Jewson League Cup

First Round: lost to Wroxham (away) 0-2

SOUTHEND UNITED IN THE ESSEX SENIOR CUP - THE LAST TEN YEARS

2002-03
Round Three - Great Wakering Rovers 1, Southend United 2
Round Four - Hornchurch 1, Southend United 2
Quarter-Final - Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Southend United 4

Semi-Final – Chelmsford City 2 Southend United 0

2001-02
Round Three - Purfleet 3, Southend United 0

2000-01
Round Three - Southend United 3, Harwich & Parkeston 1
Round Four - Purfleet 4, Southend United 0

1999-00
Round Three - Southend United 2, Ford United 0
Round Four - Heybridge Swifts 1, Southend United 4
Quarter-Final - Southend United 1, Barking 1 (3-1 pens)
Semi-Final - Canvey Island 2, Southend United 1

1998-99
Round Three - Ford United 2, Southend United 3
Round Four - Southend United 1, Leyton Pennant 2 (After Extra Time)

1997-98
Round Three - Clapton 1, Southend United 2
Round Four - Southend United 2, Stanway Rovers 0
Quarter-Final - Southend United 8, Wivenhoe Town 0
Semi-final - Dagenham & Redbridge 6, Southend United 2

1996-97 - Winners
Round Two - Harwich & Parkeston 2, Southend United 3
Round Three - Southend United 3, Canvey Island 0
Quarter-Final - Southend United 5, Heybridge Swifts 2
Semi-Final - Southend United 4, Purfleet 1
Final (at Dagenham) - Braintree Town 1, Southend United 2 (After Extra Time)

1995-96
Round Two - Southend United 6, Canvey Island 0
Round Three - Southend United 5, Barkingside 1
Quarter-Final - Southend United 4, Purfleet 2
Semi-Final - Braintree Town 1, Southend United 1 (After Extra Time)
Semi-Final Replay - Southend United 0, Braintree Town 1

1994-95
Round Two - Southend United 2, Witham Town 1
Round Three - Aveley 1, Southend United 3
Quarter-Final - Southend United 1, Halstead Town 2 (After Extra Time)

1993-94
Round One - Witham Town 1 Southend United 6
Round Two - Heybridge Swifts 1 Southend United 2
Round Three - Leyton 7 Southend United 0

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com