Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Southend United 3

Last updated : 24 July 2004 By Mark Wallis
Steve Tilson’s side had cruised into a three-nil lead within 58 minutes against the Nationwide Conference outfit, but as Dagenham began to become very physical, the Shrimpers let their foot of the gas, but eventually found themselves claiming only a draw from the match as a drmatic leveller in the fifth minute of stoppage time from Jake Leberl completed a phenomenal comeback from the East London side.

Regardless of the eventual outcome though, Southend can take heart from what was, the final quarter of an hour apart, a fine professional performance against a side just one Division below themselves.

Drewe Broughton, who once spent three months on loan with the Daggers, put in an impressive first half performance and it was he, having already come close on a couple of occasions, who handed United the lead with 28 minutes on the clock when he connected onto a Mark Gower cross to smash the ball into the roof of the net at the far post. (0-1)

Jim Corbett had also come close to finding the back of the net, twice testing former Wales International goalkeeper Tony Roberts, prior to Broughton opening the scoring whilst the home side didn’t create their first real opening until seven minutes before the interval, but even then midfielder Ben Sedgemore shot well wayward.

Michael Kightly should have doubled the Seasiders lead when he sprinted at goal having collected a Gower pass, but as Roberts advanced off his goalline the eighteen-year old wideman chipped his shot agonisingly over the crossbar. Corbett also saw himseld denied by Roberts as United found themselves only a single goal ahead at the interval despite virtually dominaying proceedings.

Half-time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Southend United 1

Tilson made wholesale changes to his side at hal-time with only Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Kevin Maher, Mark Gower and Michael Kightly remaining on the pitch to see out the entire ninety minutes.

Only seconds after the re-start the lively Wayne Gray got into the action, muscling Ashley Vickers off the ball before firing into the arms of Roberts. Southend were then denied a spot-kick when Bramble, having burst through the Daggers defence was bundled to the ground by Anwar Uddin, but the big frontman maybe should have shot goalwards before the ex-Bristol Rovers defender was allowed to make any contact.

However, with 53 minutes played the lead was doubled with a very well-taken goal by Gray who turned onto a fantastic low Wilson centre to fire a fierce shot into the roof of the net from ten yards. (0-2)

Then, just five minutes later the Shrimpers added a third when Gray, again, was on hand to poke into an empty net after Roberts, challenged by Bramble, could only punch a Gower free kick straight into the air. (0-3)

However, Dagenham, and defender Vickers in particular began to get very physical with the Football League side and it saw Southend seemingly begin to pull out of some tackles for fear of injury, and when Duncan Jupp limped out of the action with a groin injury, United’s reluctance for the battle appeared reasonable.

Dagenham were given new spirit by this however, and when Tony Boot, a former United youth team player, drilled home from a Mark Janney cross on 75 minutes the Conference outfit began to believe that they could earn themselves something out of the game. (1-3)

Indeed the next action, four minutes later, brought the second goal when captain Lee Goodwin captalised on some hesitant goalkeeping from Bart Griemink to head home a Janney free kick at the far post. (2-3)

Boot again and fellow substitute Craig Mackail-Smith both saw efforts fall just wide of the upright as the home side looked to get themselves back on level terms. Meanwhile Gray had the Shrimpers only opportunity when, in his search for a hat-trick, the former Milton Keynes Dons striker dragged his fifteen yard effort wide of Roberts’ goal.

Griemink did well to block another Boot effort, but then fiove minutes into stoppage time the equaliser arrived when a long throw-in from Vickers was not fully cleared and Leberl’s 20-yard strike took a deflection off Hunt before finding its way past the helpless Griemink. (3-3)

MATCH FACTS
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE...(0) 3 SOUTHEND UNITED (1) 3
Pre-Season Friendly, Saturday, 24th July 2004 @ Victoria Road

Line-ups:
The Daggers (4-4-2; blue shirts, blue shorts, white socks):- Tony Roberts; Lee Goodwin, Lee Flynn (Craig Mackail-Smith 54), Ashley Vickers, Anwar Uddin (Shabe Blackett 54); Ben Sedgemore, Jake Leberl, Mark Janney (Paul Hackett 92), Warren Ryan (Jack Midson 71); John Taylor (Abiodun Baruwa 54), Chris Moore (Tony Boot 71). Unused subs – Grant Cooper, Warren Barton.

The Shrimpers (4-4-2; silver, navy, navy):- Darryl Flahavan (Bart Griemink 46); Stuart Williams (Duncan Jupp 46 (Steve Tilson 84)), Che Wilson, Lewis Hunt, Andy Edwards (Adam Barrett 46); Jimmy Corbett (Nicky Nicolau 46), Kevin Maher, Michael Kightly, Mark Gower; Drewe Broughton (Tesfaye Bramble 46), Lawrie Dudfield (Wayne Gray 46).

Goals: Dagenham: Boot 75 (low finish from a Janney cross; inside area; timed at 74:55), Goodwin 79 (header at far post from a Janney free kick; inside area; timed at 78:33), Leberl 90+5 (deflected shot after a long throw in wasn’t cleared; outside area; time at 94:42). Southend: Broughton 28 (shot into roof of net at far post following a Gower cross; inside area; timed at 27:28), Gray 53 (fierce finish after a great Wilson cross; inside area; timed at 52:54), Gray 58 (poked into an open net after Roberts had punched out a Gower free kick; inside
area; timed at 57:23).
Total Goal Efforts: Dagenham 14, Southend 22
Shots/headers on target: Dagenham 5, Southend 8
Shots/headers off target: Dagenham 7, Southend 8
Blocked shots: Dagenham 2, Southend 6
Hit Woodwork: Dagenham 0, Southend 0
Corners: Dagenham 2, Southend 10
Free Kicks: Dagenham 8, Southend 12
Caught Offside: Dagenham 4, Southend 6

Match Time:
First Half: 47:38. Second Half: 50:48. Total: 98:26
Indicated stoppage time: First half 2 minutes (actual 02:38), Second half 4 minutes (05:48)

Attendance: 818

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com