Essex Senior Cup - Semi-Final Draw

Chelmsford City will be United's opposition

Essex Football Association representative Matt Phillips presided over the draw live on BBC Radio Essex at 6:45 p.m. this evening, and the first two clubs out of the bag were Aveley and Billericay Town. Next out was ball number three, which meant that either Heybridge Swifts or Chelmsford City would be at home against the Shrimpers. The two mid-Essex teams played their rearranged match last night after the clash was postponed on the same day as United's original game with Dagenham & Redbridge. Goals from ex-Shrimper Garry Cross and Dale Watkins handed the Clarets a 2-0 victory.

Blues had travelled to Scraley Road, Heybridge in late July, and put in a disappointing performance in the midst of a run where they failed to find a pre-season win, drawing with Swifts 1-1. Tes Bramble scored the goal, but he was rested come the final away match of the 'tour' on August 8th, when the Seasiders put in a far more convincing diplay to gain a 6-1 victory against Chelmsford City. Mark Rawle bagged a brace, Leon Cort, Graeme Jones, Ian Selley and tomorrow's visitor Danny Webb scoring the others. With the finishing touches being applied to the Clarets latest temporary move, this time to Melbourne Park in Chelmsford, City will play the tie at Billericay Town's New Lodge ground.

At the conclusion of the draw, it was decided that matches must be played before Saturday February 15th. The Southend first team are only in action on Saturdays in the intervening period, and although the Reserves are in action at home to Luton Town next Wednesday, these matches could be moved around the competition if neccessary. However, the close proximity of the Quarter-Final may mean that the game goes ahead after the scheduled deadline.

The Senior Cup so far:
Southend United
Round Three - Great Wakering Rovers (away) - W2-1 (Thurgood 2 [1 pen])
Round Four - Hornchurch (away) - W2-1 (Whelan, Salter)
Quarter-Finals - Dagenham & Redbridge (away) - W4-1 (Newman, Salter 2, Ilett)

Chelmsford City
Round Three - Halstead Town (away) - W5-0 (Wiles, Cross, own goal, Gray 2 [1 pen])
Round Four - Canvey Island (away) - W4-1 (Cross, Slatter 2, Samuels)
Quarter-Finals - Heybridge Swifts (away) - W2-0 (Watkins, Cross)

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com