As Uncle Ron was setting off mobiles around the ground of Bailey's expected defection to the Valley, Cheltenham avenged their first round Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Southend in 2007 thanks to Ben Gill's goal in extra time.
Nearly 12 months to the day since the Robins were knocked out of the competition after a 4-1 reverse in extra time at Roots Hall, Town secured their place in the second round. Gill accounted for Southend two days short of the anniversary of that first round exit in 2007 in a match that will not live long in the memory.
A very timely hip injury kept Bailey out of the side, (maybe he wont pass the medical!), and without both him and Macca the midfield were uninspired, no disrespect to the Moose and Grant. Though I felt Betsy handled himself well on his debut but needs more games.
The first effort on target saw Barny rifle a 20-yard shot straight at Shane Higgs in the Robins' goal.
Ashley Vincent then blew a great chance to put the visitors in front a minute later when he benefited from a mistake by Anthony Grant, but could only shoot tamely straight at Steve Mildenhall.
Southend created the better openings after the break.
Kevin Betsy blew a great chance on 58 minutes when Grant's long ball from the centre of the park allowed Betsy to burst into the box from the left, but he skied his shot over the bar when clear on goal.
Cheltenham then had Higgs to thank for a double save which kept the scores level. Damian Scannel beat two Robins' players before sending in a centre from the left on 70 minutes.
The ball was met in the centre of the area by Betsy whose first shot was punched clear by Higgs, before the goalkeeper parried Betsy's follow-up.
Both sides had chances in extra time but Alex Russell set up the winner when he picked up Alan Wright's pass on the left and crossed to the far post where Ben Gill stooped to head home off Mildenhall's right upright five minutes from time.
Southend twice came close to equalising from Peter Clarke headers but were unable to force a penalty shootout.
After the game Tilly admitted to the oficial site that he couldn't hide his disappointment at losing our player of the year: "We have done a deal with Charlton now and I'm disappointed at losing Nicky. I'm not sure he wants to be here and in that situation it would have been difficult to have kept him. We are losing one of our most influential players from last year and at this stage of the season it is a body blow. To have done all the pre-season and then suddenly lose one of my best players is disappointing, as he will be near-on impossible to replace."
On the cup defeat Tilly went on: "We had four or five opportunities and have not scored. They didn't have too many chances, but you need to kill teams off. That is the aim at the end of the day. At times, our final ball was the wrong decision and there were times when we went for goal instead of trying to slide someone in. Cheltenham made life didfficult for us, but you have to take your chances."
Nearly 12 months to the day since the Robins were knocked out of the competition after a 4-1 reverse in extra time at Roots Hall, Town secured their place in the second round. Gill accounted for Southend two days short of the anniversary of that first round exit in 2007 in a match that will not live long in the memory.
A very timely hip injury kept Bailey out of the side, (maybe he wont pass the medical!), and without both him and Macca the midfield were uninspired, no disrespect to the Moose and Grant. Though I felt Betsy handled himself well on his debut but needs more games.
The first effort on target saw Barny rifle a 20-yard shot straight at Shane Higgs in the Robins' goal.
Ashley Vincent then blew a great chance to put the visitors in front a minute later when he benefited from a mistake by Anthony Grant, but could only shoot tamely straight at Steve Mildenhall.
Southend created the better openings after the break.
Kevin Betsy blew a great chance on 58 minutes when Grant's long ball from the centre of the park allowed Betsy to burst into the box from the left, but he skied his shot over the bar when clear on goal.
Cheltenham then had Higgs to thank for a double save which kept the scores level. Damian Scannel beat two Robins' players before sending in a centre from the left on 70 minutes.
The ball was met in the centre of the area by Betsy whose first shot was punched clear by Higgs, before the goalkeeper parried Betsy's follow-up.
Both sides had chances in extra time but Alex Russell set up the winner when he picked up Alan Wright's pass on the left and crossed to the far post where Ben Gill stooped to head home off Mildenhall's right upright five minutes from time.
Southend twice came close to equalising from Peter Clarke headers but were unable to force a penalty shootout.
After the game Tilly admitted to the oficial site that he couldn't hide his disappointment at losing our player of the year: "We have done a deal with Charlton now and I'm disappointed at losing Nicky. I'm not sure he wants to be here and in that situation it would have been difficult to have kept him. We are losing one of our most influential players from last year and at this stage of the season it is a body blow. To have done all the pre-season and then suddenly lose one of my best players is disappointing, as he will be near-on impossible to replace."
On the cup defeat Tilly went on: "We had four or five opportunities and have not scored. They didn't have too many chances, but you need to kill teams off. That is the aim at the end of the day. At times, our final ball was the wrong decision and there were times when we went for goal instead of trying to slide someone in. Cheltenham made life didfficult for us, but you have to take your chances."
A lesson the Blues will hopefully learn in time for Millwall which looks as if it will be the first league test post-Bailey. A tough few days for T&B.
Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Harding, Scannell (Ademeno 106), Grant (Sankofa 100), Moussa, Betsy, Furlong (Revell 77), Barnard.
Subs Not Used: Joyce, Herd, O'Keefe.
Booked: Moussa, Barnard.
Cheltenham: Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Townsend, Duff (Gallinagh 79), Wright, Lindegaard (Ben Gill 60), Bird, Russell, Armstrong, Connor (Ledgister 106), Vincent.
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Scott Brown, Ridley, Watkins.
Booked: Jeremy Gill, Connor.
Goals: Ben Gill 115.
Att: 2,998
Ref: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).