LDV Final 2004 Stat-Pack – The Road to the Millennium Stadium

Tuesday 14^th October 2003 @ Roots Hall

Southend United…(1) 2 Bristol Rovers…(1) 1

[after silver goal extra time]

Mark Gower's wonder strike sent Blues through against the Pirates

Mark Gower and Kightly from the flanks were outstanding, both switching sides to excellent effect and testing Rovers shotstopper Kevin Miller with early efforts. Leon Constantine also lobbed an effort agonisingly over the crossbar as he partnered Tesfaye Bramble up front, before the visitors took the lead completely against the run of play. Lewis Haldane waltzed through the Shrimpers defence and then tricked his way past Darryl Flahavan to slip the ball into an empty net.

Blues responded quickly through their leading scorer Constantine. Kightly got to the bye-line before cutting the ball back into the ex-Brentford forward’s path, and the 25-year-old made no mistake from ten yards to cancel out Haldane’s strike just three minutes after it had gone in.

Miller was called upon to make another excellent low save from a Gower shot before successive free-kicks from the former Barnet man saw Bramble stab inches over and then knock the ball down to Constantine, who followed suit. Constantine’s mazy run was ended by a brave Miller save, and then Duncan Jupp fizzed a header straight at the custodian minutes from the end.

The new ‘silver-goal’ rule came into effect, meaning that if one side was leading at half-time in extra time, then the match stopped at that stage. Flahavan had to save from Wayne Carlisle early on before a similar pattern of play ensued and substitute Drewe Broughton nodded just off target. The decisive goal came five minutes after the break; Gower picked up the ball twenty-five yards out, shimmied past a couple of challenges before curling an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner. Kightly chipped over shortly after, but the Pirates did not threaten at all, and after 126 minutes of action, Phil Crossley’s whistle signalled United’s first round progress.

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan 7; Duncan Jupp 7, Neil Jenkins 7, Dave McSweeney 7, Jamie Stuart 7; Kevin Maher 7, Jamie Fullarton 8, Mark Gower 9, Michael Kightly 10 (Michael Husbands 119); Leon Constantine 7, Tesfaye Bramble 7 (Drewe Broughton 100). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Che Wilson, Anthony Clark

Goals: Southend: Constantine, Gower 110. Bristol Rovers: Haldane 36

Tuesday 14^th October 2003 @ Bloomfield Road

Blackpool…(3) 3 Tranmere Rovers…(0) 2

Blackpool started their campaign with a topsy-turvy clash with Tranmere Rovers at Bloomfield Road. It all looked so comfortable for the Seasiders at half-time as they ate their oranges 3-0 up. Previously overlooked John Murphy opened the scoring with the first chance of the game on 19 minutes when he converted a Kirk Hilton free-kick. And the tall target man continued to prove manager Steve McMahon wrong as he added his second and third on 35 and 43.

However, the Wirral-based side were not out of the match by any means as they launched an astonishing fightback – Shane Nicholson twelve minutes from the end hammered home a free-kick and two minutes later Iain Hume notched their second, but after an anxious ten-minute spell, the Tangerines kept their nerve to progress.

Team (4-4-2): Phil Barnes; Matt Clarke, Leam Richardson, Mike Flynn, Kirk Hilton; Jonathan Douglas (Stephen McMahon 66), Neil Danns, Jamie Burns (Simon Grayson 89), Martin Bullock (Simon Wiles 66); John Murphy, Mike Sheron. Sub not used: Scott Taylor.

Goals: Blackpool: Murphy 19, 35, 43. Tranmere Rovers: Nicholson 78, Hume 80

Tuesday 4^th November 2003 @ the Vetch Field

Swansea City…(0) 1 Southend United…(0) 2

Jimmy Corbett's first Shrimpers strike was decisive in Wales

As did the team, with Dave Webb returning alongside Tilson to take control. Playing in the red third strip for the third time, Southend encountered a Swansea side under-strength as they attempted to continue an impressive Third Division start to the campaign. In a drab first period, Daniel Nardiello, a loanee from Manchester United, guided the ball just wide before at the other end Tesfaye Bramble headed just off target. The Swans’ Jonathan Coates then fired against the outside of a post to bring the half to a close.

Wilson, making his first start for the Shrimpers, and Bramble both tested Brian Murphy in the City goal before, twenty minutes from the end, the former Cambridge City striker capitalised on Murphy’s lack of concentration after his own mishit and fired into the net. Eight minutes later James Corbett, playing up front for the first time, opened his Southend scoring account, taking advantage of Bramble flicking Gower’s cross into his path.

As is the Shrimpers customary eagerness to help the opposition, they duly conceded, Nardiello sweeping the ball past Flahavan for the hosts only shot on target in the entire fixture. Onto the quarters it was…

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan 7; Dave McSweeney 7, Neil Jenkins 7, Leon Cort 7, Lewis Hunt 7; Kevin Maher 7, Jay Smith 6, Che Wilson 8 (Leon Constantine 90), Mark Gower 8; James Corbett 7, Tesfaye Bramble 7 (Drewe Broughton 83). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Michael Husbands, Michael Kightly.

Goals: Swansea: Nardiello 90. Southend: Bramble 70, Corbett 78

Tuesday 11^th November 2003 @ Bloomfield Road

Blackpool…(0) 1 Doncaster Rovers…(0) 0

Brad Jones made his debut in goal for ‘Pool against high-flying Third Division outfit Doncaster Rovers, and over the ninety minutes he was the more active goalkeeper. Mike Sheron wasted a series of decent chances in the first 45 minutes, but the best of the opening period fell to Donny’s Paul Barnes, who watched his one-on-one effort smothered by Jones.

The second half saw the visitors continue to dominate, the Seasiders losing Daniel Coid after a heavy challenge. Barnes, Paul Green and Rocky Ravenhill could all have handed Rovers the advantage, but eventually it was the home side that notched a late winner. Richie Wellens cultured ball found Scott Taylor, whose left-wing cross was tapped in by Mike Sheron for his first ever Blackpool strike.

Team (4-4-2): Brad Jones; Matt Clarke, Leam Richardson, Mike Flynn, Daniel Coid (Jamie Burns 37); Martin Bullock, Richie Wellens, Gareth Evans, Keith Southern; Scott Taylor, Mike Sheron. Subs not used: Phil Barnes, Tommy Jaszczun, Simon Wiles, Steve McMahon.

Goal: Blackpool: Sheron 83.

Area Quarter-Final – Tuesday 9^th December 2003 @ Roots Hall

Southend United…(2) 3 Luton Town…(0) 0

Michael Kightly's first senior goal arrived in a demolition of Luton

It took just 84 seconds for the Shrimpers to take the lead. Leon Constantine, back in the side only because of injury to James Corbett, picked up the ball thirty-five yards from goal and proceeded to smash it past Marlon Beresford and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net with Blues supporters astounded.

Beresford then made a fine reflex save to deny Bramble, although at the other end Leon Cort was called upon to deflect Dean Crowe’s shot over the crossbar. But it was again United who scored next. Youngster Kightly was revelling in his role, and he capitalised on a slip by David Deeney to round Beresford, managing to avoid the attentions of Ian Hillier to slot home his first professional goal on 27 minutes.

Strikers Crowe and Steve Howard failed to fully test Darryl Flahavan when they really should have and Matthew Spring did manage to bring a save out of the Southampton-born goalkeeper. Bramble nodded poorly over the bar at the other end and Drewe Broughton, on again as a sub, saw one one-on-one saved and another dragged wide of the post.

2-0 appeared to be the final scoreline when a goal from the most unlikely of sources wrapped it all up. Substitute Steven Clark raced down the left wing before sending a low cross along the six-yard box, where Broughton stooped low to effect a brilliant diving header and power the ball past Beresford from close range. Broughton again and Husbands went close thereafter, but despite the custodian keeping subsequent efforts out, the two thousand-odd crowd went home happy.

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan 8; David McSweeney 7, Che Wilson 7, Leon Cort 7, Lewis Hunt 7; Kevin Maher 8, Jay Smith 7, Michael Kightly 9 (Michael Husbands 83), Mark Gower 8 (Steven Clark 46, 7); Leon Constantine 8, Tesfaye Bramble 7 (Drewe Broughton 73, 7). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Mark Warren.

Goals: Southend: Constantine 2, Kightly 27, Broughton 84

Tuesday 9^th December 2003 @ Bloomfield Road

Blackpool…(0) 1 Stockport County…(0) 0

Extra-time was required for Blackpool in the area quarter-finals as they eventually defeated Stockport County. Nearly two hours earlier they had started the match in poor fashion in front of a substandard crowd, and the best chance was a weak left-footed effort from Mike Sheron. County, though, flooded forward, with Chris Williams curling just wide and then Jones making a point-blank save from Aaron Wilbraham.

Rickie Lambert and Wilbraham tested the shotstopper again after the break as ‘Pool continued to go through the motions, while a Mike Flynn handball was overlooked. Scott Taylor was denied by Boaz Myhill at the other end, but the shots continued to rain down on Jones, who had to be alert to keep out Williams and Wilbraham again in the dying seconds. But amazingly substitute Matthew Blinkhorn headed home only his third senior goal prior from Jamie Burns’ free-kick to send the home side through by a single-goal again.

Team (4-4-2): Brad Jones; Simon Grayson, Steve Elliott, Mike Flynn, Leam Richardson (Steve McMahon 46); Martin Bullock, Gareth Evans, Keith Southern (Steve Davis 86), Jamie Burns; Scott Taylor, Mike Sheron (Matthew Blinkhorn 97). Subs not used: Lee Jones, Kirk Hilton.

Goal: Blackpool: Blinkhorn 109

Tuesday 20^th January 2004 @ Roots Hall

Southend United…(1) 4 Queens Park Rangers…(0) 0

Steven Clark hit form against QPR

QPR brought down in excess of 2,600 supporters, but it was Kevin Maher who tested their goalkeeper Chris Day first with a stinging drive. Twelve minutes in and the home side were in front. Mark Gower found Leon Constantine on the edge of the box and the tall striker lashed his third goal of the competition into the bottom left-hand corner.

Paul Furlong and Martin Rowlands both went close shortly after that, but supremely resolute defending kept United in front and Drewe Broughton missed a chance to add to the lead with a snap shot over the crossbar. Clarke Carlisle just headed off target after the break as the higher-class opponents loomed large.

And then, halfway through the second period, Broughton headed a Gino Padula corner off of the goalline. The ball fell to Mark Gower, who swept the ball down the touchline for Steven Clark to chase. The West Ham United man held off Danny Shittu, raced clear of the rest of the defence and tucked the ball underneath the outstretched left hand of Day and into the bottom right-hand corner to seal one of the goals of the season.

Two minutes afterwards and Broughton rose highest to angle a Gower corner over Day and past the desperate lunge of Carlisle to keep it out and make the scoreline an unbelievable 3-0. QPR’s first-team were on the rocks, and their fans left in their drives to the waves of the rejoicing home support. Gallen fired over, but Broughton had the final say ten minutes from the end – Gower’s corner was headed downwards by Leon Cort, and ‘keeper Day’s save fell to Broughton, who instantaneously smashed it back into the North Bank net,

Meanwhile, Colchester United fought back from two down thanks to a Scott McGleish hat-trick to beat Northampton Town after silver goal extra time, and the massive Essex derby, the first meeting for fourteen years in a competitive fixture, was on.

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan 8; Duncan Jupp 8, Jamie Stuart 7 (Che Wilson 84), Leon Cort 8, Mark Warren 8; Kevin Maher 8, Jay Smith 8, Steven Clark 9 (Michael Kightly 88), Mark Gower 8 (Neil Jenkins 88); Drewe Broughton 9, Leon Constantine 8. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Dave McSweeney.

Goals: Southend: Constantine 2, Clark 67, Broughton 69, 79

Tuesday 20^th January 2004 @ Bloomfield Road

Blackpool…(2) 3 Halifax Town…(2) 2

Many ‘Pool fans were only in the ground to see if manager Steve McMahon had resigned or not as their boss, but in the end they were treated to a fun-packed evening of football. At the final whistle they finally discovered that the man that had led them to the area final against Sheffield Wednesday would remain in charge after a five-goal thriller.

A defensive error twenty minutes in saw Lewis Killeen latch onto the loose ball to fire past Lee Jones in the Seasiders net. An early injury to Kirk Hilton allowed Gareth Evans to come into the game, and he supplied the cross that found Mike Sheron’s head to bring the scores level.

Once again though, the Nationwide Conference outfit put themselves in the box seat with more difficulties at the back for the home side. A high left-wing cross was allowed by Jones to bounce and Simon Grayson made no attempt at all to head clear, and Val Owen tucked home.

Finally, on the stroke of half-time, Daniel Coid’s bolt from the blue put Blackpool level. A bullet effort after a cut-back from the byeline left Mark Cartwright grabbing at thin air. The winner arrived nine minutes after the break when Martin Bullock’s hanging cross was nodded down by Sheron and Scott Taylor slammed in.

Team (4-4-2): Lee Jones; Steve McMahon, Simon Grayson, Steve Elliott, Steve Davis; Daniel Coid, Martin Bullock, Kirk Hilton (Gareth Evans 24), Richie Wellens (Jamie Burns 75); Scott Taylor, Mike Sheron (Mike Flynn 87). Subs not used: Phil Barnes, Matthew Blinkhorn.

Goals: Blackpool: Sheron 24, Coid 45, Taylor 54. Halifax: Killeen 19, Owen 34

Tuesday 10^th February 2004 @ Layer Road

Colchester United…(1) 2 Southend United…(2) 3

Tuesday 17^th February 2004 @ Roots Hall

Southend United…(1) 1 Colchester United…(1) 1 [agg.: 4-3]

Leon Constantine hit home against the U's at Layer Road...

Steve Tilson rounded up his troops for the first trip to Colchester competitively in fourteen seasons, and in an end-to-end frantic start, it was the hosts that took the lead through Thomas Pinault when the Shrimpers failed to clear a corner. At that stage heads sunk, but after some inspirational play from Kevin Maher in the midfield, Tesfaye Bramble’s delightful pass side to Constantine in the 17h minute ended with the tall front man driving the ball past Simon Brown’s right hand.

Then, after a spell of superiority from the side from the south, they made all their possession count with a goal from a corner. Mark Gower’s flag-kick picked out the head of Leon Cort and the solid defender nodded against the base of the left-hand post. Ever the poacher in recent games, Drewe Broughton, was on hand to smash the ball into the back of the net from close range.

The second period saw the lead extended when a Broughton through ball found Bramble, and the ex-Cambridge City man hit a low shot towards goal. Somehow the ball dribbled through goalkeeper Brown’s legs and just over the goalline despite the desperate lunge of Paul Tierney. The match took a turn for the worst when Broughton was stupidly sent off for a second bookable offence and Wayne Andrews capitalised by heading home a Karl Duguid corner.

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan 8; Duncan Jupp 7, Jamie Stuart 8, Leon Cort 8, Mark Warren 8; Kevin Maher 9, Lewis Hunt 8 (Che Wilson 86), Leon Constantine 7 (Steven Clark 85), Mark Gower 7; Drewe Broughton 7, Tesfaye Bramble 8 (Carl Pettefer 76). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Dave McSweeney.

Goals: Colchester: Pinault 7, Andrews 75. Southend: Constantine 17, Broughton 42, Bramble 68

...whilst Drewe Broughton was the main man at Roots Hall, and in the tournament as a whole

This time it was Kemal Izzet with the early strike, capitalising on some sleepy defending and too much space inside the penalty area. He turned and struck low towards the bottom left-hand corner, but in reality the ball should never have crept through Darryl Flahavan’s legs and arms and into the South Stand net.

But the Shrimpers fought back. Drewe Broughton nodded just wide; Tesfaye Bramble was denied by Simon Brown. Scott McGleish and Craig Fagan wasted good chances to put the U’s ahead on aggregate, but undeterred, Broughton fired home an equaliser. Duncan Jupp’s cross drifted into the box, Bramble nodded down and with Sam Stockley rolling around in the area Broughton smashed the ball into the goal.

The second half saw Bramble waste a superb chance, but despite even Simon Brown going forward in stoppage time, the Seasiders held on to set up their Millennium Stadium date and claim victory in the ‘Championship of Essex’ decider.

Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Jamie Stuart, Leon Cort, Mark Warren; Lewis Hunt, Kevin Maher, Mark Gower (Carl Pettefer 90), Leon Constantine; Drewe Broughton, Tesfaye Bramble. Subs not used: Ryan Robinson, Dave McSweeney, Steven Clark, Che Wilson.

Goals: Southend: Broughton 45. Colchester: Izzet 3

Tuesday 10^th February 2004 @ Bloomfield Road

Blackpool…(0) 1 Sheffield Wednesday…(0) 0

Wednesday 25^th February 2004 @ Hillsborough

Sheffield Wednesday…(0) 0 Blackpool…(2) 2

Once again the Seasiders left it late, and again it was won by the narrowest of margins in the first leg at Bloomfield Road – ‘Pool’s fifth consecutive home tie in the competition – with Wednesday proving tough opposition to break down. Tony Dinning, on loan from Wigan Athletic, smacked the post on 14 minutes as the home side started brightly but Lee Jones then had to be in top form to tip Mark Robins’ effort over the crossbar.

The custodian then produced another fine save to push Adam Proudlock’s header on the crossbar and away. The second period began with Richie Wellens attempting to lob Ola Tidman, before Robins attempted a riposte. But it was Scott Taylor, with goal number 27 for the campaign, who made sure that it was Blackpool who took the advantage to the second leg, heading home Daniel Coid’s cross.

Team (4-4-2): Lee Jones; Tony Dinning, Steve Elliott, Mike Flynn, Leam Richardson; Daniel Coid, Martin Bullock (Matthew Blinkhorn 72), Richie Wellens, Gareth Evans (Keith Southern 72); Scott Taylor, Mike Sheron. Subs not used: Phil Barnes, Simon Grayson, Steve McMahon.

Goal: Blackpool: Taylor 82

Steve McMahon was forced to name an under-strength side as he missed none members of his possible first-team due to a mix of injury and suspension. Amongst those banned was first leg goalscorer Scott Taylor and midfield playmaker Richie Wellens.

At first it seemed as though the Owls would get right back into the tie as Alan Chambers and Alan Quinn hit long range efforts towards goal. However, on 20 minutes their resolve was broken. John Murphy flicked the ball into the path of Mike Sheron, who lashed home his third of this year’s LDV Vans Trophy.

A mix-up between Tidman and Dean Smith allowed Sheron to lob towards goal again, but Richard Wood covered on the goalline. Just past the half-hour the Tangerines wrapped up the game as Keith Southern bundled both the ball and Tidman over the line from Leam Richardson’s cross. The Wednesday ‘keeper had to be taken off but a trio of chances were not converted and ‘Pool were to be the Shrimpers’ opponents on Sunday 21^st March 2004.

Team (4-4-2): Lee Jones; Stephen McMahon, Simon Grayson, Steve Elliott, Mike Flynn; Leam Richardson, Tony Dinning (Sean Hessey 86), Gareth Evans, Keith Southern; John Murphy (Matthew Blinkhorn 64), Mike Sheron (Martin Bullock 64). Subs not used: Phil Barnes, Jamie Burns.

Goals: Blackpool: Sheron 20, Southern 31