Review of 2002 - Part Two - Shrimpers24

Danny Maye in action at Burnham Ramblers.

JULY

July brought yet another hectic pre-season sechedule for United's players, and the opening feature at Leslie Field, the home of Essex Senior League side Burnham Ramblers brought a comprehensive victory. Although in the end Southend only won by four goals, Burnham were never in the match. The goals came from trialist Mark Salter - in from Frome Town - Tes Bramble, Tony Richards and Phil Whelan.

United had more trialists; Rio Alderton - who had been offered a contract by Newman before the summer - Neil Jenkins and Paulo Martins who joined up with the side for a Monday evening trip to Braintree Town's Cressing Road, and the match brough a disappointing 2-2 draw with Mark Rawle grabbing both the Southend goals. Worse was to follow as a Shrimpers second string, with the trialists included once again, put up a terrible display whilst going down 2-0 at King's Lynn.

A Saturday afternoon trip to Margate didn't bring much more luck for Newman's men, United going down 3-2 to the Conference side at Hartsdown Park, but Southend were heartened by terrific goals from Bramble and Ian Selley, who had again joined Southend on loan from Wimbledon until November.

At Roots Hall for the first time however and Southend put up a great performance against Premiership side West Ham United in front of a healthy crowd of over 8,000. At one point Damon Searle fabolous free kick equalised at 1-1 but two late goals gave the East London side an undeserved 3-1 victory. However Bramble's well worked goal at Scraley Road two days later was all United had to cheer as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Heybridge Swifts in what was a very dull encounter. Afterwards joint assistant manager Steve Tilson blasted his side for their apparant inability to beat non-league opponents.

It was Premiership opponents once again at Roots Hall the following Saturday as Charlton Athletic came to town on a boiling hot afternoon, but despite a much improved performance the Addicks still ran out easy 2-0 winners with Southend for the first time

Trialist Neil Jenkins at Heybridge Swifts.

including new signing Graeme Jones, an experienced striker who had joined for £10,000 from St Johnstone. Jones once netted 32 times in a season for Wigan Athletic. However, three days later came the ultimate insult to Southend as what was very much Tottenham Hotspur's youth team came to Roots Hall and thrashed United 4-1. The Shrimpers were never in the game and there's even doubt as to whether Barrington Belgrave's late header - which bounced down off the underside of the bar - even crossed the line for Southend's consolation.

Summary:
Friendlies
Fri, 12th - Burnham Ramblers 0 Southend United 4 (Salter, Bramble, Richards, Whelan)
Mon, 15th - Braintree Town 2 Southend United 2 (Rawle 2)
Thu, 18th - King's Lynn 2 Southend United 0
Sat, 20th - Margate 3 Southend United 2 (Bramble, Selley)
Tue, 23rd - Southend United 1 (Searle) West Ham United 3
Thu, 25th - Heybridge Swifts 1 Southend United 1 (Bramble)
Sat, 27th - Southend United 0 Charlton Athletic 2
Tue, 30th - Southend United 1 (Belgrave) Tottenham Hotspur 4

AUGUST

August started brightly however with Southend finally finding their killer instinct with a superb 6-1 victory at Chelmsford City on the first day of the month. Southend included two new trialisr at New Lodge with Aston Villa pair Jay Smith and John McGrath linking up with the Shrimpers. Mark Rawle got things going by hitting a brace whilst other goals came from Graeme Jones, Daniel Webb, Ian Selley and Leon Cort.

A strane afternoon two days later saw United's final pre-season warm-up at Roots Hall against Wimbledon postponed after what was virtually a flash-flood in Prittlewell, but the match was moved to the Boots & Laces training ground where United, despite Jones' goal, were on the end of a 2-1 reverse.

The season started for real at Hull City seven days later, and with Jenkins signed on a permanent basis it was he who equalised early in the second half after the Shrimpers had gone behind early on. Southend however fell behind once again and it took Bramble's last gasp, deflected, injury time oal to steal a point for Newman's side in what was to be United's final appearance at Boothferry Park with Hull having now moved into their new Kingston Commuinications Stadium.

Manager Rob Newman has come under fire for United under-achieving in 2002.

Bad things were to follow though as Southend lost two successive home matches, firstly to Carlisle, 1-0, and then to Shrewsbury, 3-2 where goals from Jenkins again and a Bramble penalty proved not to be enough.

United however made a great start away from home and the creditable draw at Hull was influenced by a great 1-0 victory at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium with Mark Rawle heading in the winner in the first half, Jay Smith, who impressed Newman pre-season had also now ben secured on a three-month loan from Aston Villa. This result was followed on Bank Holiday Monday by the first Roots Hall win, a 2-1 success over Cambridge United courtesy of Smith and Stephen Broad. It was then made three wins out of three as United clocked up a great result at Rochdale on the final day of the month, Mark Rawle and Tes Bramble sealing a 2-1 trimuph.

Summary:
Friendlies
Thu, 1st - Chelmsford City 1 Southend United 6 (Rawle 2, Cort, Jones, Selley, Webb)
Sat, 3rd - Southend United 1 (Jones) Wimbledon 2
Division Three
Sat, 10th - Hull City 2 Southend United 2 (Jenkins, Bramble)
Tue, 13th - Southend United 0 Carlisle United 1
Sat, 17th - Southend United 2 (Jenkins, Bramble [pen]) Shrewsbury Town 3
Sat, 24th - Oxford United 0 Southend United 1 (Rawle)
Mon, 26th - Southend United 2 (Broad, Smith) Cambridge United 1
Sat, 31st - Rochdale 1 Southend United 2 (Rawle, Bramble)
Avon Combination
Wed, 15th - Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Southend United 0
Wed, 21st - Southend United 4 Northampton Town 3
Wed, 28th - AFC Bournemouth 2 Southend United 1 (S. Clark)

SEPTEMBER

Despite the three victories at the back end of August, September didn't start well for the Shrimpers with a 3-0 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds opening the month before the Shrimpers, despite a decent performance, crashed out of the Worthington Cup, 4-1, at Roots Hall to Wimbledon. Mark Rawle grabbed the Southend goal.

However Leon Cort's header beat Macclesfield Town 1-0 at Roots Hall but a shocking performance saw the Shrimpers slip to a most disappointing 2-0 Roots Hall reverse against Kiddermnster Harriers. Neil Jenkins spectacular free kick also wasn't enough as Southend slipped up at Lincoln City.

But already this was proving a topsy-turvy campaign and once again United won three matches on the trot. Graeme Jones started the ball rolling by netting his first for the Club in the 1-0 home win over Exeter City after Bramble had earlier missed a penalty.

Summary:
Division Three
Sat, 7th - Rushden & Diamonds 3 Southend United 0
Sat, 14th - Southend United 1 (Cort) Macclesfield Town 0
Tue, 17th - Southend United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 2
Sat, 21st - Lincoln City 2 Southend United 1 (Jenkins)
Sat, 28th - Southend United 1 (Jones) Exeter City 0
Worthington Cup
Tue, 10th - First Round - Southend United 1 (Rawle) Wimbledon 4
Avon Combination
Tue, 3rd - Southend United 2 (Maye, Belgrave) Plymouth Argyle 3
Wed, 18th - Wycombe Wanderers 0 Southend United 2 (Thurgood [pen], Johnson og)

OCTOBER

A delighted Jenkins celebrates putting United ahead at Bury.

Then, despite an appalling first half display and being a goal down at the break, Southend turned in a marvellous second half showing to turn the game at Gigg Lane against Bury. Jones headed in the first before Jenkins and then Bramble sealed a great away win.

Barrington Belgrave came off the bench to dramatically snatch the only goal of the game in the last minute of injury time against York City at Roots Hall before Southend began a slump they have still not got out of. A dire match at Swansea City saw the Welsh side come out on top courtesy of a dubious penalty before Swindon Town wholloped Southend 6-1 in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy. A first minute goal then proved to be the only one of the match as United slumped to yet another home defeat against Hartlepool United. Leyton Orient also scored in the opening minute three days later as October ended with four straight defeats; Belgrave grabbing the Southend goal as Newman's side lost 2-1 at Brisbane Road.

Summary:
Division Three
Sat, 5th - Bury 1 Southend United 3 (Jones, Jenkins, Bramble)
Sat 12th - Southend United 1 (Belgrave) York City 0
Sat, 19th - Swansea City 1 Southend United 0
Fri, 25th - Southend United 0 Hartlepool United 1
Tue, 29th - Leyton Orient 2 Southend United 1 (Belgrave)
LDV Vans Trophy
Tue, 22nd - Swindon Town 6 Southend United 1 (Jones)
Avon Combination
Wed, 2nd - Southend United 0 Cardiff City 1
Wed, 16th - Southend United 2 (Thurgood [pen], Searle) Brentford 1

NOVEMBER

Tony Scully arrived on loan in time to play against Wrexham.

November barely saw an improvement as despite the presence of loan sining Tony Scully from Cambridge United and the permanent signing of Jay Smith couldn't prevent another home defeat, his time 1-0 to Wrexham. However to duck was broken with Tes Bramble's terrific curling shot the only goal of the game at the Memorial Stadium against Bristol Rovers before a draw - the first since the opening day - against Hartlepool, 1-1 in the FACup First Round at Roots Hall meant a replay ten days later in the north east. Incredibly Southend soon lost at home yet again, and once more it was by a single goal, this time to AFC Bournemouth.

The Cup replay at Victoria Park against Hartlepool however eventually brought an incredible climax as Southend, a goal behind from early in the second half, scored twice in the last two minutes through Tes Bramble and Leon Cort to snatch a most incredible victory and United first away replay win for 72 years! It was to be Bournemouth the the second round.

November ended with another long trek to the north east, but this time United were disappointed as Bramble's who early blasted a penalty over the bar - last minute strike was only a mere consolation.

Tes Bramble is congratulated on his stunning equaliser at Hartlepool in the FA Cup First Round Replay.

Summary:
Division Three
Sat, 2nd - Southend United 0 Wexham 1
Sat, 9th - Bristol Rovers 0 Southend United 1 (Bramble)
Sat, 23rd - Southend United 0 AFC Bournemouth 1
Sat, 30th - Darlington 2 Southend United 1 (Bramble)
FA Cup
Sat, 16th - First Round - Southend United 1 (Lee og) Hartlepool United 1
Tue, 26th - First Round Replay - Hartlepool United 1 Southend United 2 (Bramble, Cort)
Essex Senior Cup
Tue, 19th - Third Round - Great Wakering Rovers 1 Southend United 2 (Thurgood 2 {1 pen])
Avon Combination
Tue, 5th - Millwall 1 Southend United 2 (Thurgood [pen], Webb)
Wed, 13th - Cambridge United 1 Southend United 2 (Salter, Morris)

DECEMBER

December began with the FA Cup second round tie with Bournemouth at Roots Hall and it brougt another 1-1 draw with Mark Rawle equalising for the Shrimpers. A home victory - the first for over two months - then finally arrived as Leon Cort's incredible hat-trick of headers and another from Rawle saw off Boston United 4-2 at Roots Hall despite a second half rally from the league newcomers. Cort trio of strikes was the first time a Southend players had netted a hat-trick since Julian Haiuls in a 3-1 Division One win at Leicester City back in September 1995.

United had fought back from behind to lead 2-1 in the FA Cup Second Round Replay at Bournemouth courtesy of goals from Rawle and Bramble just before half time but in a cruel finish United sat back too much and allowed the Cherries to score twice in the last six mionute to snatch victory and a home third round tie with Crewe Alexandra. Bramble scored for his sixth consecutive away match at Plainmoor against Torquay United but again it wasn't enough as an appaling performance saw United who included loan signing Daniel Marney from Brighton & Hove Albion, slip to a 3-1 defeat.

A rare League draw arrived at Cambridge United on Boxing Day after Rawle had goven the Shrimpers an early lead before the year ended miserab;y with a 2-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe after Southend had led through another Leon Cort header.

Summary:
Division Three
Sat, 14th - Southend United 4 (Cort 3, Rawle) Boston United 2
Sat, 21st - Torquay United 3 Southend United 1 (Bramble)
Thu, 26th - Cambridge United 1 Southend United 1 (Rawle)
Sun, 29th - Southend United 1 (Cort) Scunthorpe United 2
FA Cup
Sat, 7th - Second Round - Southend United 1 (Rawle) AFC Bournemouth 1
Tue, 17th - Second Round Replay - AFC Bournemouth 3 Southend United 2 (Bramble, Rawle)
Essex Senior Cup
Tue, 10th - Fourth Round - Hornchurch 1 Southend United 2 (Whelan, Salter)
Avon Combination
Wed, 4th - Reading 4 Southend United 0

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com

Review of 2002 - Part Two

Last updated : 06 January 2003 By Mark Wallis