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Boston pipped Dagenham & Redbridge to last season's Conference title by the narrowest of margins - a 4-0 final day victory at Heyes ensuring League status on goal difference - but there is no doubt that after the financial saga of the summer, the newboys have found League life difficult, and currently look like they could become the first side to ever make an immediate return to non-league football.
Boston United's first team has actually appeared at Roots Hall before, when under the leadrship of Jim Smith they lost an Eastern Counties League match 5-2 to the Shrimpers. Despite this being the Southend reserve team, it's a senior league and goes down in the history books as a first team fixture, unfortunately although I believe it was a Southend victory I cannot trace the result in Boston or the exact date of the fixture. However, with this not being Southen's first team, I feel it shouldn't be counted as a Shrimpers first team fixture as such.
Anyway, onto the more important stuff and Southend have been dealt a huge blow with midfielder Jay Smith serving a one-match suspension having picked up five bookings, and his place in midfield should be taken up by either Stuart Thurgood - despite his late dismissal at Hornchurch on Tuesday night - or Steve Tilson. Other than that it should be 'as you were' for the FA Cup encounter with AFC Bournemouth last week with Graeme Jones partnering Tes Bramble up front with ex-Boston man Mark Rawle on the left wing.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The two sides have yet to meet in a League or Cup fixture.
Southend United (from): Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Stephen Broad, Damon Searle, Neil Jenkins, Tony Scully, Steven Clark, Kevin Maher, Steve Tilson, Stuart Thurgood, Tes Bramble, Barrington Belgrave, Graeme Jones, Mark Rawle.
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Keith Hill (Royston)
Assistant Referees: John Pearce (Essex) and Greg Pryme (Essex)
We all know Mr Hill very, very well and I'm sure not one of you are particularly favourable of him. You'l remember him as the man who put in a pathetic performance during October's League defeat to Hartlepool United and he's also the same man who amazingly sent off Damon Searle during last season's 1-0 opening day victory over Darlington after the Welsh full back had been stamped on by Barry Conlon. We await an interesting afternoon!...
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com