Darryl Flahavan remians from the last competitive meeting

Of course, everyone remembers the rain-drenched day in December 2000 when these two sides met in the second round of the F.A. Cup, in a match switched on Essex Police advice to Roots Hall from its original venue of Park Lane. 11,402 packed into the home of football in southeast Essex three years ago to see three goals and seven bookings – Scott Forbes and Ben Abbey putting Blues two-up before Wayne Vaughan notched a consolation in the last minute for the ‘visitors’.

On that occasion, the only time the two teams have met in a competitive fixture, the Ryman League Premier Division outfit fielded Steve Tilson amongst their side, and indeed he was one of the men that found his way into referee Richard Beeby’s book. However, the Wickford-born ex-midfielder is now firmly back where he belongs in the Shrimpers camp, and the man affectionately known as ‘Tilly’ will be the key protagonist on the bench, barking out the instructions that caretaker boss David Webb will hand down to him. Webb, ironically and maybe prophetically, was in charge last time out against the Gulls.

However, since the 2-1 win in 2000, the two sides have had contrasting fortunes. The Islanders have grabbed the F.A. Trophy, in that very season with a 1-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, and followed it up the next year with a triumph in the Essex Senior Cup final. They have also racked up three runners-up spots in the bid to reach the holy grail of the Nationwide Conference, whilst Blues have suffered in Cup competitions (noticeably crashing out to Kingstonian in the next round after defeating Canvey) and even worse in the Third Division, finishing 11^th, 12^th and 17^th, and leaving themselves 22^nd at the moment, hanging on above the dreaded Conference drop zone.

But, after a 2-1 victory at the Vetch Field on Tuesday evening away to Swansea City in the LDV Vans Trophy in the immediate aftermath of Steve Wignall’s sacking, the Shrimpers will come into this tie with renewed vigour. Home form has not been good with four straight League defeats in succession, but that run was broken by another single-goal silver-goal extra-time winner from Mark Gower against Bristol Rovers in the LDV. Indeed, the one Cup loss this year was another close-fought game, Blues going down 3-2 to Swindon Town. They even put their penalty jinx behind them in the Essex Senior Cup with a 6-5 win on spot-kicks against today’s F.A. Cup heroes Ford United, whilst the Gulls crashed out 4-1 to Harlow Town in the same competition last week.

The injury crisis at Roots Hall is the one thing that Southend cannot escape from. United are down to the bare bones defensively, and Webb may have to call one of two injured men, right-back Duncan Jupp or ex-Orient centre-half Mark Warren, onto the substitutes bench such is it’s extent. With Lewis Hunt definitely ruled out by Derby County for fear of him becoming Cup-tied when the First Division team join the third round in January, Dave McSweeney and Leon Cort are almost certain to start.

David Webb told BBC Essex this afternoon that had the whole of his victorious LDV Vans Trophy side been fit and available, then he would have picked them, which means that a place for Che Wilson must be accommodated, and that position is most likely to be at right-back. Neil Jenkins will once again play in his favoured left-back position with Jamie Stuart out of action for around a month. Darryl Flahavan will play again, as he did three years ago in goal, with Carl Emberson continuing to kick his heels in reserve.

Webb is likely to revert to a midfield four, with James Corbett and Mark Gower wide on the right and on the left respectively. Both were outstanding in the second half at the Vetch, and fully deserve their positions, with Corbett an option to play in a more advanced role after opening his Southend account five days ago. Kevin Maher will play his last match before serving a two-match suspension against Yeovil and possibly a replay against the Islanders. With Jamie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi still some way from returning from injury, Jay Smith will continue alongside his captain, with Michael Kightly waiting for his opportunity to impress.

Up front, it would seem that Tesfaye Bramble and Leon Constantine will be the main contenders for the strikers’ roles. Bramble has netted three times this season, but all away from home, so will be hoping to break his Roots Hall duck, whilst Constantine was dropped on Tuesday to accommodate the 4-5-1 formation. He is top-scorer with seven goals this term, with Drewe Broughton and Michael Husbands also chomping at the bit to be given a chance.

The visitors, led by the extravagant Jeff King, will be without defenders Peter Smith (injury) and Mickey Bennett (suspension), but do welcome back former Blues trialist Jeff Minton to the squad. He should join Ty Gooden, the man who scored the only goal of the game in the pre-season friendly between the teams in July this year in the centre, but ex-Shrimper Scott Forbes does not make the eleven-mile trip. Neil Gregory and Lee Boylan, who have notched an incredible 28 goals between them this season, should start up front with the likes of Junior McDougald and Neil Midgley on the bench.

Let battle commence!

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Assistant Referees: unknown

Southend have the pleasure of the military refereeing of Trevor Kettle for the second time this season tomorrow, with the RAF man in charge having already taken control of Blues 2-2 draw with Carlisle United earlier this year. That match passed without any Southend players going into the book, but prior to that Torquay’s Matthew Hockley and Rochdale’s Michael Simpkins were dismissed in ‘Dale’s 3-1 win at Plainmoor, and since Barnet’s Mark Cumbernatch and Brentford’s Ben May were given their marching orders in the North London side’s 3-1 penalty win in the LDV Vans Trophy. Another two recent matches have seen red cards, taking Kettle’s totals in 2003/4, his first season as a ref, to 49 yellows and six reds.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Tuesday 4^th November 2003 – LDV Vans Trophy Southern Section second round @ the Vetch Field

Swansea City 1 (Daniel Nardiello 90) Southend United 2 (Tesfaye Bramble 70, James Corbett 78) [attendance: 2,055]. Southend United line-up (4-5-1): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Lewis Hunt, Neil Jenkins; James Corbett, Che Wilson (Leon Constantine 90), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Mark Gower; Tesfaye Bramble (Drewe Broughton 83). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Michael Husbands, Michael Kightly.

Monday 3^rd November 2003 – Essex Senior Cup third round @ Harlow Sportscentre

Harlow Town 4 (Nick Cowley 3, Carl Griffiths 41, Gabriel Funibuyan 87, Phil Swenda 90) Canvey Island 1 (Ryan Kirby [own goal] 17) [attendance: 123]. Canvey Island line-up: Glen Johnson; Michael Lee, Ben Chenery, John Stuart, Steve Parmenter; Lee Protheroe, Ty Gooden, Peter Smith, Kevin Dobinson; Junior McDougald, Jason Hallett. Subs: Danny Potter, John Kennedy, Nick Rugg, Steve Ward, Paul Whipp.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W2-1 (away; Swansea City; LDV Vans Trophy; Tesfaye Bramble, James Corbett)

L0-1 (home; Northampton Town; League Division Three)

W2-1 (away; Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Leon Constantine, Jay Smith [pen])

L0-2 (home; Boston United; League Division Three)

L1-2 (home; Leyton Orient; League Division Three; Leon Constantine)

Canvey Island

L1-4 (away; Harlow Town; Essex Senior Cup; Ryan Kirby [o.g.])

W4-1 (away; Kettering Town; Ryman Premier League; Jeff Minton, Neil Midgley, Neil Gregory, Ty Gooden)

W2-1 (away; Mangotsfield United; F.A. Cup)

W4-2 (away; Bedford Town; Neil Gregory 2, Chris Duffy, Jeff Minton)

W6-1 (home; Kingstonian; Ryman Premier League; Lee Boylan 2, Neil Gregory 3, Junior McDougald)

Southend United home form

L0-1 (League Division Three; Northampton Town)

L0-2 (League Division Three; Boston United)

L1-2 (League Division Three; Leyton Orient; Leon Constantine)

W2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy; Bristol Rovers; Leon Constantine; Mark Gower)

L1-2 (League Division Three; Huddersfield Town)

Canvey Island away form

L1-4 (Essex Senior Cup; Harlow Town; Ryan Kirby [o.g.])

W4-1 (Ryman Premier League; Kettering Town; Jeff Minton, Neil Midgley, Neil Gregory, Ty Gooden)

W2-1 (F.A. Cup; Mangotsfield United)

W4-2 (Ryman Premier League; Bedford Town; Neil Gregory 2, Chris Duffy, Jeff Minton)

W1-0 (Ryman Premier League; Sutton United; Chris Duffy)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])
Played: 17 [9]

Won: 4 [2]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 10 [6]

Scored: 14 [7]

Conceded: 26 [14]

Goal Difference: -12 [-7]

Points: 15 [7]

Position: 22^nd [22^nd]

F.A. Cup

First Round: vs. Canvey Island (home) on Sunday 9^th November 2003

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Swindon Town (home) 2-3

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Bristol Rovers (home) 2-1 after extra time

Second Round: beat Swansea City (away) 2-1

Third Round: vs. Luton Town (home) on Tuesday 9^th December 2003 (tbc)

Canvey Island

Ryman League Premier Division (overall [away])

Played: 16 [8]

Won: 12 [5]

Drawn: 2 [1]

Lost: 2 [2]

Scored: 41 [13]

Conceded: 14 [7]

Goal Difference: +27 [+6]

Points: 38 [16]

Position: 1^st [3^rd]

F.A. Cup

Second Qualifying Round: beat Uxbridge (home) 6-1

Third Qualifying Round: beat Dover (home) 4-3

Fourth Qualifying Round: beat Mangotsfield United (away) 2-1

First Round: vs. Southend United (away) on Sunday 9^th November 2003

F.A. Trophy

Second Round Round: draw yet to be made

Essex Senior Cup

Third Round: lost to Harlow Town (away) 1-4

Bryco Cup

First Round: vs. Hendon Town (home) on Tuesday 8^th November 2003

THE HISTORY

Last Match

Last Ten Matches

26^th July 2003 – Southend United 0 Canvey Island 1 (Ty Gooden 41) – Friendly

28^th July 2001 – Canvey Island 1 Southend United 1 – Friendly

6^th March 2000 – Canvey Island 2 Southend United 1 – Essex Senior Cup semi-final

9^th December 2000 – Canvey Island 1 (Wayne Vaughan 90) Southend United 2 (Scott Forbes 38, Ben Abbey 80) – F.A. Cup Second Round @ Roots Hall

6^th May 1999 – Canvey Island 0 Southend United 3 – Essex Thameside Trophy semi-final

25^th July 1998 – Canvey Island 0 Southend United 3 – Friendly

2^nd August 1997 – Canvey Island 0 Southend United 0 – Friendly

19^th July 1997 – Canvey Island 3 Southend United 1 – Friendly

12^th November 1996 – Southend United 3 Canvey Island 1 – Essex Senior Cup third round

15^th October 1995 – Southend United 6 Canvey Island 0 – Essex Senior Cup third round

Summary

Overall (10 matches)

Southend United 5

Canvey Island 3

Draws 2

At Roots Hall (4 matches)

Southend United 3

Canvey Island 1

Draws 0

Competitive Fixtures (5 matches)

Southend United 4

Canvey Island 1

Draws 0

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com