Southend United vs. Canvey Island – Preview

Last updated : 19 July 2004 By Robert Craven

Tesfaye Bramble scored the last time the two sides met
The idea behind a pre-season clash with the Islanders appears only to be made through the prospect of getting some money into the coffers. Certainly, there is little that Blues have to win from this game – if they do end up triumphant, they will only have achieved what is expected of them, and if they lose, then anyone in the borough of Southend will be able to hear the crows of Canvey’s over-ambitious supporters. If the match turns out to be as fiery as the July meeting last year – with Duncan Jupp squaring up to Steve Parmenter – then injuries could also accrue.


Strangely, the clash has also been scheduled for Roots Hall instead of Park Lane, no doubt with Jeff King and Geoffrey King looking to make as much as they can from the game. Instead, it leaves little scope for Steve Tilson’s men to error in front of their home supporters for the first time with a new-look side. Not that it could not have been delayed for two days and the visit of Millwall instead!


Most intriguingly, it appears that Spencer Prior will once again be lining up amongst the Seasiders’ number. The ex-Shrimper has been training with Southend since Colchester United allowed him to depart from Layer Road after a trail in north Essex, and Tilson hasn’t given up the chance of bringing him to southeast Essex. Speaking to the club’s official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, Tilson said, “Spencer did ever so well on Saturday, he’s a class act and it would be great to have him at the football club. I’m talking to Ron [Martin] at the moment to see what we can offer in terms of a financial package but hopefully we’ll be able to work something out”.


Prior is almost assured of a spot in one of this evening’s two sides, with Tilson once again playing two separate teams as much as is possible before he starts to form ideas about who should be chosen for the first League Two match of the season at home to Cheltenham Town on Saturday August 7th.


Four players will certainly not take part, with Lawrie Dudfield (knee), Carl Pettefer (knee) and Jay Smith (lower leg) still recovering from their various ailments, whilst Mark Bentley joins the crocked list. The former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder turned his ankle just fourteen minutes into the second period during the 7-0 pre-season opener against East Thurrock United, and as a precaution he will not participate at any stage tonight.


The rest of the squad, as well as the three trialists – striker Matthew Judge and midfielder Ben Surey in addition to defender Prior – are all available, and should play 45 minutes each. Surey was fortunate at Rookery Hill in that he was handed a second chance to impress, and in a midfield boasting less than a half-century of first team appearances between them, he played very well during the second period. Judge, too, was in good form, playing a part in both goals during the first half.


Tilson may choose to take a look at certain aspects of the side again, with the partnership of Wayne Gray and Tesfaye Bramble up front looking especially potent. Bramble, now based in Southend, looked fitter and sharper than ever before, and his hard work with Tilson and the training staff over the summer appears to have paid off as he scored one and set up three of the five second half strikes. Gray was as speedy as he had been at Wimbledon, and appeared a good acquisition, and both could start the game as opposed to coming off of the bench.


That would leave a second half strikeforce of Drewe Broughton and Judge, who also linked up well during the first 45 minutes of the clash against the Rocks. Another first half pairing, Adam Barrett and Andy Edwards, who cut imposing figures at the heart of defence, could also be spared until the second period of the fixture against the Gulls to mix matters up and hand Darryl Flahavan and Bart Griemink an opportunity to work with other players.


Prior and Lewis Hunt, who had very little to do on Saturday afternoon, would be handed a more potent threat against the Islanders, who have both Lee Boylan (operation) and Junior McDougald out of contention with injuries. With Griemink starting the first period, he would instead work with the back four of Williams, Prior, Hunt and Nicolau to oppose the Conference side’s threat.


However, it is not likely to be completely switched around, and Kevin Maher and Surey – United’s best partnership in the middle of the field – could both start in the centre of the park to ward off the early Canvey pressure. Continuing to mix things up, Michael Husbands and Mark Gower could be the two wide men for the opening period, with a midfield of Michael Kightly, David Bryan, Jimmy Corbett and James Lawson for the second half. It certainly appears with Bentley’s injury that another youngster such as Lawson or Joe North will have to brought into the squad.


Canvey are expected to bring their full-strength side – injuries not withstanding – and that would include the likes of Ashley Harrison, Ben Chenery, David Theobald, Ty Gooden, Jeff Minton, Matthew Joseph, Dominic Sterling and Jon Keeling. Ex-Shrimpers at the club include the aforementioned Parmenter, and fellow youth player Chris Bourne.


The last time the two clubs met, of course, it was not in the pre-season defeat, Ty Gooden netting the solitary goal that day, but in the F.A. Cup first round. After a 1-1 draw at Roots Hall, the game went to a televised replay at Park Lane, where Tesfaye Bramble and then two stunning strikes from Jay Smith in the second period saw United come from behind twice to prevail by three goals to two. More of the same will be appreciated tonight.


Kick-off is at 7:45 p.m. and admission is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.


TLG predicted first half line-up (4-4-2): GK Bart Griemink; RB Stuart Williams; CB Spencer Prior, CB Lewis Hunt, LB Nicky Nicolau; RM Michael Husbands, CM Kevin Maher, CM Ben Surey, LM Mark Gower; CF Wayne Gray, CF Tesfaye Bramble.


TLG predicted second half line-up (4-4-2): GK Darryl Flahavan; RB Duncan Jupp, CB Andy Edwards, CB Adam Barrett, LB Che Wilson; RM James Lawson, CM James Corbett, CM David Bryan, LM Michael Kightly; CF Drewe Broughton, CF Matthew Judge.


Canvey Island squad: Ashley Harrison, Danny Potter; Matthew Joseph, John Kennedy, Chris Duffy, Ben Chenery, David Theobald, Gavin Cowan, Steve Ward, Dave McGhee, Peter Smith, Kevin Dobinson; Ty Gooden, Jeff Minton, Ollie Berquez, Steve Parmenter, Dominic Sterling, Jon Keeling, Tony Quinton, Leon Gordon, Jason Hallett; Neil Gregory, Neil Midgely, Chris Bourne.


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com