Jay Smith has already been a hero in this year's F.A. Cup - he returns tomorrow

Incredibly that 1992/3 campaign – Southend’s second in the second tier of English football – was the only time in which Blues progressed past the third round stage, despite qualifying automatically to come in at that point. Since then, United have crashed out in Round Three at the hands of non-League Kingstonian in 2000/1 (0-1) and then Second Division Tranmere Rovers a season later (1-3).

Meeting non-League teams has not been a happy hunting ground for the Shrimpers in recent years. Quite apart from the Kingstonian match, in which Leo Roget was sent off, in 1998 the Seasiders lost one-nil to recently-relegated Doncaster Rovers at Roots Hall, and with the 1-1 draw against Canvey Island this year at home, the last time Southend actually defeated a side outside of the Football League on their own territory was 1986, when Halesowen Town were dispatched 4-1.

Back in 1992/3 though, the Shrimpers enjoyed their best ever run in the world’s most prestigious and well-respected Cup competition, eventually reaching the round of the last sixteen. Fellow First Division side Millwall were first to be defeated, by a single goal at the Hall, before United travelled to Huddersfield Town and returned with a Stan Collymore-inflicted 2-1 win victory. However, the run came to an end at the same stage as it had done in 1926, 1952 and 1976 with a 2-0 defeat at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday. In the old set-up of the competition United also fell at the last sixteen, then known as round three, in 1921 to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Seadogs, by contrast, have never got further than the third round in their history. The closest that they came was in 1937/8, just prior to the Second World War, when they took then Division Two Luton Town to a third round replay. After a 1-1 draw in Yorkshire the Hatters mauled ‘Boro 5-1 at the second attempt on the way to round five and a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City.

A history between the two sides is very short, with Scarborough enjoying a brief twelve-year stay in the Football League after becoming the first side to be promoted from the Conference rather than elected to the Football League in 1987. The clubs met in 1932/3 in this competition, the Shrimpers running out easy 4-1 winners, and in 1989/90 and 1998/9 Southend won 1-0 at Roots Hall. Indeed, as yet, Blues have not been beaten by the Seadogs, with a win and a draw away completing the set.

As we have learned to our expense in recent years, nothing can be taken for granted in the F.A. Cup, and so tomorrow’s game will be played completely irrespective of previous form. Indeed, the two club’s League positions – Blues lying 22^nd in the Third Division and Scarborough struggling in the bottom half of the Nationwide Conference. The Seadogs have turned the form book on its head in defeating Port Vale and Doncaster to get this far, whilst United have already overcome Luton Town, Lincoln City, Swansea City and Bristol Rovers in Cup competitions this season.

Steve Tilson and Paul Brush, who have remained in charge over the New Year period as Ron Martin and the board of directors continue to seek a new full-time appointment as manager, will also be buoyed by the return of a number of key players to the fray in the coming weeks, and especially for the first game of 2004. David McSweeney still has three matches to serve on his suspension, whilst Mark Warren remains out for a further four weeks with his deep-seated muscle trouble, but in a fortnight Blues could be back to full-strength.

In defence, Lewis Hunt made the decision to continue his highly successful loan spell with the Shrimpers up until the end of the campaign, and he will continue in his role alongside Leon Cort in the centre of the back four. Duncan Jupp and Jamie Stuart both made their first starts in over a month against Oxford United six fays ago, and are expected to continue, with the only defensive cover being player-manager Steve Tilson and second-year scholar Stuart Williams. Darryl Flahavan will be between the sticks with Carl Emberson his understudy.

The midfield, which had to contain Che Wilson out of place on the right-hand side and a distinctly less-than-fully-fit Jamie Fullarton in the middle, will be bolstered by the return of two key figures. Mark Gower, who is third top-goalscorer this season with six and is also prominent in the assists chart, comes back after his one-game ban for a second yellow card at Swansea, as does Jay Smith in the centre. Fullarton is likely to drop to the bench before Tuesday’s Pontin’s Combination clash at Sixfields, with Kevin Maher entrenched in the centre as club captain. The final choice comes on the left hand side, with Neil Jenkins and Michael Kightly battling it out to start the game.

Finally, in the forward positions, seven-goal Tesfaye Bramble will come straight back into the side at the expense of Drewe Broughton, who was sent off in the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat to Oxford. Leon Constantine, the first Shrimpers forward since Brett Angell to reach double figures by the New Year, will seek his twelfth strike of current campaign. James Corbett and Michael Husbands should return to action in time for the home match against Doncaster Rovers on the 17^th of January to put pressure on the current front line.

Scarborough’s postponement of the Conference clash against Halifax Town on New Years Day means that Matthew Redmile, the former Shrewsbury Town defender, will have to serve a one-game ban against the Shrimpers at Roots Hall. Steve Baker, a former Middlesbrough defender, should recover from a eye injury to take his place, whilst Wayne Gill plays his last game before a suspension kicks in for a red card obtained in the Boxing Day encounter against the Shaymen. Another defender, Stephen Capper, is back from Under-20 duty with the Republic of Ireland in the World Youth Cup. The man to watch is the goalscorer in the last round, Ashley Sestanovich, on loan from Sheffield United along with Colin Cryan.

As matters stand, there is no need for a pitch inspection at Roots Hall, despite some persistent overnight rainfall and the threat of further showers into Friday afternoon, and wintry showers on Saturday morning. Any replay required, if the scores are level at ninety minutes, will take place at Scarborough’s McCain Stadium on Wednesday 14^th January 2004, with a 7:45 p.m. kick off. The draw for the fourth round takes place at one o’clock on Monday lunchtime.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Brian Curson (Leicestershire)

Assistant Referees: Mr. D.J. Cann (Norwich), Mr. M.T. McCoy (Kent)

Fourth Official: Mr. M. John

Curson has been on the select panel of Football League referees for the last five seasons, with a rather worrying current record of nine reds and 61 yellows in 21 matches during 2003/4. Four of those dismissals came in two Division Three clashes this year – Steve Yates and Richie Foran in an exchange on the verge of the Huddersfield Town/Carlisle United encounter, and Richard Hope and Lee Trundle for York City and Swansea City in another contentious manner. Never one to take his whistle out of his mouth and keep his card in his pocket, it is perhaps a slight surprise that his last Southend game saw just one booking – Drewe Broughton for Kidderminster Harriers in a 1-0 Blues win at Roots Hall two years ago. In his three Southend matches he has booked just eight players, among them Martyn Booty, Neil Tolson and Phil Whelan in a 3-0 defeat at Sincil Bank against Lincoln City.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Sunday 28^th December 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall

Southend United 0 Oxford United 1 (Mark Rawle 68) [attendance: 6,449]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Lewis Hunt, Jamie Stuart (Steve Tilson 88); Che Wilson (Michael Kightly 73), Kevin Maher, Jamie Fullarton, Neil Jenkins; Drewe Broughton, Leon Constantine. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Anthony Clark, Stuart Williams.

Friday 26^th December 2003 – Nationwide Conference @ The Shay

Halifax Town 1 (Christian Lee 74) Scarborough 0 [attendance: 2,136]. Scarborough line-up (4-4-2): Leigh Walker; Mark Hotte, Colin Cryan, Matt Redmile, Ashley Lyth (Chris Senior 84); Wayne Gill, James Kelly, Scott Kerr (Tristram Whitman 74), Ashley Sestanovich; Clint Marcelle, Mark Quayle (Jacques Williams 69). Subs not used: Gareth Downey, Stephen Capper.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

L0-1 (home; Oxford United; League Division Three)

W1-0 (away; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine)

L0-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three)

W3-2 (away; Swansea City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower, Mark Warren)

W3-0 (home; Luton Town; LDV Vans Trophy; Leon Constantine, Michael Kightly, Drewe Broughton)

Scarborough

L0-1 (away; Halifax Town; Football Conference)

W1-0 (home; Northwich Victoria; Football Conference; Ashley Sestanovich)

W2-1 (away; Farnborough; Football Conference; Ashley Sestanovich, Mark Quayle)

W1-0 (away; Port Vale; F.A. Cup; Ashley Sestanovich)

D1-1 (away; Gravesend & Northfleet; Football Conference; Colin Cryan)

Southend United home form

L0-1 (League Division Three; Oxford United)

L0-1 (League Division Three; Bristol Rovers)

W3-0 (LDV Vans Trophy; Luton Town; Leon Constantine, Michael Kightly, Drewe Broughton)

W3-0 (F.A. Cup; Lincoln City; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Gower, James Corbett)

W4-0 (League Division Three; Rochdale; Tesfaye Bramble 2, James Corbett [pen], Leon Constantine)

Scarborough away form

L0-1 (Football Conference; Halifax Town)

W2-1 (Football Conference; Farnborough; Ashley Sestanovich, Mark Quayle)

W1-0 (F.A. Cup; Port Vale; Ashley Sestanovich)

D1-1 (Football Conference; Gravesend & Northfleet; Colin Cryan)

L0-1 (Football Conference; Dagenham & Redbridge)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 24 [12]

Won: 7 [3]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 14 [8]

Scored: 22 [11]

Conceded: 37 [16]

Goal Difference: -15 [-5]

Points: 24 [10]

Position: 22^nd [22^nd]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Canvey Island (away) 3-2 in repay after 1-1 draw at home

Second Round: beat Lincoln City (home) 3-0

Third Round: vs. Scarborough (home) on Saturday 3^rd January 2004

Carling Cup

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

LDV Vans Trophy

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

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

Southern Section Quarter-Final: beat Luton Town (home) 3-0

Southern Section Semi-Final: vs. Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday 20^th January 2004

Scarborough

Nationwide Football Conference (overall [away])

Played: 24 [12]

Won: 7 [2]

Drawn: 10 [5]

Lost: 7 [5]

Scored: 28 [12]

Conceded: 25 [13]

Goal Difference: +3 [-1]

Points: 31 [11]

Position: 15^th [16^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Doncaster Rovers (home) 1-0

Second Round: beat Port Vale (away) 1-0

Third Round: vs. Southend United (away) on Saturday 3^rd January 2004

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Port Vale (home) 2-1

Second Round: lost to Halifax Town (home) 0-1

F.A. Trophy

Third Round: vs. Stafford Rangers (home) on Saturday 10^th January 2004

THE HISTORY

Last Meeting

 

 

Last Five Meetings (and Complete-Head-to-Head Record)

9^th January 1999 – Southend United 1 (Simon Livett 81) Scarborough 0 – League Division Three

8^th August 1998 – Scarborough 1 (Steve Brodie 37) Southend United 2 (Simon Coleman 60, Julian Hails 77) – League Division Three

17^th March 1990 – Scarborough 1 Southend United 1 – League Division Four

7^th October 1989 – Southend United 1 Scarborough 0 – League Division Four

10^th December 1932 – Southend United 4 Scarborough 1 – F.A. Cup

Summary

Overall (5 matches)

Southend United 4

Scarborough 0

Draws 1

In the F.A. Cup (1 match)

Southend United 1

Scarborough 0

Draws 0

At Southend United (3 matches)

Southend United 3

Scarborough 0

Draws 0

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com