Sturrock: 'The weather looks like it's starting to improve'
After the postponement of the Bank Holiday Tuesday game against Crewe Alexandra, which left the Shrimpers without any match action since beating Cheltenham 2-0 a couple of weeks ago, Southend United manager Paul Sturrock took the chance to field two sides in two seperate training games yesterday.
The Shrimpers played at League One team Dagenham & Redbridge in the morning, winning 3-2; while another Blues side turned out in the evening in another victory at Ryman Division One Great Wakering Rovers, 3-0.
Forgotten man Matt Paterson, Jamie Stephens and Harry Crawford, grabbed the goals against the Daggers in a match played at the London Soccer Dome, Greenwich.
At the latter game in Southend, Blair Sturrock, Lyle-Della-Verde, a terrific effort from the 15-year-old who recently signed a long-term deal with the club, and skipper Craig Easton, were the scorers in that win.
Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "It's been a long time since we played a match and so it was good for both sides to get out there and stetch their legs. The weather looks like it's starting to improve so hopefully we can get back to playing some games very soon as it has been a frustrating period. The boys were able to stretch their legs over 75 minutes and I think both sides got something out of it."
Southend United v D & R (from): Morris, Osifuwa, Ferdinand, Prosser, Gilbert, Bouzid, Zaaboub, James-Lewis, Woodyard, Paterson, Crawford, Stevens, Mohsni, Phillips, Furlonge.
Southend United v GWR: Evans, Clohessy, Barker, Coughlan, Herd, Milner (Della-Verde h-t), Grant, Easton, Hall, Soares, Sturrock.
For fuller reports on the games:
www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~2253079,00.html
Check out the weather for the remaining holiday games
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/25?&search=oxford&itemsPerPage=10®ion=uk
http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Southend-on-Sea-UKXX1314
New Year Travel News
Keep your eyes on the trains here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/
happy_holidays_watching_the_shrimpers_over_christmas__new_year_
574527/index.shtml
And the roads:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/