Tilly Takes On New Midfielder

21-year-old Pettefer, who like Colchester United loanee Rowan Vine, is currently contracted to south coast Premiership outfit Portsmouth, has agreed a one-month loan deal with the Shrimpers, according to reports from the Nationwide League and Portsmouth’s official website, www.pompeyfc.co.uk. The midfielder, who can also play in defence in an emergency, has so far played on three occasions for Pompey’s first-team.

He made his debut for the Fratton Park outfit in one the last games of the 2000/1 campaign, replacing Rowan Mills as an 82^nd-minute substitute in a match that also saw former Shrimper Luke Nightingale involved as a replacement. The following season he started a match for the first time in February 2002 – a 5-0 hammering against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. Three weeks later he was a last minute sub for Neil Bennett at Crewe Alexandra, his last appearance in Division One.

In an unhelpful omen, Pettefer spent seven months of last year at relegated Exeter City. He played 37 games for the Grecians, netting his solitary goal at Darlington’s Feethams ground in March as City launched an astonishing fightback to haul themselves to the brink of survival. However, the five-foot seven-inch tenacious talent was one of those involved as a 1-0 win against the Shrimpers was not enough on the last day of the 2002/3 campaign – he picked up his seventh booking of the season in the process.

The midfielder should be a straight replacement for the injured Jay Smith, although his signing has come too late for him to feature alongside his new teammates against Colchester United this evening. He could make his debut at the weekend as Blues host Kidderminster Harriers in a vital Third Division clash.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com