In some respects, the Wickford-born Southend legend Tilson was left to eat his words after becoming defensive over the fact that he did not have a substitute goalkeeper on hand in the matches following Bart Griemink’s injury at Rushden & Diamonds. Flahavan was the only recognised custodian at the club, and Tilson blurted, “It’s not a major issue for me; some clubs don’t have a sub keeper on the bench all season”.
However, having failed to name Under-18s goalkeeper Nick Morgan on the sidelines against Boston United, Tesfaye Bramble had to don Flahavan’s gloves and the number 13 shirt for the 53 minutes plus stoppage time remaining. The former Cambridge City striker managed to get through, only conceding a single goal to Andy Kirk four minutes after the break and protecting United’s 2-1 lead with magnificent saves from a Courtney Pitt free-kick and a Paul Ellender drive.
But the 23-year-old did not fancy playing between the sticks again. Talking to the Southend Evening Echo, Bramble revealed, “I’ve never played in goal before at any level. I’ve only messed about in training during five-a-side matches”. When asked by the official club website, www.southendunited.co.uk, if he would be prepared to do it all again, he quipped, “We definitely need a new keeper for the Swansea match”.
With the Welshmen currently topping the League Two table, Tilson will be frantically attempting to secure the services of the best shotstopper that he can find, and today talking to the club website he said, “We will be looking to bring someone in on loan before Saturday’s match. We’ve made a few enquiries over the weekend and now we will have to wait and see what happens”.
The major stumbling block in the past has been the fact that the new goalkeeper would have to sit on the bench with Flahavan staying on pitch. With no competition, a loan signing would be handed an immediate start in the side. “Now we can offer first-team football for at least one match”, local lad Tilson confirmed, “we should find things a lot less difficult”.
Names already banded around include ex-Southend ‘keeper Simon Royce, who is currently bench-warming at Charlton Athletic and has always expressed a desire to return to Roots Hall to see out his playing days, as well as his predecessor Paul Sansome, now in his mid-forties, and Daniel Gay, who was shabbily treated by Steve Wignall at the Shrimpers and then Garry Hill at Hornchurch. He is with Braintree Town at the moment.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com