Inside the first week of the month, it seemed as though Daniel Webb was on his way out of Roots Hall. The son of Shrimpers legend David finally managed to find himself a trial arrangement at Peterborough United with the help of two former Southend managers - Peter Taylor and Barry Fry. The agreement came about after Webb rejected a new contract offer from boss Rob Newman.
Saturday 7th September 2003 - Rushden & Diamonds 3 Southend United 0
The next day United travelled to Nene Park protecting an unbeaten record against Rushden & Diamonds and with a three-match winning streak under their belts. However, the wheels came off in rather spectacular fashion. Gary Mills had already struck Darryl Flahavan's crossbar by the time that Stuart Gray lashed a ninth-minute penalty past the Seasiders' custodian. Gray doubled his tally with little more than token Southend attacking on 34 minutes, when he volleyed home a Paul Hall cross. As the first period drew to a close home shotstopper Billy Turley made a superb double save from Tesfaye Bramble and Jay Smith, which maintained the Diamonds' advantage.
Leon Cort managed to clear a Hall effort from underneath his own crossbar ten minutes after the interval, this following another Mills effort against the woodwork. With seven minutes remaining Rushden sealed the victory as Hall slipped his shot underneath Flahavan's body for a third. However, there was still time for Graeme Jones to win a penalty by striking the ball against Paul Underwood. The former Wigan Athletic man then visibly stole the ball from Bramble's grasp, and proceeded to tamely pass the ball into Turley's arms.
Tuesday 10th September 2003 - Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 82) Wimbledon 4
Three days later the Shrimpers were in action once again, and this time they took on First Division Wimbledon in the opening round of the Worthington Cup. Blues' recent record in the competition is nothing short of pitiful, and in front of sparse stands at Roots Hall, the ignominy of another First Round exit was played out with multiple protests against 'Franchise F.C.’s' chairman Charles Koppel.
The first 45 minutes were rather quiet with neither side truly threatening to dominate. But in the second minute of injury time, it was the visitors who stole the lead; Alex Tapp delivering the corner and Trond Anderson the finish. It was the home side that then contrived to fluff their chances of getting back into the game as first Kevin Maher and then the by-now vilified Jones missing good chances. Predictably, the Dons rode the storm before striking twice inside three minutes, as Tapp and Neil Shipperley both beat Flahavan.
Substitute Danny Maye then arrived, and goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was forced to make two magnificent saves from the former Port Vale man, with Maye testing the custodian with a low skimming effort and then again with a volley that was dipping inches under the crossbar. With eight minutes left Mark Rawle deservedly scored a consolation from a Maher cross, but Shipperley's second put a rather unfair scoreline to a closely fought encounter.
Saturday 14th September 2003 - Southend United 1 (Leon Cort 25) Macclesfield Town 0
A rather dull match followed the next Saturday, but the performance had the desired effect as Macclesfield Town were sent away with a one-nil defeat in their hands. Kevin Maher's corners had already seen Graeme Jones nod just wide, but on 25 minutes Leon Cort rose highest and he powered an unstoppable aerial effort into the Silkmen's net. Mark Beard's accurate cross was headed just over by Mark Rawle before Neil Jenkins scrambled a Kyle Lightbourne attempt off of the goalline just after the half-hour, but the second half witnessed little goalmouth action, and certainly none as precise as Phil Whelan, who became the only person all season to find the middle of the banner in the 'Shoot For The Car' competition.
Tuesday 17th September 2003 - Southend United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 2
As is United's style, they then slumped against Kidderminster just over 100 hours later to be defeated by two goals to nil in a forgettable ninety minutes of Third Division action. Manager Rob Newman was quoted in the Evening Echo on the afternoon of the match with the immortal words, "We're going to tonk somebody soon", but that team were certainly not the Harriers. With Darryl Flahavan having made a world class save from Drewe Broughton on the half-hour, it seemed as though Blues were going to go into the break level at the break. However, Sean Flynn rose highest to nod Ian Foster's cross into Flahavan’s net in the third minute of injury time to hand Kiddy the lead. Four minutes after the half-time oranges, loanee midfielder J.J. Melligan fired home from range and that settled the match with neither side creating any chances thereafter.
Saturday 21st September 2003 - Lincoln City 2 Southend United 1 (Neil Jenkins 75)
There was another short break between fixtures before the Shrimpers travelled to Sincil Bank to take on long-ball merchants Lincoln City on extremely long grass (although not quite long enough to exceed the maximum Football League regulations). The first half was a complete nonentity, and rightly ended up goalless. The second was the first period all over again, but this time with goals.
The first arrived two minutes past the hour mark, Peter Gain holding off what can best be described as a couple of lacklustre challenges before striking low past a by now incapacitated Darryl Flahavan who had picked up an ankle knock during the first 45 minutes of inaction. Nine minutes later a Paul Smith corner saw Simon Yeo handed a free header at the back post, and he planted his effort straight through an inactive goalkeeper. Thankfully there was a little cheer for the 250 travelling supports as Neil Jenkins smashed home a 25-yard free-kick, an effort which won third prize in the end-of-year Goal of the Season award.
As the supporters’ coach journeyed up the A1, news filtered through of the LDV Vans First Round draw. Southend were paired with Second Division Swindon Town, with the one-off encounter taking place at the County Ground on the 22nd October. That news was supplemented five days later by the announcement that Neil Jenkins had been put on standby for the England Under-20 squad, which meant that the left-sided talent would miss the LDV clash the next month to be in Germany.
Saturday 28th September 2003 - Southend United 1 (Graeme Jones 43) Exeter City 0
As the month drew to a climax, Exeter City became the fourth side to visit Roots Hall, and just the second to be defeated. Rob Newman adopted a 3-5-2 formation, with Mark Beard and Neil Jenkins operating as wing-backs, and started with Mark Rawle and Tesfaye Bramble in attack. The omens started well, with Phil Whelan sidefooting into the side netting from a Kevin Maher corner. On 19 minutes, Phil Prosser awarded Bramble a penalty when Neil Whitworth went in high on the forward. However, the striker managed to tap his penalty agonisingly wide of the left-hand upright with 'keeper Kevin Miller having gone the wrong way. Rawle then limped out of the action with an injury, and Graeme Jones was his replacement.
Within eight minutes the change had worked wonders. Coming off of the bench, the former St. Johnstone striker latched onto a low Bramble cross and lashed the ball home from an acute angle to score his first Southend goal. Bramble dominated the entire second period, dragging wide on 70 minutes before watching a shot deflected wide six minutes from the end. For now, the Shrimpers promotion challenge remained just the correct side of on-course.
Third Division table as of September 28th:
1. Hartlepool United Pl11 W6 D3 L2 F19 A11 Pts21 GD8
2. Rochdale Pl11 W6 D3 L2 F20 A13 Pts21 GD7
3. Torquay United Pl11 W6 D3 L2 F18 A16 Pts21 GD2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
12. Bury Pl11 W4 D4 L3 F18 A17 Pts16 GD1
13. Southend United Pl11 W5 D1 L5 F12 A15 Pts16 GD-3
14. Scunthorpe United Pl11 W3 D5 L3 F14 A15 Pts14 GD-1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
22. Carlisle United Pl11 W3 D1 L7 F9 A21 Pts10 GD-12
23. Swansea City Pl11 W1 D4 L6 F13 A21 Pts7 GD-8
24.Boston United Pl11 W2 D4 L4 F11 A18 Pts6 GD-7
*Boston United deducted four points for financial irregularities
TLG Player-of-the-Month: September
Winner: Neil Jenkins
The former Wimbledon man secures the TLG award for September after a series of competent displays at both left-back and left wing-back, which culminated in a call-up to cover the England Under-20 squad in Germany the following month. Jenkins produced man-of-the-match performances against both his former club in the Worthington Cup and again as he scored a stunning free-kick in the defeat at Lincoln City.
Second place: Tesfaye Bramble
Bramble had one of his more consistent months, although he failed to find the net. This was primarily due to his role on the right-wing throughout the majority of the period, although he did manage to fluff the one opportunity he did have when he struck a penalty against Exeter wide of the post. He merely scrubbed himself down and set up Graeme Jones for the winner.
Third Place: Leon Cort
The big man was deserving of the third place as he attempted to steady a rocking ship, that being the Shrimpers defence, who leaked goals against Rushden and Wimbledon, and allowed Kidderminster and Lincoln to score twice. Cort also found time to head the winner against Macclesfield Town.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com