TLG Stat-Pack – The Shrimpers vs. ‘Dale - Shrimpers24

Tesfaye Bramble has a fine record against 'Dale but will be suspended on Saturday

On three of the past four occasions that the Seasiders have travelled to Spotland, they have inflicted the first League defeat upon ‘Dale, most notably in 2001/2 when the Lancashire side were narrowly edged out of being promoted to Division Two. The other two times were early season wins, but last year, on the last away day of the season for the Shrimpers, a 1-1 draw – a controversial did-it-cross-the-line-or-not goal from Leon Constantine followed up by a controversial ball-hitting-foot-not-hand penalty for ‘Dale – was a result that ensured the northerners stayed in the basement division and did not fall into the Nationwide Conference.

The last Roots Hall meeting between the two clubs came in November when, with David Webb having stopped overseeing Steve Tilson’s first few matches in charge, the Shrimpers legend inspired his men to a 4-0 victory, with Tesfaye Bramble on target twice, and fellow forwards Jimmy Corbett, ending Blues’ hoodoo from the penalty spot, and Leon Constantine also bagging goals.

Indeed, ‘Dale have not beaten Blues in this Millennium, with the last time the Lancashire side winning being in August 1999, when Clive Platt and Jason Peake inspired a 2-0 win – eight matches ago. The record overall is also impressive for the Shrimpers, with 19 League wins to Rochdale’s 10.

The biggest victory remains a May 1986 5-0 win at Roots Hall despite those four strikes six months ago, but for Rochdale’s most significant win you have to go all the way back to 1960, when a 5-2 triumph saw them prevail in the League Cup second round – it remains the only time the two sides have met outside of the League. In fact, only seven of the 38 occasions have been outside of the basement division of the Football League, a reflection upon the amount of time the two clubs spent there in the 1970s and 80s.

Last Meeting

Rochdale	1-1 (Attendance: 3,891)	Southend United
*Gary Jones 58*	Saturday 1^st May 2004 @ Spotland in Nationwide League Division Three	*Leon Constantine 48*

Neil Edwards Wayne Evans Shaun Smith Greg Heald Gareth Griffiths Sean McClare Gary Jones Scott Warner Leo Bertos Neil Redfearn Lee McEvilly	5 6 6(59) 6 7 6 7 6 8 6(73) 5(82)	Darryl Flahavan Duncan Jupp Nicky Nicolau Leon Cort Mark Warren Mark Bentley Kevin Maher Leon Constantine James Corbett Lawrie Dudfield Tesfaye Bramble --	8 6 7 7 -(12) 9 7 7 7(87) 7(77) 6
Matthew Gilks Patrick McCourt Daryl Burgess Rory Patterson Danny Livesey	- 6(73) 6(59) -(82) -	Jamie Stuart Che Wilson Michael Husbands Neil Jenkins Lewis Hunt	- - -(87) -(77) 7(12)

Match Report

By Mark Wallis

Leon Constantine netted twice against Rochdale last year

SOUTHEND United’s final away match of the season brought a point from an evenly-contested encounter at Rochdale, but it could have been much more if not for a highly controversial penalty which earned the home a second half leveller…

The Shrimpers, dressed all in white, and backed by a healthy away support, many of whom had adorned fancy dress costumes which made for somewhat of a fascinating sight, enjoyed much of the possession at Spotland, but failed to turn it into a decent number of goalscoring chances.

Mark Warren returned to the side, but limped off to be replaced by Lewis Hunt with just twelve minutes on the clock, and Tes Bramble also returned to the starting line-up with top-scorer Leon Constantine once again shifting out to the right flank.

Unfortunately, with Dale still needing a point to ensure Division Three safety, this match turned into a bit of a dull affair with very few chances at either end. Mark Bentley latched onto a Jim Corbett through ball before firing just over the crossbar from the edge of the area, but that was all the action for almost half-an-hour.

The only further opportunities before the interval saw Rochdale New Zealand midfielder Leo Bertos fire wayward from a tight angle whilst Blues skipper Kevin Maher saw his 25 yard effort blocked by Gareth Griffiths.

However, Dale shot-stopper Neil Edwards had already been forced into action when he pushed out an angled Bentley shot, Corbett then fired over, before the Shrimpers took the lead three minutes after the break. Constantine suddenly producing a stinging half volley from 30 yards which caught out everybody, not least Edwards who gathered the ball but saw his momentum take himself and the ball into the back of the net.

Darryl Flahavan then tipped a dipping Neil Redfearn free kick over the top before the homesters came back into the game courtesy of a most amazing penalty. Bertos’ low right wing cross caused little danger and Nicky Nicolau easily intercepted the ball, but as it bobbled slightly in the air referee Phil Prosser incredibly pointed to the spot for handball. Needless to say the Southend players protested the decision, but it fell on rather deaf and stubborn ears.

Justice was almost done when Flahavan pushed away Gary Jones 58th minute spot kick, but the experienced midfielder managed to force home the rebound from the most acute of angles.

After the leveller, the only further action didn’t really arrive until the dying minutes. Substitute Rory Patterson stabbed a low Griffiths centre at Flahavan before a great drive by Constantine zipped inches over the crossbar.

Then, with the very last attack of the match, Duncan Jupp lost the ball and Jones raced clear before being twice denied by the brave Flahavan. Indeed the climax of that attack brought the final whistle and most of Spotland raced onto the pitch to celebrate their Club’s League survival.

Last Five Meetings

1st May 2004 – Rochdale 1 (Gary Jones 58) Southend United 1 (Leon Constantine 48) – Third Division

22nd November 2003 – Southend United 4 (Tesfaye Bramble 34, 36, James Corbett 67 [pen], Leon Constantine 90) – Third Division

18th January 2003 – Southend United 1 (Tesfaye Bramble 89) Rochdale 0 – Third Division

31st August 2002 - Rochdale 1 Southend United 2 (Rawle 35, Bramble 83) - Third Division
9th March 2002 - Southend United 0 Rochdale 0 - Third Division

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – H4-0 A1-1 (League)

2002/3 – H1-0 A2-1 (League)

2001/2 – H0-0 A1-0 (League)

2000/1 – H3-0 A1-0 (League)

1999/2000 – H3-3 A0-2 (League)

1998/9 – H1-1 A0-1 (League)

1989/90 – H3-2 A1-0 (League)

1986/7 – H5-3 A2-1 (League)

1985/6 – H5-0 A1-2 (League)

1984/5 – H0-2 A2-2 (League)

1980/1 – H1-1 A2-0 (League)

1977/8 – H3-1 A2-1 (League)

1976/7 – H3-0 A0-0 (League)

1973/4 – H1-2 A1-1 (League)

1972/3 – H1-2 A2-3 (League)

1968/9 – H1-3 A0-3 (League)

1967/8 – H3-1 A1-0 (League)

1966/7 – H0-0 A2-1 (League)

1960/1 – A2-5 (League Cup)

1958/9 – H3-1 A1-1 (League)

Summary

Overall
Matches: 39 Southend United wins: 19 Rochdale wins: 10 Draws: 10 Southend United goals: 65 Rochdale goals: 47 Biggest Southend United win: 5-0 (Roots Hall; 2nd May 1986; Division Four) Biggest Rochdale win: 5-2 (Spotland; 25th October 1960; League Cup second round)

In The League
Matches: 38 Southend United wins: 19 Rochdale wins: 9 Draws: 10 Southend United goals: 63 Rochdale goals: 42 Biggest Southend United win: 5-0 (Roots Hall; 2nd May 1986; Division Four) Biggest Rochdale win: 3-0 (Spotland; 10th May 1969; Division Four)

At Spotland
Matches: 20 Southend United wins: 9 Rochdale wins: 6 Draws: 5 Southend United goals: 24 Rochdale goals: 25 Biggest Southend United win: 2-0 (6th December 1980; Division Four) Biggest Rochdale win: 5-2 (25th October 1960; League Cup second round)

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com

TLG Stat-Pack – The Shrimpers vs. ‘Dale

Last updated : 12 August 2004 By Robert Craven

Rochdale