TLG Stat-Pack – The Shrimpers vs. The Harriers

Last updated : 23 September 2004 By Robert Craven

Drewe Broughton is the most recent link between the sides
In fact there have been just eight matches with the southeast Essex and Worcestershire sides participating – Blues have won three, including the last two, whilst Kiddie have triumphed in four, having done the ‘double’ themselves in 2002/3. The first match between the two clubs came at Roots Hall in September 2000, and ended in a 1-1 draw, with Leo Roget cancelling out a Mark Shail goal nine minutes from time, Kevin Maher having been sent off six minutes into the second half.


However, the first meeting at Aggborough was not successful at all – Michael Black put Southend in front but Ian Bogie and Stewart Hadley secured three points for Harriers. The Seasiders first win was in October 2001 as Carl Hutchings scored the game’s only goal after just two minutes, but the visitors on that day went on to emerge victorious in the next three games.


Last year, both matches had a huge significance. In October, Southend’s Mark Warren and Tesfaye Bramble-inspired last-gasp win was their first on their travels for nine months, since a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury Town, a run of fifteen matches. In February, a 3-0 win against Kiddie with two penalties from Leon Constantine and a sealer by Lawrie Dudfield gave Blues a huge fillip ahead of the LDV Vans Trophy area final against Colchester United. Let’s hope for more of the same – in both upcoming fixtures…


Last Meeting


Southend United

3-0
(Attendance: 3,716)

Kidderminster Harriers

Leon Constantine 6 (pen), 54 (pen)

Lawrie Dudfield 79

Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall on Saturday 14th February 2004

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp --

Jamie Stuart

Leon Cort

Mark Warren

Carl Pettefer

Kevin Maher

Mark Gower

Leon Constantine

Drewe Broughton

Lawrie Dudfield

8

7

7

7

7

7(66)

7

7

9(84)

6(79)

7

Stuart Brock

Matthew Gadsby

Scott Stamps

Abdou Sall --

Craig Hinton

Dean Keates

Adam Murray --

Graham Ward

Ian Foster

Dean Bennett

Jesper Christiansen

6

5

6

4

5

6

8

7

6(58)

7

6

Carl Emberson

Tesfaye Bramble

Che Wilson

Lewis Hunt

Mark Bentley

-

-(79)

-

8(66)

-(84)

John Danby

Sean Parrish

John Williams

Scott Rickards

Robert Betts

-

-

6(58)

-

-


Match Report (by Mark Wallis)

IT'S BACK-TO-BACK League victories for the first time this season for Southend United as the Shrimpers completed their second Division Three 'double' within eight days courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 Roots Hall triumph over Kidderminster Harriers...


There is absolutely no doubt that this was a must-win clash for the Shrimpers, and a three-goal victory margin takes United above their opposition on goal difference whilst Steve Tilson's men have also leap-frogged Macclesfield Town, with the Silkmen slipping into the relegation zone with Darlington chalking up an impressive away win at Bristol Rovers.


However, despite still just a single point off the drop zone themselves, Southend have now risen to their highest League position since September and are within touching distance of Boston United (goal difference), Cambridge United, Rochdale (two points) and Scunthorpe United (three points). Perhaps just as importantly though, this was a most comfortable victory despite the fact that it was far from being Southend’s most convincing display of the season, let's hope that United have suddenly found the knack of winning the matches in which they didn't play so well.


Anyhow, this result has is foundation set with the two penalties the home side were awarded in the opening stages of both the first and second halves. Penalties have had an incredible influence on this most bizarre of seasons, not least because of the incredible seven the Shrimpers had missed prior to this fixture. However, Southend's eleventh and twelfth spot-kicks of the campaign saw Leon Constantine, the Shrimpers eighth different taker, twice make no mistakes with two perfectly executed penalties before Lawrie Dudfield finally wrapped things up eleven minutes from time.


Southend created some substantial early pressure, and captain Kevin Maher drove a shot wide of the near post after just three minutes, but then in the sixth minutes the Seasiders took an early lead. A dangerous Mark Gower cross from the left flank saw Dudfield head over the crossbar, but in the process the loanee frontman was blatantly shoved in the back by Craig Hinton and referee Andy Bates immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Constantine then confidently stroked his twelve-yard effort into the bottom right hand corner with goalkeeper Stuart Brock diving the wrong way.


Something however had obviously upset Harriers boss Jan Molby who began a shouting spree on the touchline, only for Bates to banish the former Liverpool legend into the stand.


On thirteen minutes the visitors created their first half chance, Blues custodian Darryl Flahavan doing well to hold onto Dean Bennett's 20 yard drive before, at the opposite end, Kevin Maher laid a free kick off to Gower who's fierce effort was blocked by the Harriers defence and then Drewe Broughton head just off target following an impressive centre by Carl Pettefer - making his full debut having signed on loan from Portsmouth for a month.


The visitor's then began to enjoy their best spell of the match as Southend were caught napping on a few occasion, in fact the Shrimpers found themselves quite fortunate not to find themselves on level terms, especially when Flahavan had to make a great full-stretch save to deny Jesper Christiansen after the tall striker had been played clean through on goal by Graham Ward. Ian Foster also slipped a low shot wide of the far post having found himself unmarked only a few yards from goal and Flahavan also had to deal with a header Abdou Sall following a long Adam Murray free-kick.


Harriers' best chance however arrived on 43 minutes when Christiansen somehow managed to head over the target from point blank range after a right wing cross from Matthew Gadsby.


Southend stole the last opportunity of the first period however when a fine Constantine run through the centre saw Brock make a decent save, diving to his left, from the resulting shot. From that moment on, and into the second half, Southend dominated possession and proceedings.


Fantastic footwork by Constantine saw the Blues leading goalscorer fire inches wide of the upright before the second penalty arrived nine minutes after the re-start. Bates needed the flag of his assistant to ward the kick, but their was no doubting that Leon Cort's shot, after Broughton had initially headed a Duncan Jupp cross against the post, struck the right hand of Hinton. Once again Constantine stepped up and this time the ball was smashed straight down the centre of goal giving the diving Brock absolutely no chance.


After the second goal it was simply plain-sailing for Southend, but a goal from open play would have been ideal, and that arrived on 79 minutes. Dudfield latched onto a loose ball before haring down the left flank, cutting inside ad drilling a low angled shot past Brock and the desperate attempt of Sall to clear wasn't enough to stop the ball rolling into the net.


In the meantime Cort had nodded a Maher cross just off target and Brock had done ever so well to tip an effort from substitute Tesfaye Bramble around the post. Maher had also zipped an effort just over the top from 25 yards and Dudfield had shot inches off target having been played through by the United skipper.


Once the three goal lead had been established, Southend could possibly have added to their tally. Gower drove wide of the post after a neat run and a free kick from the same player saw Cort, having found yards of space inside the penalty area, head inches wide of the upright.


Still, it doesn't matter at this crucial stage of the season how the victories come - just as long as they do - and nobody can argue with a three-nil home triumph, all that is needed now is for Southend to avoid defeat on Tuesday night...


Last Five Meetings


14th February 2004 – Southend United 3 (Leon Constantine 6 (pen), 54 (pen), Lawrie Dudfield 79) – League Division Three

11th October 2003 – Kidderminster Harriers 1 (JJ Melligan 84) Southend United 2 (Mark Warren 44, Tesfaye Bramble 90+3) – League Division Three

4th March 2003 – Kidderminster Harriers 1 (JJ Melligan 76) Southend United 0 – League Division Three

17th September 2002 – Southend United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 2 (Sean Flynn 45, JJ Melligan 49) – League Division Three

30th March 2002 – Kidderminster Harriers 2 (Bo Henriksen 37, Ian Foster 77) Southend United 0 – League Division Three


Complete Head-to-Head Record


Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

3

1

1

0

2

1

2

1

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

Southend United

Kidderminster Harriers

0

2

0

2

0

0

1

1

14/02/04

11/10/03

04/03/03

17/09/02

30/03/02

27/10/01

20/02/01

12/09/00

LD3

LD3

LD3

LD3

LD3

LD3

LD3

LD3


Summary


Overall

Matches: 8

Southend United wins: 3

Kidderminster Harriers wins: 4

Draws: 1

Southend United goals: 8

Kidderminster Harriers goals: 9

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 14/02/04)

Biggest Kidderminster Harriers win: 2-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 17/09/02 and Aggborough; League Division Three; 30/03/02)


In The League

Matches: 8

Southend United wins: 3

Kidderminster Harriers wins: 4

Draws: 1

Southend United goals: 8

Kidderminster Harriers goals: 9

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 14/02/04)

Biggest Kidderminster Harriers win: 2-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Three; 17/09/02 and Aggborough; League Division Three; 30/03/02)


At Roots Hall

Matches: 4

Southend United wins: 2

Kidderminster Harriers wins: 1

Draws: 1

Southend United goals: 5

Kidderminster Harriers goals: 3

Biggest Southend United win: 3-0 (League Division Three; 14/02/04)

Biggest Kidderminster Harriers win: 2-0 (League Division Three; 17/09/02)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com