TLG Stat-Pack – the Shrimpers vs. the U's - Shrimpers24

Drewe Broughton is Southend's latest goalscoring hero against the U's

The U's are actually the Football League's second youngest side, behind Rushden & Diamonds (1992) having been founded in 1937, and thus the Shrimpers never met the Layer Road side during their Southern League days when Southend's closest rivals were the likes of Clapton Orient and Ipswich Town.

Colchester enjoyed some tasty local derbies with Chelmsford City in their early days, especially during the late forties before the U's, on the back of some impressive Cup runs, were elected into Division Three (South) of the Football League along with Gillingham in 1950, and just the following a season a new rivalry was formed with Southend United - the only other Essex-based side in the League.

Indeed these two sides are the only two clubs to represent the county of Essex in the Football League. West Ham United and Leyton Orient come close but nowadays those two towns fall easily within the London boroughs. Chelmsford also hold the distinction of being the current non-League side with the greatest number of rejections for promotion to the League – 28 in all – following Yeovil Town’s promotion from the Nationwide Conference two seasons ago.

However, it's now been fourteen years since the two sides last met competitively in the League on Monday, 16th April 1990 in a Division Four match. Southend stormed to a 2-0 victory that afternoon, Ian Benjamin giving the Shrimpers a first half lead before a memorable goal from Peter Daley - who made just five substitute appearances for Blues - who ran fully seventy yards before slotting home right in front of the away supporters, capped a victory which saw Southend edge nearer promotion whilst the U's were all but condemned to the drop into the Conference.

Colchester were replaced in the Football League by Darlington and it took Ian Atkins' side two years to climb back out, having finished runners-up to Barnet in 1990-91 before clinching the title ahead of Wycombe Wanderers a year later.

Colchester's rise to Division Two was completed however in May 1998 when they claimed a Division Three play-off victory at Wembley against Torquay United. Southend meanwhile swapped places and unfortunately things have stayed in situe ever since.

The two sides actually met four times during 1989-90; Colchester won 2-0 in the League at Roots Hall on Boxing Day whilst our own South Essex heroes clinched a Littlewoods League Cup First Round tie 6-4 on aggregate, 4-3 at Layer Road and 2-1 at Roots Hall.

The first meeting of the rivals came in Division Three (South) on 14th October 1950, Southend running out 4-2 victors at Grainger Road before the double was completed at Layer Road, 3-1, on 24th February 1951.

The U's first victory over Southend came at Layer Road on 12th April 1952, 1-0, but the Shrimpers notched up a 3-2 win at Grainger Road just ten days later.

The first away encounter of 1955-56 saw goals from Roy Hollis (four), Kevin Baron and Johnny McGuigan seal a 6-3 win at Layer Road, whilst Southend also walked the home match, 4-0, at Roots Hall on Christmas Eve.

Colchester's biggest derby win ironically also comes at Roots Hall, 5-2, in the dark days of the mid-eighties: 29th January 1985 for those of you requesting an exact date.

The sides first met in a cup competition in November 1956, the First Round of the FA Cup, and Southend came from behind to clinch a dramatic 4-1 victory courtesy of a Sammy McCrory hat-trick and another from Roy Hollis at Layer Road.

Previous Associate Members Cup meetings have arrived in 1982-83 (1-3 away), 1983-84 (2-0 away), 1985-86 (1-4 away) and 1988-89 (1-2 away) before, of course, that triumphant area final victory last season – Blues’ 3-2 win at Layer Road levelling the head-to-head at 26-all and the 1-1 draw at Roots Hall making it fourteen draws in the 66 meetings so far. Let’s hope the Shrimpers edge ahead once again tomorrow night.

Last Meeting

Southend United	1-1 aggregate: 4-3	Colchester United
Drewe Broughton 45+2	(Attendance: 9,603) Referee: Michael Ryan LDV Vans Trophy Area Final Second Leg @ Roots Hall	Kem Izzet 3

Darryl Flahavan Duncan Jupp Jamie Stuart -- Leon Cort Mark Warren Lewis Hunt -- Kevin Maher Mark Gower Leon Constantine Drewe Broughton Tesfaye Bramble	7 9 7 9 9 8 10 8(90) 8 10 8	Simon Brown Greg Halford Alan White -- Liam Chilvers Sam Stockley -- Karl Duguid Kem Izzet -- Thomas Pinault Joe Keith Craig Fagan -- Scott McGleish	7 7(51) 7 6(ht) 6(81) 6 8 7 6 7 7
Ryan Robinson Dave McSweeney Steven Clark Che Wilson Carl Pettefer	- - - - -(90)	Richard McKinney Gavin Johnson Rowan Vine Bobby Bowry Wayne Brown	- -(81) 6(51) - 6(ht)

Match Report By Mark Wallis
SOUTHEND United made history on Tuesday evening, reaching the first major Cup Final in the Club's 98-year history. A 1-1 draw with Colchester United earning a place in the LDV Vans Trophy Final, to be played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, with a 4-3 aggregate victory... It is purely and simply a dream come true! In the last decade in particular Southend United supporters have had to suffer more than their fair share of disappointments, and undoubtedly there have been several this season, including of course the FA Cup Third Round Replay reverse at Scarborough when a home tie with Chelsea was up for grabs. However, despite twice losing out in two-legged semi-finals - against Notts County in the Anglo Italian Cup in 1994 and to Brentford in this same competition three years ago - the Shrimpers have finally reached a major national Cup Final and face an exciting Final clash with either Sheffield Wednesday or Blackpool (they meet on Tuesday 24th February) at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday, 21st March. It was two fabulous performances from the South Essex side, made even more impressive considering Steve Tilson's side fell behind to early goals in both matches, who can hold no doubts that they fully deserve their place in the final. Indeed it goes back further than the Colchester encounters; United came from a goal down to beat Bristol Rovers in the first round, dug out an impressive win at Swansea City in the second before tonking two Second Division sides, Luton Town 3-0 and Queens Park Rangers 4-0 at Roots Hall. Before kick-off Shrimpers caretaker boss Tilson accepted a special award from LDV Vans in recognition of the superb performance against Rangers. Man for man, Southend have been simply outstanding in this competition and a special mention, for this second leg particularly, must go to Drewe Broughton - the man who's goal sent us to Cardiff - and skipper Kevin Maher who both led by example and were, quite simply, phenomenal. Anyhow, onto the match itself and Tilson named the same side which started the previous week's 3-2 victory at Layer Road with Mark Bentley and Lawrie Dudfield once again sitting out having been cup tied. However, with only seconds over two minutes on the clock Southend got off to the worst possible start when Colchester took the lead with a most soft goal. Kemal Izzet was allowed space inside the penalty area and turn and roll a mishit shot towards goal but somehow the ball wriggled through the grasp of Shrimpers goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan and into the bottom left hand corner of the South Stand net. Southend however were buoyed by the early set back more than anything else and soon went in search of a goal of their own. The first of three possible penalty appeals was turned down by referee Michael Ryan when Maher's shot was handled by Liam Chilvers, however only moments later Southend were testing U's shot-stopper Simon Brown when the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster did well to push a Broughton shot around the post. On fifteen minutes Broughton nodded a Mark Gower free kick inches wide of the far post before, just three minutes later, Brown was again on hand to deny Tes Bramble. Lewis Hunt was then pole-axed in the penalty area by Alan White, but amazingly the Lancashire -based referee cautioned Hunt for diving! Colchester then created the two best chances of the half, and in fact the match, when firstly Scott McGleish headed wide of the post after Flahavan had failed to claim a Greg Halford throw-in and the loanee frontman Craig Fagan slipped a shot wide of the upright having been fed by Halford. A long Gower ball forward on 35 minutes was nodded backwards by Broughton for Bramble to crash a volley a whisker off target Broughton smashed a shot against the post following good work by Gower sand Maher. However, in first half stoppage time the all important equaliser - which put the Shrimpers back in front on aggregate - finally arrived. A Duncan Jupp cross was drifted into the box where Bramble headed on to Broughton who drove the loose ball confidently past the on-rushing Brown. To go in with that goal under their belts was a massive boost for the Shrimpers and to be honest Tilson's men never looked like surrendering their advantage in the second period. Another penalty appeal went astray after Wayne Brown put his hand to a Jupp cross and Gower curled a 61st minute free kick inches over the top. Fagan's teasing run and cross looked dangerous but fortunately there was no U's player getting anywhere near touching the ball home and that was all the visitor's really created despite playing for a place in a cup final. Leon Cort headed a Gower free kick over the top and a Bramble cross saw Broughton nod the ball over Brown's crossbar before, on 75 minutes, Bramble was presented with a wonderful chance to seal the tie but, unmarked in the area, scuffed his shot into the grateful arms of Brown. Brown himself desperately charged up field in the dying minutes in a bid to try and grab a goal for the Layer Road side, but it was the homesters who created the final opportunities, Cort again heading off target from a Gower corner before Gower himself struck a free kick just over the bar. Southend supporters became somewhat anxious as the opposition enjoyed some lengthy possession deep in the Shrimpers half during the five minutes of stoppage time, but it all came to nothing as the final whistle brought sheer joy from three jam-packed sides of Roots Hall. The players were presented with 'We're going to the LDV Vans Trophy Final' flags, of which incidentally my best mate has acquired one from Lewis Hunt - a great memento - as our heroes deservedly completed a lengthy lap of honour. I'm sure they'll be doing just the same in South Wales in 33 days time. We already cannot wait!

Last Five Matches

Tuesday 17th February 2004 – Southend United 1 (Drewe Broughton 45+2) Colchester United 1 (Kemal Izzet 3) – LDV Vans Trophy area final second leg

Tuesday 10th February 2004 – Colchester United 2 (Thomas Pinault 7, Wayne Andrews 75) Southend United 3 (Leon Constantine 17, Drewe Broughton 42, Tesfaye Bramble 68) – LDV Vans Trophy area final first leg

Monday 16th April 1990 – Colchester United 0 Southend United 2 (Ian Benjamin, Peter Daley) – League Division Four

26th December 1989 – Southend United 0 Colchester United 2 – League Division Four

1989/90 – Southend United 2 Colchester United 1 – League Cup first round

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

1950-51 - H 4-2, A 3-1
1951-52 - H 3-2, A 0-1
1952-53 - H 4-0, A 3-3
1953-54 - H 3-0, A 1-0
1954-55 - H 4-2, A 0-2
1955-56 - H 4-0, A 6-3
1956-57 - H 3-2, A 2-3 - FA Cup - A 4-1
1957-58 - H 2-3, A 0-1
1958-59 - H 1-1, A 1-0
1959-60 - H 1-0, A 3-2
1960-61 - H 2-1, A 0-2
1962-63 - H 2-3, A 1-3
1963-64 - H 0-0, A 3-3
1964-65 - H 6-3, A 1-3
1968-69 - H 3-1, A 0-4
1969-70 - H 2-1, A 2-0
1970-71 - H 1-1, A 1-1
1971-72 - H 1-4, A 0-1
1974-75 - H 1-1, A 1-1 - Lge Cup - H 0-2
1975-76 - H 2-0, A 1-2
1976-77 - H 0-0, A 1-0
1978-79 - H 1-1, A 1-1
1979-80 - H 0-1, A 1-2
1982-83 - AMC - A 1-3
1983-84 - AMC - A 2-0
1984-85 - H 2-5, A 3-3 - FA Cup - H 2-2, A 2-3
1985-86 - H 2-4, A 0-2 - AMC - A 1-4
1986-87 - H 1-1, A 2-1
1988-89 - AMC - A 1-2
1989-90 - H 0-2, A 2-0 - Lge Cup - H 2-1, A 4-3
2003-04 – H 1-1, A 3-2 - LDV Vans Trophy

Summary

At Grainger Road:
P- 5, W- 5, D- 0, L- 0, F- 18, A- 6

At Roots Hall:
P- 26, W- 9, D- 9, L- 8, F- 42, A- 41

At Layer Road:
P- 35, W- 12, D- 5, L- 18, F- 55, A- 63

Overall:
P - 66, W- 26, D- 14, L- 26, F- 115, A- 110

Mark Wallis and Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com

TLG Stat-Pack – the Shrimpers vs. the U's

Last updated : 28 September 2004 By Mark Wallis and Robert Craven

Southend United

Colchester United

Match Report

By Mark Wallis