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

Last updated : 05 November 2004 By Robert Craven

Mark Rawle has scored three times in the last four games between the clubs - and for both sides
Last season saw the return of Mark Rawle to Roots Hall, some six months after he had forgotten where the ground was and turned up at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium instead! Rawle was given an awful reception, as expected, but this only spurred him on, and he netted some eight minutes after entering the fray, with Southend unable to take their chances in a one-sided clash. Drewe Broughton was sent off for two ridiculous bookings.


Rawle had made his first appearance against the Shrimpers in the September meeting between the clubs in Oxfordshire, coming off of the bench to a chorus of boos as the U’s won 2-0 through Steve Basham and Paul Wanless. This also turned out to be Carl Emberson’s last match for the club, as he was injured in a tangle with Basham and dropped to the sidelines, with Darryl Flahavan’s return sparking a season in the second-string before joining Conference South Grays Athletic.


Ironically, 2002/3 had seen Blues complete the ‘double’ over Oxford, with Rawle scoring on both occasions. Steve Basham scored in the last minute of the 2-1 Roots Hall win for United, with the now ex-Shrimper Rawle and Tesfaye Bramble the only two men grabbing the numerous opportunities on offer. And the former Boston United front man tucked home after just twenty minutes for the game’s only goal at the Kassam Stadium.


Overall, Southend have a pathetic record against the U’s home and away, winning just a quarter of the home meetings, and as many at the Manor Ground and the Kassam as they have at the Hall. Of the nine victories, though, the 6-1 demolition of Oxford in 1993 lives longest in the memory – and it was current Oxford striker Tommy Mooney who hit three of the Seasiders’ goals – along with Andy Edwards and a Ricky Otto brace.


Last Meeting


Southend United

0-1
(Attendance: 6,449)

Oxford United

Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall on Wednesday 28th December ‘03

Mark Rawle 68

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp

Jamie Stuart

Leon Cort

Lewis Hunt

Kevin Maher

Jamie Fullarton

Che Wilson

Neil Jenkins

Drewe Broughton ---

Leon Constantine

8

6

5(88)

6

6

6

8

5(73)

6

4

6

Andy Woodman

Paul McCarthy

Matthew Robinson

Matthew Bound

Andy Crosby

Paul Wanless

Dean Whitehead

Scott McNiven

James Hunt

Julian Alsop

Steve Basham

7

6(34)

6

6

6

7

8

6

6

7

6(60)

Carl Emberson

Anthony Clark

Stuart Williams

Michael Kightly

Steve Tilson

-

-

-

7(73)

-(88)

Chris Hackett

Mark Rawle

Jefferson Louis

Daniel Brown

Jon Ashton

-

7(60)

-

-

7(34)

Match Report

By Mark Wallis

Drewe Broughton saw red in the dying seconds
UNLUCKY Southend United, missing four key players through suspension and several more through injury, slipped to their eighth home defeat of the season against table-topping Oxford United with a familiar name netting a most fortunate winning goal for the visitors…


On a bitterly cold afternoon absolutely nothing less than three points for Southend United was enough in this post-Christmas clash, but with High-flying Oxford United the opposition, and with the Essex side missing Tes Bramble, Mark Gower, Jay Smith and David McSweeney through suspension as well as Mark Warren, Michael Husbands, Jim Corbett, Leke Odunsi and Steven Clark with injuries the under-strength Shrimpers were always facing a tough test.


That however is not to say that Southend, defying their lowly League ranking, didn't match their opponents, as except for maybe the opening fifteen minutes Steve Tilson's side were probably the better of the two sides.


Unfortunately the Seasiders visibly missed Bramble and Gower more than anybody else as they lacked real firepower upfront.


Jamie Fullarton, who wasn't expected to be back for at least another month after rupturing his groin in October, returned to the starting line-up alongside Jamie Stuart and Duncan Jupp who have also been suffering long term injuries. None of the trio were fully fit, but it was all Southend had left to turn to in a desperate bid to find eleven available players.


As previously stated it was the visitors who dominated the opening exchanges and Paul McCarthy came close when he headed a Scott McNiven cross just off target. Minutes later the Shrimpers failed to clear a McNiven centre and Lewis Hunt did well to direct a Steve Basham effort just wide of Darryl Flahavan's upright.


Flahavan then bravely dived to gather the ball at the feet of Basham before Dean Whitehead, seemingly yards offside, directed a Matthew Robinson shot over the crossbar.


From that moment on however it was the home side, fresh on the back of an impressive victory at Cambridge United two days earlier, who bossed proceedings. Indeed the Shrimpers very nearly grabbed the lead with their first meaningful attack on 26 minutes when a low rasping drive from Leon Constantine thumped against the foot of the left hand post before bouncing to safety.


Nine minutes later a Jupp cross saw U's former Southend goalkeeper Andy Woodman drop the ball under pressure from Constantine, but just as Drewe Broughton smashed the ball into the unguarded net, incompetent referee Iain Williamson blew up for a foul that nobody else appeared to see.


The last action of a less than highly entertaining first half then saw Broughton stab an effort off target following a low through ball by Neil Jenkins.


The second period, despite being rather devoid of chances, saw Southend continue to dominate the game and just four minutes after the re-start an outswinging Maher corner saw Leon Cort's bullet of a header fumbled by Woodman before McNiven desperately hacked the ball away from underneath the crossbar. Three further minutes later and another Maher delivery, just time from a left flank free kick saw Constantine send a header wide of Woodman's left hand post.


A neat run by Maher brought a 25-yard shot which drifted straight into the arms of Woodman before a fine sprint by Che Wilson saw the ex-Cambridge City man cut into the penalty area before firing just over the top.


Then, the introduction of Mark Rawle as an Oxford substitute on the hour mark brought a torrent of abuse from the Southend faithful - just as the ex-Shrimper had experienced at the Kassam Stadium back in early September - but within eight minutes the nippy forward had stolen the game from his former Club with the only goal of the game.


Quite how referee Williamson failed to award a free-kick after Paul Wanless launched an assault on Shrimpers midfielder Kevin Maher is simply astounding, but Wanless, still rather surprised himself, then picked out Rawle - completely unmarked - who had the simple task of lifting a lobbed shot over the head of the advancing Flahavan and into the unguarded net.


Southend of course still had time to reply, but once they'd been denied a blatant penalty after Broughton was wrestled to the floor by Whitehead, but with Williamson oblivious Jenkins fired a low shot off target.


Duncan Jupp shot just over the top with two minutes left before Broughton was amazingly sent-off for a second booking after kicking the ball against McNiven in an attempt to win a last gasp corner.


Then, with the two minutes of injury time ticking well into the third even Flahavan came forward to try and steal a late leveller, but despite all their trying, Southend just couldn't find the breakthrough.


It was a must-win game for Blues who remain firmly in relegation mire and with the Shrimpers in FA Cup action next week, Tilson's men could well drop back into the drop zone in six days time.


Carl Emberson made his last appearance for the Shrimpers at Oxford last year
Last Five Meetings


28th December 2003 – Southend United 0 Oxford United 1 (Mark Rawle 68) – League Division Three

6th September 2003 – Oxford United 2 (Steve Basham 26, Paul Wanless 47) Southend United 0 – League Division Three

21st January 2003 – Southend United 2 (Mark Rawle 45, Tesfaye Bramble 70) Oxford United 1 (Steve Basham 89) – Nationwide League Division Three

24th August 2002 – Oxford United 0 Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 20) – Nationwide League Division Three

2nd March 2002 – Southend United 2 (Tesfaye Bramble 29 [pen], Leon Cort 43) Oxford United 2 (Andy Scott 45, Paul Powell 71 [pen]) – Nationwide League Division Three


The Complete Head-to-Head Record


2003/4 – H0-1 A0-2 (League)

2002/3 – H2-1 A1-0 (League)

2001/2 – H2-2 A0-2 (League)

1999/2000 – H0-2 A0-1 (League Cup)

1996/7 – H2-2 A0-5 (League)

1993/4 – H6-1 A1-2 (League)

1992/3 – H0-3 A1-0 (League)

1991/2 – H2-3 A1-0 (League)

1983/4 – H0-1 A1-2 (League)

1982/3 – H1-2 A0-1 (League)

1981/2 – H0-1 A2-0 (League)

1980/1 – H0-2 A1-0 (League Cup)

1979/80 – H1-1 A0-1 (League)

1978/9 – H2-0 A0-0 (League)

1965/6 – H2-1 A2-3 (League)

Summary


Overall

Matches: 30

Southend United wins: 9

Oxford United wins: 17

Draws: 4

Southend United goals: 30

Oxford United goals: 42

Biggest Southend United win: 6-1 (Roots Hall; League Division One; 16/10/93)

Biggest Oxford United win: 5-0 (Manor Ground; League Division One; 24/08/96)


In the League

Matches: 26

Southend United wins: 8

Oxford United wins: 14

Draws: 4

Southend United goals: 29

Oxford United goals: 37

Biggest Southend United win: 6-1 (Roots Hall; League Division One; 16/10/93)

Biggest Oxford United win: 5-0 (Manor Ground; League Division One; 24/08/96)


At Roots Hall

Matches: 15

Southend United wins: 4

Oxford United wins: 8

Draws: 3

Southend United goals: 20

Oxford United goals: 23

Biggest Southend United win: 6-1 (League Division One; 16/10/93)

Biggest Oxford United win: 3-0 (League Division One; 07/11/92)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com