We've Met Before - Canvey Island

Essex Thameside Trophy Semi-Final - May 1999

The following season the two sides were once again paired in the same competition at Roots Hall, this time however it was the Third Round and United ran -out 3-1 winners en route to eventually winning the Cup. Southend went behind early on in the game but two goals from Phil Gridelet and one from Andy Rammell ensured what proved to be a comfortable victory for the following Shrimpers side:- Simon Royce; Andy Harris, Steve Tilson, Mark McNally, Keith Dublin; Phil Gridelet, John Nielson, Paul Byrne, Ritchie Hanlon; Andy Thomson, Andy Rammell.

Shortly after the Islanders clinched promotion to the Ryman League Premier Division in May 1999, Southend made their first trip to Park Lane for an Essex Thameside Trophy Semi-Final tie. Here we bring you our report from Issue One of The Little Gazette (8-5-99):-

"BLUES cruised through to the final of the Essex Thameside Trophy with a 3-0 victory at Park Lane, Canvey. Alan Little used a mixture of first-team fringe players and youth players.

Roget was made captain for the night and Lars Unger and Keith Dublin were playing their penultimate matches for the Club, provided they are picked against Hartlepool, or in the final.

Blues attacked from the kick-off and in the first minute an Adrian Clarke cross found Conlon's head that was saved by the Canvey keeper Brian Horne. A minute later Conlon was in the action again as his through ball found Fitzpatrick, but Fitz screwed his shot wide.

Alan Little had watched Canvey in the Essex Senior Cup final at Roots Hall, of which he said: "Canvey played football that night, tonight they tried to kick us off the park in the first twenty minutes."

On eight minutes a long kick former Millwall keeper Brian Horne found Parmenter, but his shot sailed over Spittle's bar. Five minutes later former Blues players Steve Tilson and Paul Williams combined to set up Scott Lindsey, but his shot went over the bar.

On 18 minutes Fitz hit a 25 yard free kick that Horne did well to get down to push the ball away for a corner. A minute later Horne had to be alert again as McGavin's shot from eighteen yards was saved.

Gary Britnell was booked for Canvey on 21 minutes for stupidly kicking the ball away. On 23 minutes Blues took the lead. Adrian Clarke's right footed cross from the left was headed home from six yards by Conlon. who had escaped his marker for a free header.

Essex Senior Cup Second round - November 1995

Canvey didn't really course and real problems in the second half as the Blues defence was solid. Leo was thriving as captain. Perkins was having a good game and Dublin was as professional as ever.

Blues went two up on 72 minutes. Yemi's cross found McGavin, his pass found Fitz who slammed the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

The match was sealed for the Blues three minutes later as Clarke's cross from the left found Yemi who headed home from ten yards.

So Blues were in the final of the Essex Thameside Trophy where they will play Ford United at Rush Green Road."

The Southend line-up that evening was as follows:- Steve Spittle; Julian Hails, Adrian Clarke, Leo Roget, Chris Perkins, Keith Dublin; Mick Gooding, Lars Unger, Steve McGavin; Barry Conlon (Yemi Abiodun), Trevor Fitzpatrick.

Another visit to Park Lane arrived the following season, 1999-2000 when United were the visitors in eartly March for an Essex Senior Cup semi-final. Unfortunately the Shrimpers had a Division Three fixture against Exeter City just the following evening and fielded a side made up mainly of youngsters. Still, the inexperienced side put up a superb account of themselves and captain David McSweeney's goal saw the Shrimpers take a slender lead into the interval. However a quick-fire double strike by substititute Andy Jones handed the Islanders victory over a Southend side which lined-up as follows:- Jamie Lunan; David McSweeney, Tom McDonald, Chris Perkins (Kevin Ayres), Leon Johnson; Daniel Kerrigan, Leon Hunter, Mick Gooding, Craig Edwards; Danny Pitts, Adrian Clarke.

FA Cup Second Round - December 2000

In case you had forgotten, Canvey had amazingly seen off Port Vale in the First Round curtesy of a 2-1 replay victory at Vale Park, after the Gulls had come back from 2-4 behind with only a minute remaining to draw 4-4 at Park Lane. Southend also needed a replay at Roots Hall to progress, eventually beating Torquay United 2-1 after Extra Time.

The tie was supposed to be a home match for the Ryman Leaguers, but on Police advice the match was switched to Roots Hall and instantly sold out.

On a terrible afternoon weather wise, Scott Forbes, now a Canvey player himself, opened the scoring for orange-shirted United midway through the first half before the tie was virtually sealed when Ben Abbey ran through the Canvey defence before slotting in a second.

Wayne Vaughan netted a late consolation for the non-league side but the following Southend side chalked up what was a comfortable victory:- Darryl Flahavan; Martyn Booty, Damon Searle, Leo Roget, Phil Whelan; Russell Williamson, Kevin Maher, David Lee, Scott Forbes; Martin Carruthers, Ben Abbey (Daniel Webb).

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com