Braintree Town 2 Southend United 2

Ian Selley was United's best player.

Braintree's former Maldon Town striker Tommy Noble created an early opening for the home side, seeing a fierce shot blocked before Sam Banya stabbed the ball wide. On what was a superb playing surface however, that really was that for action until the 26th minute when Tesfaye Bramble fired well over the bar after Paul Catley had failed to hold onto Kevin Maher's stinging shot. Unfortunately a minute earlier Danny Maye had limped out of the action.

As the game drifted past the half hour mark Town striker Neil Cousins first of all sent a shot wayward before dragging the ball wide of Darryl Flahavan's goal moments later.

Catley did well to punch clear a dangerous Bramble cross under pressure from Mark Rawle on 40 minutes, but the only further action from a most dire first half saw Tony Richards control the ball well before volleying wide from an acute angle on the edge of the box.

Although hardly a spectacle, the second half was most certainly an improvement on its predecessor, and within two minutes of the restart Braintree really should have taken the lead but Cousins shot inexplicably over the crossbar having been played clean through on goal.

Three minutes later however it the homesters did take the lead, a flick on from a Dean Parratt corner found the diving head of Gavin Cowan who nodded the ball home at the back post.

Southend however were not behind for long, levelling the encounter on 53 minutes. Richards right wing centre somehow bouncing into the path of Rawle who did well to turn and slide the ball home from inside the six yard box. Within sixty seconds Rawle was almost at it again, but this time his angled drive flew into the side-netting.

Mark Rawle took both goals well.

Chelmsford-based referee Mike Bull was brought into the spotlight in the 63rd minute, awarding Braintree a penalty after Damon Searle was penalised for tripping Bradley Quinton. Quinton however saw his poorly struck spot kick saved by the diving Flahavan. Two minutes later ad Flahavan was the hero once more, pulling off superb reflex saves to deny firstly Cousins and then Parratt.

On 72 minutes United, perhaps a little against the run of play, took the lead, Rawle brilliantly bringing the ball under control before drilling the ball past Catley from the edge of the area.

Former Shrimpers wide man Mark Jones sent a shot well wide of the target before Bull awarded Braintree another penalty in somewhat harsh circumstances. Banya's powerful low cross was slammed against the arm of the helpless David McSweeney from point blank range by Cousins. There was nothing McSweeney could do but the linesman on the near side flaggged desperately for a spot kick which was easily converted this time by Parratt, sending Flahavan the wrong way.

As the match came to a close Daniel Webb squandered a couple of half chances, but in all honesty they were little more than that and perhaps manager Rob Newman will feel a little frustrated with the outcome. United however have a great opportunity to bounce back as they are in action again on Thursday night when they travel to King's Lynn.

SOUTHEND:- Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Daniel Lunan 86), Damon Searle (Neil Jenkins 81), Phil Whelan, David McSweeney; Kevin Maher (Rio Alderton 74), Ian Selley (Stuart Thurgood 67), Tony Richards (Daniel Webb 53), Danny Maye (Mark Rawle 25); Tesfaye Bramble (Mark Salter 74), Barrington Belgrave (Paulo Martins 74). Unused sub - Daniel Gay.

GOALS - Rawle 53, 72

CAUTIONS - None, DISMISSALS - None.

REFEREE - Mike Bull (Chelmsford)

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com