Craven's Marks Out Of Ten

Last updated : 18 September 2004 By Robert Craven

GK Darryl Flahavan | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 1 | Rating: 6.5

Another reasonably assured display from Flahavan, who showed that he is a more than capable understudy at League Two level. Was beaten by one goal, but that was not his fault as Glyn Hurst turned Spencer Prior and put the ball in the opposite corner of the net from a position in which a striker should score. Thereafter came off of his line twice to claim potentially dangerous crosses, whilst a 0-0 he did well to get to a ball before Youssef Sofianne after Kevin Maher had left him short.


RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7

Back to his solid best after a poor performance at Roots Hall seven days earlier. Jupp had a short spell at Meadow Lane on trial and played in a few matches, and was therefore keen to give a good account of himself. That he did without being spectacular, and there was none of the poor loss of possession that he had executed last weekend.


CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

Prior had his best 85 minutes in a Southend shirt – in his second spell with the Shrimpers of course – but then once again handed the opposition in an away match the initiative to get back into it – although they did not. Prior had been mopping up any loose balls in the defence, but then got caught on the ball again as he has so often this season and Glyn Hurst, from our vantage point seemingly offside, snatched possession and beat Flavs.


CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5

MotM: Where on earth has Barrett managed to find this incredible run of form in front of the net? Without his strikes Blues would have half of the amount of goals that they currently own, and would have lost the games against Macclesfield Town and against today (obviously providing others did not step into the breach).


Not since Leon Cort’s heyday and the hat-trick against Boston United has a defender been such a threat, and long may it continue. Today he made no mistake with two headers from Kevin Maher set-pieces – the first cannoning off of the woodwork and goalkeeper Wayne Henderson before finally settling in the back of the net and then the second looping over the hapless shotstopper to put the match out of the Magpies grasp.


The most impressive thing about the former Bristol Rovers captain is that he has done his job at the back as well. Strong in the challenge, and able to push any opposition forward out of his stride, he has fought his way into the team and not looked back, the prime example of how someone should react to being left on the bench.


LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

Wilson had another good game, offering no reason why he should not retain his place for some time yet. Coming up against former Shrimpers flyer Tony Scully could have been some problem for the Ely-born defender after his LDV final problems against another tricky and speedy winger, but Che was in magnificent form, and Scully did not get a sniff. He also came up with a couple of last minute interventions that helped save the blushes of his central defenders.


RM/LM Carl Pettefer | Mins on pitch: 90 | Gls: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

After an excellent match against Wycombe Wanderers that ended in ultimate defeat, Petts was average again and looked like a mediocre League Two winger, but his side were the winners on the afternoon. The former Portsmouth man always looked to come inside and that meant that Blues had no width on the right, but for large chunks of the match the play was channelled down the left and Pettefer had little to get a grip on.


CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Bents was in fine form yet again, and has probably, Barrett apart, been the Shrimpers man-of-the-season thus far. He was in energetic mood again, getting stuck in with a number of crunching tackles that kept Blues in the County half and maintained the momentum of being on top. The former Aveley midfielder must’ve had his heart in his mouth – and more – when Darryl Flahavan was cluttered by Che Wilson, but thankfully the inspirational battler was not called upon to adorn the goalkeeper’s jersey. His job in the centre of the park is far too valuable.


CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 2 | Rating: 7

A rarity as Captain Kev managed to somehow avoid talking himself into a booking. Indeed, only once did he seem likely to have a word with Scott Mathieson, and that is exactly what Steve Tilson and Paul Brush will have wanted. It was a decent return for the Ilford-born Irishman and the, paradoxically, calming influence he has on the side was there for all to see. Managed a series of scintillating forward passes that split open the Magpies back-line, only to then see Blues strikers waste them. Set up both goals as well with good, if not particularly threatening with a good defence, crosses.


LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 79 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

There was one moment when Gower skipped past David Pipe at right full-back, stretched his legs and cut the ball back for Lawrie Dudfield to side-foot on for a goalline Ian Richardson clearance, to set the away end alight and the comments flew around that the old Gower was back. He seemed to have gained in confidence and was constantly pushing on, with most of the danger coming down the left-hand side.


CF Tes Bramble | Minutes on pitch: 59 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Tes must’ve had some sort of injury for Tilson to have brought him off as his partnership with Dudfield seems to have defences in League Two running scared. While Bramble and Dudders tiptoe into space and make searing runs, it is the consequence that Adam Barrett gets his name on the scoresheet and reaps the benefit. Made a couple of powerful runs that ended in ultimate failure, but in the scheme of things was anonymous.


CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7

Once again Dudders will be asking himself how he came away from a football ground without his name on the scoresheet. He had one absolutely glorious chance, set up by Mark Gower as he received the ball no more than fifteen yards out with a convincing effort meaning that only Wayne Henderson stood between him and the goal. He chose to side-foot the ball instead of hitting it hard, and Ian Richardson scooted in to clear off of the line. Raced clear in the first half and seemed to find the net, but incredibly it went behind the goal with a crisp effort.


CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 41 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Gray will not get better opportunities to open his coring account from open play than he did today. Set up by Bentley and Dudfield at varying times, but hit one wide when he really should have hit the target and then the next time, one-on-one with goalkeeper Henderson, lobbed the ball past the left-hand angle. At times looked disinterested, but towards the end showed a bit of fight which will auger well with Southend’s fickle fans.


RM James Corbett | Minutes on pitch: 11 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

The ex-Gillingham player seemed remarkably overweight for a Football League player, a result of a lack of reserve team football to keep up his fitness. Didn’t go out wide, which was sensible given his lack of pace, but tried to marshal the team through the final stages.


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com