Craven's Marks Out Of Ten

Last updated : 25 September 2004 By Robert Craven

GK Darryl Flahavan | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Quite simply, it is very difficult to rate Flahavan’s performance since the goalkeeper really did see so little of the ball. In the early stages Southend were able to repel any Harriers pressure from free-kicks without the need to look to their shotstopper, although he should be commended for organising his defence well. There really was not one moment where you had your heart in your mouth believing that the visitors would test Flavs.


RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

Jupp had a slightly inauspicious opening when he made a horrendous challenge on Richie Appelby and was lucky to escape a booking. However, after that Juppy pulled himself together and put in a composed display, even sidestepping Kelvin Langmead at one stage to bring the ball out of defence. Was given the chance to get up and down the right-hand side with a freedom rarely handed to full-backs, and used it well, linking up brilliantly with Carl Pettefer on that flank.


CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Prior had a strange match - one in which at times he seemed outstanding and then others he was totally fallible. One of the latter moments came when he picked up the ball in acres of space and managed to pick out a red shirt from a series of blue ones available, and another arrived in the second period when he made a very cynical challenge just over the halfway line and was rightly booked for his endeavours. However, he seemed to enjoy the occasion, didn’t let his mistakes phase him and made a number of good headers at the back.


CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

Another decent game for the goalscoring centre-half who did not really threatening at any stage from set-pieces. Perhaps it was the curse of Kevin Maher referring to a golden run from free-kicks and corners in his column in the matchday programme, ‘The Blues’. Barrett’s work was at the back, with some decent tackles, especially from sideways on wrapping his legs around the forwards, whilst also at times getting forwards to offer an extra body up front, particularly after Kidderminster were reduced to ten men.


LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Wilson had, of the side, probably the best second-half, making up that extra man and ensuring that it counted. Indeed, in the dying stages he even managed to test John Danby in the Harriers goal with a couple of rasping shots, the first of which went sailing over the crossbar, but the second needing to be claimed above his head with stinging palms by the shotstopper. Wilson did a lot of good covering at the back, always the man staying on the halfway line while the rest of the team searched in vain for a second, clinching, goal, and he did not put a single foot wrong all afternoon.


RM/LM Carl Pettefer | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Pettefer has improved throughout the season so far, and today was no exception, despite the fact that he does not get the TLG Man-of-the-Match award. Playing on the right until Mark Gower’s withdrawal in the final ten minutes, Petts constantly caused Steve Burton problems, and his quick one-touch passing with Jupp, Bentley and Maher was a sight to behold. Played as a wide-man more often, and Southend’s width and crossing ability as well as forcing through the middle meant that Kidderminster did not know where the attack would come from.


CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

Central midfielder Bentley, along with the entire centre of the park, was one of the main reasons why the Shrimpers were able to emerge victorious. As ever, Bentley did not stop, and even if he lost the ball he was quickly back on his feet to win in back. Very rarely does Beno fail to close down his man – Danny Senda against Wycombe Wanderers a fortnight ago the exception that proves the rule – and it was his forcefulness that kept Blues high up the field rather than sitting back on the one-goal advantage. Always an outside threat with his long-range shooting.


CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5

MotM: Captain Kev was playing his first match at Roots Hall for nearly a month having missed the 2-1 defeat to Wycombe a fortnight ago, and his presence showed. He started a little shakily, but his general thought-process was to move forwards. That may not have always been the case as he had to slip back to collect from defence, but so often Maher does the unseen work linking the back-line to the forwards, and he did it to perfection today.

Maher could also have had a couple of goals as he started the peppering of Danby’s goal with long-range efforts from 20 or 25 yards. Unfortunately a series of these smacked into the scoreboard at the North Bank end and into the top tier of the Frank Walton Stand, but the initiative was there and that inspired the rest of the side to follow suit – and that, of course is what the captain’s job is. Another ‘plus point’ was that his booking was for a foul and not dissent!


LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 82 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Off the mark for the season, and that should lead to a number of more confident displays now for the former Barnet playmaker. It visibly lifted the creative midfielder for the rest of the match, and he seemed to dedicate the goal to boss Steve Tilson as he raced across to the touchline in celebration. The goal itself was a wonderfully worked move, exchanging passes with Lawrie Dudfield before curling the ball around Danby’s outstretched right-hand with the outside of his right boot and into the top left-hand corner for what will be a contender for goal of the season.


CF/RM Tesfaye Bramble | Mins on pitch: 90 | Gls: 0 | Assts: 0 | Rating: 8

Bramble gave the sort of performance that makes Shrimpers supporters believe that he is the most gifted front man in League Two and that he could easily play at a higher level. Unfortunately at times we see his levels drop, but today was a day for focusing on the positives, and they included lots of off-the-ball runs, pressurising defenders and the goalkeeper, but most particularly his vision and passing, with one trap underneath his right boot and stubbed pass wide to Jupp absolutely sublime in the second period. Unluckily did not manage a goal.


CF Lawrie Dudfield | Mins on pitch: 82 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 7.5

Again it was a mystery how Dudfield did not manage to get a goal, but despite this he played a significant part in the only Blues strike of the afternoon. A lovely touch was required, and that was exactly what Mark Gower got to put the ball right into his path. Dudfield displayed a good number of lovely touches to set up chances, and fought hard in the air, nodding one opportunity just wide of the left-hand upright.


CF Drewe Broughton | Mins on pitch: 8 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Broughton had little time to get in his impression ahead of the LDV Vans Trophy reunion with Colchester United on Wednesday, but won a number of balls in the air, and generally managed to pick out blue shirts with some good touches.


CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 8 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Gray looked as sharp as he has done in a Southend shirt, receiving some fine touches from Drewe and also showing that he is really up for it as he raced down the flank in pursuit of a half-chance before Danby could get there. Gray does need a first-team goal, but this was the best indicator that one from open play could arrive given a run in the side – which he seems equally unlikely to get.


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com