Craven's Marks Out Of Ten

GK Darryl Flahavan | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 1 | Rating: 7.5

There is probably nothing better as a goalkeeper than to save a penalty, and especially one that eventually wins your side the game. Flavs made a fine save low to his left for a short man, and it was just the shot in the arm that the team needed as they came under substantial pressure from the Cobblers. This was an assured display by the custodian, who must have felt that his place in the side was threatened after a good midweek display by Ryan Clarke. In truth though, the spot-kick save aside he had little in the way of shots to keep out.

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

It would have been easy for Steve Tilson to have dropped Juppy after his last two away performances. Indeed, I even campaigned for it. But today the experienced full-back showed exactly what he is doing in the side, and had a competent game on the right. He was troubled at times by the ability of Martin Smith, but he made a series of good challenges that stopped the visitors in their tracks, and was more often than not in the right place to head out at the death.

CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

At centre-back, Spinner was another one who could have been tactically ‘rested’ in favour of Andy Edwards, and may well be in the LDV against Shrewsbury. However, he was back towards an acceptable level after two disappointing matches away from Roots Hall, and there was rarely an aerial ball that his bonce was not on the end of.

CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7

Barrett was solid at the back, and commanding coming forwards. So often he will be the energy from the defence, and is a vital cog in the wheel with his determination and energy. He did slip up once, but somehow managed to recover enough to slide a ball destined for a rampaging Eric Sabin into Che Wilson’s path. Sabin and Scott McGleish did cause the heart of Southend’s back-line problems, but the Seasiders scored more goals than the Cobblers at the end of the day.

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

Against Josh Low, Wilson could have been caused an awful lot more problems. It is easy to forget amongst all the recent signings that the Cobblers have made that Low was the record signature in summer 2003, and he is an extremely talented player. That, by and large, he was kept quiet by Wilson is a testament to the left-back’s resolve, and he also managed to give Gower good support. Unlucky to be caught out for the penalty.

RM/LM Carl Pettefer | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Not a brilliant game from the little midfielder, who nonetheless never gave up running for the side, and fighting until the end. You know what you get from Petts – a tough and tricky performer. Town probably didn’t quite bargain for this, and tried to boss him around with sneaky shoves and elbows, but the former Portsmouth man was not to be denied, and he tussled hard to keep the balance of the side.

CM Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Former Derby County man Hunt showed just why Steve Tilson continues to select him ahead of Mark Bentley. I made the point in the preview that when Hunt plays in the middle, there is a more defensive feel to the side, and that is not what you would particularly want in a home match in League Two. But against a leading side, Hunt vindicated his manager – his extra steel alongside Kevin Maher stopped David Rowson and Lee Williamson having any impact, and at times he was the furthest forward midfield player, in sending in a couple of shots.

CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 8.5

MotM: Maher showed again why he is so highly-rated amongst most coaches in the bottom two divisions with a fine performance, but it is his inability to produce this kind of display that so infuriates his side’s supporters. One day he is a world-beater, the next a whimpering eel, slithering away from the action.

Thankfully as one of the leading sides came to town we got the all-action hero, and Maher was in every position available to him, collecting the ball, spraying it around with aplomb and even winning it back when he lost it. One pass for Wayne Gray to score was absolutely sublime.

Meanwhile, he managed to channel his mouth in exactly the right channels. He kept away from the referee, and instead shouted his frustration at a team-mate in Freddy Eastwood for failing to put in the requisite effort. As long as he expects to get some back when he doesn’t perform!

LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 77 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Mark Gower again gave a virtuoso cameo of why he is contracted at Roots Hall until the summer of 2006. The midfielder is an asset of which there is little comparison when he scores goals like he did today. Indeed, of his strikes in this season and last, he could have a goal-of-the-season one-two-three all to himself. Cracking strike out of the nothing was the spark for a solid win in a game that we had to come out of with three points, and he continued to work hard until his substitution.

CF Freddy Eastwood | Mins on pitch: 77 | Gls: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 7.5

Eastwood was taken off early by Tilson, but instead of it being an opportunity to give the youngster a standing ovation, it was in recognition of the way that, on the whole – the Maher tirade apart, he had flogged himself half to death over his 77 minutes on the field. He still tried all the tricks, and he beat a number of men, as well as set up the Gower strike, but that clinical finish wasn’t there today, although he remained a good acquisition – if Tilly and Ron can thrash something out.

CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

Another fine 90 minute from the former Wimbledon player. A strike that owed so much to power, pace, persistence and perseverance was the icing on the proverbial cake of a tireless match for the 23-year-old, who earned the sponsor’s man-of-the-match award. Kept on going for the whole game, never stopped chasing down lost causes and showed why Paul Brush has had so much faith in his ability once he is on tip-top form.

CF Lawrie Dudfield | Mins on pitch: 13 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Dudfield, playing briefly against his old club, did nothing wrong in his quarter-of-an-hour on the pitch, but he was unable to get that shot on goal that may just have re-ignited his season, and without it, Eastwood will remain up front as long as he is here.

RM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 13 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7

Whereas Dudfield was unable to impact upon the state of the game, Bentley’s battling qualities and never-say-die attitude meant that he was in a position to come on and tough it out against a physical side, and in doing so yet again prove why he should be accommodated somehow from the start!