|
However, engulfed within an atmosphere more accustomed to a reserve fixture, United were never at the races straight from kick-off. In all honesty I doubt whether the pre-match flight helped – the Shrimpers virtually always lose when they fly to games, so why waste money doing it? – and I think Wednesday night was still in the system, with the game not finishing until ten minute before eleven. Excuses are of no use though, Tilson’s men, for whatever reason, just were not good enough and this result will hopefully act as a good lesson.
Lawrie Dudfield, with a slight back injury, was still missing although Spencer Prior reclaimed his starting place at the expense of the unfortunate Andy Edwards having been rested for the clash at Layer Road. Midfielder Mark Bentley, despite his ridiculously harsh sending-off in North Essex, remained in the side with the result of his appeal yet to be heard.
The tone for the match was then set in just the third minute when Blues shot-stopper Darryl Flahavan did well to push a Stephen Thomas shot around the post.
Following that early opening it wasn’t long before the home side went ahead. With 16 minutes on the clock a low Craig Hignett cross saw Armstrong stoop low before sending a perfectly placed diving header past Flahavan and in via the foot of the left upright. (1-0)
Statistics show that United only produced one less goal attempt than their hosts – fourteen to Darlington’s fifteen – but unfortunately anything Blues seemed to muster couldn’t find its way on target, especially in the first half, and indeed Mark Gower became the first to shot just off target on 20 minutes.
Then, however, just eight minutes after the opener, Southend found themselves two goals behind. This time the goal came in a rather more scrappy fashion as Wijnhard seemed to scuff the ball past Flahavan from four yards after he had been picked out by Armstrong’s low centre. (2-0)
Hignett, another former Middlesbrough man along with fellow midfielder Neil Maddison and Armstrong of course, brought a fine diving stop out of Flahavan before a brief Southend rally saw Bentley’s head flick a Kevin Maher corner wide of the mark before a Duncan Jupp free kick was nodded wide by Adam Barrett.
Then, just around ten minutes before half-time the heavens of County Durham opened and the players received a rather fierce battering from the elements. As the sky darkened the ‘floodlights’ were switched on, but anyone who visited the Stadium last season will appreciate that they don’t make the slightest bit of difference!
The rain had settled somewhat by the time a Ryan Valentine cross saw the superbly-named Adolfo Gregorio volley an angled effort just off target.
It was on the 40 minutes mark though that the game was virtually over as a contest when the Quakers raced into a three-goal half-time lead. A low Gregorio shot was parried out by Flahavan, but Armstrong reacted the sharpest to pop home the rebound from six yards. (3-0)
Half-time: Darlington 3 Southend United 0
Southend looked a much better side in the second half, and created most of the chances, but it was of course always going to be a huge mountain to climb with the damage already done. In fact the Shrimpers afternoon was probably summed up with Drewe Broughton’s appearance. The battling centre forward arrived as a 64th minute substitute for Tes Bramble, got booked, and then left the field to be replaced by Lewis Hunt in the 80th minute with what looked like a nasty nose injury.
It was on 52 minutes that Southend’s game was really up as Armstrong became the first player since Lloyd Owusu in November 1998 – at Brentford – to net a trio of strikes against United away from home. The matchball was won when he chased down a long ball forward, beat Flahavan, and then lobbed the ball into the unguarded net from 15 yards. (4-0)
After the fourth goal, and indeed once Armstrong had left the action to a standing ovation after just 64 minutes, it was United who created the only real chances.
Gower’s fierce deflected shot brought the visitor’s first effort on target before substitute Wayne Gray, having been played through, saw goalkeeper Sam Russell bravely come of his line to push the ball away from the pacey strikers feet.
Custodian Russell was called upon again to parry a long range Gower effort before the final opportunity, two minutes from time, saw Bentley head a free kick from skipper Maher wide of the post.
Click here for MATCH STATISTICS
Click here for CRAVEN'S MARKS OUT OF TEN
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com