GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 2 | Rating: 7.5 |
18 months ago Darryl Flahavan had no club, he had been released by a Steve Wignall lead Southend. However he shortly returned to Roots Hall and has been in goal on the two occasions that Southend have reached the LDV Vans Trophy Final. Flahavan has slipped in and out of the side however he has stuck with the Shrimpers and has been rightly awarded with another trip to Cardiff, assuming Bart Griemink does not regain his place. On the night Flahavan made four saves and showed that he has come on as a goalkeeper in terms of his commanding of his area, he notably anticipates crosses far better these days. Flahavan will obviously be delighted to have made another Cardiff final. |
RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
One can only assume that Duncan Jupp entered the team in order to replace an injured Lewis Hunt however there was no official announcement from the club as to why regular Hunt, did not appear on the night, with the exception of the end of game celebrations. In my opinion Jupp played well contributing, as always to the attack and helped the defensively minded Prior out by getting some good crosses into the box. However it is a concern that both the Bristol Rovers goals came from right hand side of the pitch. The first goal Jupp was not in sight, I suppose you could say that in that case it is not Jupp’s fault but you can also say that he should be in position to block the cross that found it’s way to Richard Walker. Junior Agogo’s stunning volley was admired by most however he drifted over to the right hand side and found the space to execute his volley. Where was Jupp? The answer is I really do not know and after a good attacking performance Jupp needs to have a good look at the defensive side of his game. As soon as Hunt is fit I assume that he will regain his place in the side. |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Another display from Prior where he did not show the best of his abilities but, unlike Saturday Prior did manage to do the basics right. Prior managed to get his head to the majority of the aerial battles that took place throughout the evening. Prior also managed to keep Agogo at bay for the best part of the evening using his football-brain that has seen him venture to the higher reaches of the professional game. Prior may have been at fault for the Gas’ first goal as he failed to deal with the cross of Ryan Williams. Despite this Prior will be playing in the third national final of his career after he won the League Cup with Leicester City(at Wembley) and the then-Division 2 Playoffs with Cardiff City(at the Millenium Stadium). |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
Another great performance from Barrett who will be delighted with overcoming his old club in order to get to Cardiff. Rovers’ fans strangely chanted ‘Barrett, Barrett what’s the score?’ despite Southend having the 4-3 lead on aggregate. Barrett has had a fantastic season by the seaside with Southend and will get another opportunity to impress on the television cameras at the Millenium Stadium after the whole team failed to impress in the First Round of the F.A. Cup. Barrett defended well all evening especially when Southend were under a lot of pressure. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Another solid performance from Wilson represents an opportunity for Che to make up for his less than satisfactory performance that he turned in at Cardiff last season. Wilson will have nightmares of Blackpool’s right winger Martin Bullock beating him for pace and skill throughout the match and he, more than most, would have been praying for a repeat visit to the Millenium Stadium. Wilson, had a very good game throughout the night, as his dribbling skills up the flank impressed me very much. Wilson is another who will be happy having defeated his old club over two legs. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
It was a night where Pettefer really excelled and he needed to as a gritty display in the midfield helped ensure that Southend got as much of the ball as possible. Pettefer even impressed me going forward as the extra adrenaline saw him whip in a couple of good crosses, one of which found Freddy Eastwood who hit the bar. It was the sort of game that was always going to suit Pettefer and the man who signed only hours before the start of Southend’s last LDV Area Final, turned his game on in order to guide Southend to another National Final. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 9.5 |
You just would not think that only 15 months ago Mark Bentley was playing non-league football. Would you? Bentley showed what he was all about with his best performance in a Southend shirt. The former Dangenham man offered everything he could on a night when Southend needed a big performance from the midfield men. Bentley’s passing was exceptional as she moved into attacking area with the ball. Without the ball, Bentley battled supremely, his tackling was enthusiastic but not stupid and he also won many an aerial battle. A few games ago I felt that Bentley was lacking a little confidence in his game however tonight I feel that Bentley has improved splendidly and having missed out on the Cardiff showpiece last year he will be looking forward to making a Millennium Stadium appearance this time around. |
CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
Another committed LDV performance from Maher who was never going to live up to the exceptional performances in the competition at this stage last year. Maher though, will be delighted that he chose in the summer to stay at Southend having been given the option to join Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City. Maher led from the front in a game that needed Captain Fantastic to step up to the plate. Unless a horrible suspension or injury occurs Maher will lead the Shrimper’s out in the South Wales Venue again. |
LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Gower drifted in and out of the game as he did on Saturday against Chester City. Gower twisted and turned making defenders of Bristol Rovers sit back and think; after all he has a fantastic scoring record against the Gas. Gower did have one rasping shot in the first half where he cut in and had a shot in his trademark fashion however he blasted over the bar. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 1| Rating: 10 | |||
Eastwood rose to the occasion and set the tone early on with a couple of long-range shots that tested goalkeeper Kevin Miller. Freddy’s touch amazed the breathless supporters of Southeast Essex throughout and he showed his control before smashing a shot so hard that Kevin Miller sprayed the shot out to Wayne Gray for the first goal. Eastwood’s second half was even better as he entertained the crowd with a series of skilful tricks reserved only for Nike adverts. Eastwood then had a great chance as he was squared the ball from Wayne Gray. As keeper Miller slipped, Eastwood turned full circle on the ball and eventually got a shot in. As most thought that Miller would parry clear the ball Eastwood has sent it just wide enough of Miller to see the ball squeeze into the corner of the net and send Roots Hall wild. As ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag’ (Known to some as ‘Da Da Da Da!’) sounded around Roots Hall it was Eastwood’s goal that proved decisive in getting the Blues back to the Millennium Stadium. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 84 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 9.5 |
Eastwood’s partner in crime Wayne Gray showed more or less every talent that he had tonight. Gray ran his socks off and showed the pace that saw him complete 100metres in 10.4 seconds however it was Gray’s anticipation that caught my eye today. He was on hand to poke home the first goal after being the quickest to react to Eastwood’s power strike as well as being especially sharp to through ball’s from the midfield. In fact one of the few criticisms of Gray would have been the fact that he was too sharp and was often caught offside. Gray used his strength and power that will scare the life out of League 2 defences rather than fading out of a game life he did on Saturday. Gray commented on the Millennium Stadium’s impressive aesthetics that he has seen on the television however he will now get to see them in the flesh with the rest of the Southend squad. |
CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 6 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
A quick run out for Dudfield who three weeks ago would have been hoping to start the game. However an injury and the form of Eastwood has meant that Dudfield was limited to just six minutes in which he surprisingly linked up well with Eastwood with a few neat interchanges. Dudfield appeared delighted to going to Cardiff after being cup-tied out of Southend’s last National Final appearance. |