Grays Athletic 3 Southend United 3

Cole, was not himself in the starting line-up, as Steve Tilson juggled with the Southend midfield once more. The central midfield positions look to be set in stone with Kevin Maher, starting his ninth season at Roots Hall and Mark Bentley providing the necessary attributes to compete in League One. It is though the wide midfielders that will cause Tilly and Brush the biggest headaches as Guttridge, Gower, Pettefer and Cole battle it out for two spots. Guttridge and Gower started on this occasion but it could be any two of the four that take the field come 3pm on August 6^th. It looks as if Jay Smith is lacking the fitness to feature in the first few games.

With regards of the rest of the team, TLG colleague Robert Craven commented on the intriguing battle between Lewis Hunt and Duncan Jupp for the right-back spot. It looks as if Playoff hero Duncan Jupp will start against Port Vale as the former Fulham man featured in the ‘stronger’ first half team. The rest of the team more or less picks it self; Flahavan, Barrett, Prior, Wilson, Eastwood and Gray will almost certainly be in the Southend team that returns to the third tier of English football. One would suspect that even a last minute signing of someone as big as Shaun Goater could not change the successful Shrimpers’ strike force.

Freddy Eastwood battles with ex-Shrimper Michael Kightly

The Grays’ pressure was relentless and the attack was largely lead by one man, Dennis Oli. Oli was quick and strong as he made Adam Barrett look a very average defender and not a PFA Player of the Year. Oli could have quite easily had a goal as he had a number of shots throughout the afternoon.

Kightly also went close after Oli had gone on another mazy run. Oli managed to squeeze the ball as far as Slabber who then set the ball to his right and into the path of Kightly. The former Spurs youth teamer somehow skied to the ball over the bar and into the supporters behind the goal.

Although Southend did get up into a higher gear for a while Grays were again unlucky not to score. Oli, Poole, Slabber and Kightly all went close although Flahavan’s biggest test was a fluffed shot by Slabber. At the other end Freddy Eastwood, who was of course playing against his former club, was looking for a goal and tried his luck with a couple of characteristically long range shots.

The last real chance of the half came from a man who can strike the ball equally as hard as Eastwood. Mark Bentley thundered a volley against the post after the ball was looped into the air for the former Dagenham midfielder.

Southend began the second half in the ascendancy as they created a chance from another set piece. Unsurprisingly Maher drifted the ball into the area and aimed for Adam Barrett who could not make full contact on the ball and sent it well wide.

Freddy Eastwood's free-kick is blocked - it should have been a penalty

Apart from Southend’s equaliser the main talking point of the match was the sickening injury to Sam Wright. Wright attempted to challenge Eastwood but instead got caught up in the ground and appears to have done serious damage to his right leg. The match was held up for seven minutes due to the injury.

The verdict was a mixed one as conceding of three goals is clearly a problem especially in the nature they were conceded. However it has been a good pre-season where Norwich and Millwall have been swept aside. Personally I can not wait until the start of the season in Coca Cola League One.