To be fair it was a much improved performance by the Shrimpers who dominated possession for much of the match, but the worrying thing was that they struggled to make anything of it.
Kevin Maher got United rolling after 54 seconds, bringing a fine save out of Phil Smith courtesy of a 20 yard chip, but it was in only the third minute that Margate took the lead, Jay Saunders nipping in front of Darryl Flahavan to nod home a Paul Lamb corner from close range.
A fine one-two involving John Keister and Leon Braithwaite saw Keister win a debatable corner off Phil Whelan but the resulting Lamb flag kick was well claimed by Flahavan.
As United began to create opportunities, Smith did well to hold Mark Rawle's angled header from a right wing Mark Beard cross before Bramble smashed the ball inches over the crossbar following an awful error by Iain O'Connell had put the ball right into the big striker's path.
An equaliser arrived on 23 minutes and it was an absolutely fantastic effort by Tes Bramble. The strong frontman recieved the ball 40 yards from goal, ran at the Margate defence, superbly held off O'Connell before tirning and smashing home a great low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Two minutes later and perhaps Southend could have taken the lead as Barrington Belgrave hooked the ball out of defence right into the path of freeman Mark Rawle, who, with half the pitch to run was only denied by a superb block by Smith on the edge of his area.
Somewhat against the run of play however, and only a minute before the interval, Margate took the lead for the second time, Flahavan beating out Terry McFlynn's shot before the ball eventually fell to Simon Beard who smashed home a superb first time short into the top left hand corner from 20 yards.
The action faded out somewhat in the second period but it was still never really a dull game, with the first chance falling to McFlynn who's snapshot on the turn brought a fine stop out of Flahavan. Soon after Damon Searle's cross saw Rawle flick the ball on before O'Connell put the ball out for a corner. The following Ian Selley corner dropped to Steven Clark who in turn found Leon Cort but the big defender dragged his shot wide of the target.
Daniel Webb won a corner on the hour mark following a good Clark run and cross, Smith spilled Searle's corner but the home side managed to frantically hack the ball off the goalline.
Danny Maye did really well to get the beating of Greg Oates but his powerfully shot was beaten away by Smith before, within seconds, Rawle shot well wide.
Good worrk between Maye and Neil Jenkins saw Clark direct a downward header from the latter;s cross just wide before Margate stretched their advantage in the 80th minute, O'Connell heading a Mark Munday corner in off the underside of the crossbar.
With Southend looking beaten Clark's dangerous cross was missed by both Rawle and Webb as the ball flashed across the face of goal, but hope was restored five minutes from time when Ian Selley smashed home a beautiful free kick into the top corner from fully 25 yards. United however could not find an equaliser and they now look to West Ham, of all teams, to kick start their pre-season campaign on Tuesday evening at Roots Hall.
SOUTHEND:- Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Danny Maye 51), Damon Searle (Neil Jenkins 65), David McSweeney (Leon Cort 51), Phil Whelan (Daniel Lunan 65); Kevin Maher, Ian Selley, Stuart Thurgood (Rob Newman 72), Barrington Belgrave (Steven Clark 51); Tesfaye Bramble (Daniel Webb 59), Mark Rawle.
GOALS - Bramble 23, Selley 85.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com
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A fine one-two involving John Keister and Leon Braithwaite saw Keister win a debatable corner off Phil Whelan but the resulting Lamb flag kick was well claimed by Flahavan.
As United began to create opportunities, Smith did well to hold Mark Rawle's angled header from a right wing Mark Beard cross before Bramble smashed the ball inches over the crossbar following an awful error by Iain O'Connell had put the ball right into the big striker's path.
An equaliser arrived on 23 minutes and it was an absolutely fantastic effort by Tes Bramble. The strong frontman recieved the ball 40 yards from goal, ran at the Margate defence, superbly held off O'Connell before tirning and smashing home a great low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Two minutes later and perhaps Southend could have taken the lead as Barrington Belgrave hooked the ball out of defence right into the path of freeman Mark Rawle, who, with half the pitch to run was only denied by a superb block by Smith on the edge of his area.
Somewhat against the run of play however, and only a minute before the interval, Margate took the lead for the second time, Flahavan beating out Terry McFlynn's shot before the ball eventually fell to Simon Beard who smashed home a superb first time short into the top left hand corner from 20 yards.
The action faded out somewhat in the second period but it was still never really a dull game, with the first chance falling to McFlynn who's snapshot on the turn brought a fine stop out of Flahavan. Soon after Damon Searle's cross saw Rawle flick the ball on before O'Connell put the ball out for a corner. The following Ian Selley corner dropped to Steven Clark who in turn found Leon Cort but the big defender dragged his shot wide of the target.
Daniel Webb won a corner on the hour mark following a good Clark run and cross, Smith spilled Searle's corner but the home side managed to frantically hack the ball off the goalline.
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Danny Maye did really well to get the beating of Greg Oates but his powerfully shot was beaten away by Smith before, within seconds, Rawle shot well wide.
Good worrk between Maye and Neil Jenkins saw Clark direct a downward header from the latter;s cross just wide before Margate stretched their advantage in the 80th minute, O'Connell heading a Mark Munday corner in off the underside of the crossbar.
With Southend looking beaten Clark's dangerous cross was missed by both Rawle and Webb as the ball flashed across the face of goal, but hope was restored five minutes from time when Ian Selley smashed home a beautiful free kick into the top corner from fully 25 yards. United however could not find an equaliser and they now look to West Ham, of all teams, to kick start their pre-season campaign on Tuesday evening at Roots Hall.
SOUTHEND:- Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Danny Maye 51), Damon Searle (Neil Jenkins 65), David McSweeney (Leon Cort 51), Phil Whelan (Daniel Lunan 65); Kevin Maher, Ian Selley, Stuart Thurgood (Rob Newman 72), Barrington Belgrave (Steven Clark 51); Tesfaye Bramble (Daniel Webb 59), Mark Rawle.
GOALS - Bramble 23, Selley 85.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com