Scarborough 1 Southend United 0

Last updated : 15 January 2004 By Mark Wallis

The match meant a lot to United, financially wise more than anything else, as victory would have brought a guarenteed £500,000 into the Club's accounts, but for whatever reason things just didn't work out for Southend on a miserably cold night in North East Yorkshire.

With Drewe Broughton serving a one match suspension following his sending-off against Oxford United in late December, Tes Bramble, although seemingly not fully fit having pulled a hamstring during the original clash with the Seadogs at Roots Hall, returned to head the front line in what was the only change to the starting line-up which played out an unlucky one all draw at Cheltenham Town on Friday night.

The McCain Stadium was absolutely packed to the rafters as kick-off approached and thus the quoted attendance, somewhat below 5,000, does seemed rather 'fiddled' shall we say, but nonetheless the bumper crowd not only made a super payday for Boro but also a cracking atmosphere, livened up further still by the near 1,000 travelling supporters.

The match however, played on an awfully bumpy and sandy surface, was vert slow to come to life and the first effort of the match didn't arrive until the quarter hgour mark when a good Shrimpers move saw Bramble slip a ball into the path of Leon Constantine who fired just over the top of Leigh Walker's crossbar from 20 yards. Then, just two minutes later Kevin Maher magnificently won the ball from Scott Kerr before feeding Mark Gower but the Blues wideman could only drag his long range shot wide of the upright.

The home sides first opportunity arrived on 21 minutes, but Kerr shot well over the top from distance before, some ten minutes later, Tristram Whitman - formerly of Doncaster Rovers - saw his driven effort bobble wide of Darryl Flahavan's goal.

A long ball forward by Colin Cryan caught Flahavan in two minds, but having decided to dash out of his area Kerr got to the ball first but poked his shot well off target. Seconds later however Flahavan redeemed himself superbly by bravely diving at the feet of Jimmy Kelly to gather the ball.

The last attempt of what was a rather dull first half saw Kerr break clear of the Shrimpers rearguard but the midfielder who scored the dicesive equaliser at Roots Hall eleven days earlier sent a panic-striken chip a long way off target.

In what was the tighest of cup ties, it always looked likelt that of the game was to be sealed in normal time then it would be just a single goal which would do so. Undoubtedly this was far from being the most entertaining of contests, but with the stakes so high it was a case of 'win at all costs' for both sides. It's just a shame that Southend didn't quite seem to have the hunger that their non-league oppoents possessed. In a way it seemed that the Division Three side were far more nervous than there opponents.

Southend did however enjoy the best of the early second half exchanges, and seven minutes after the interval a neat Bramble flick-on found Neil Jenkins in space but the left-footers shot brought a magnificent save out of Walker who somehow managed to push the ball onto the crossbar. Tyically for United the ball bounced over the top as supposed to dropping into the net.

For a few minutes at least Southend seemed bouyed by this chance and clearly had Scarborough on the wrack, but Bramble's acrobatic bicycle kick flew just over the bar following a Duncan Jupp free kick and a neat touch on by Constantine.

The Essex side had a strong appeal for a penalty conpleted ignored by referee Brian Curson after Mark Hotte blatantly handled a Jenkins centre inside the area before, at the home end, a long run by Sheffield United loanee Ashley Sestanovich brought a fierce low shot which Flahavan got down well to tip around the post. That shot, on 66 minutes, was the Conference aide's first effort on target.

As Southend continued to desperately press forward, and indeed it was the Shrimpers who were creating the better chances, Bramble nodded a Jamie Stuart cross just off target before the big striker fired inches over Walker's crossbar after Jupp had headed down a Gower free kick. Gower himself then drove a thunderous 30 yard free kick into the arms of Walker.

Then, with seven minutes remaing, came the decisive goal. United lost possession in the Scarborough half and as the ball was pumped forward Lewis Hunt opted to belt the ball out for a throw-in as supossed to kicking the ball back to Flahavan. From the resulting throw Hotte found Sestanovich who bear Hunt for pace on the right flank before sending a low driven ball across the six yard box and Mark Quayle, seeimgly left unmarked, had one of the easiest chances of his career and nonchantely knocked the ball past the desperate dive of Flahavan.

The McCain Stadium instantly erupted, and with Chelsea all but through in their replay against Watford - the Londoners ran out 4-0 victors - the home fans joyously chanted 'Bring on the Chelsea' as a dejected Southend side played out the few remaining minutes without really threatening the Boro back four.

The final sound of Curson's whistle brought a mass pitch invasion - for which Scarborough are bound to be fined - but in amongst the joyois supporters, somewhere, was the Southend team who had come over to applaud theur mightily impressive away following. It was just such a shame that those supporters will not be treated to the top-flight skills of Chelsea in the Fourth Round. Instead United head off to Field Mill, home of Mansfield Town, for what will be a crucial Division Three encounter.

Southend cannot let this defeat knock their confidence, with promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers visiting the Thames Estuary on Saturday afternoon, the Shrimpers must now concentrate on what has always been their number one priority - Football League survival.

Scarborough

1-0

(Attendance: 4,829)

Southend United

Mark Quayle 83

Referee: Brian Curson

Match Time: 94:41

1st half: 46:16, 2nd half: 48:25

Leigh Walker

Mark Hotte

Ashley Lyth

Colin Cryan

Steve Baker

Scott Kerr

Jimmy Kelly

Ashley Sestanovich

Clint Marcelle

Tristram Whitman

Mark Quayle --

8

6

6

7

6

7

7

8

7

6

8

Darryl Flahavan
Duncan Jupp
Jamie Stuart
--
Leon Cort
Lewis Hunt
Kevin Maher

Jay Smith --
Mark Gower

Neil Jenkins --
Leon Constantine
Tesfaye Bramble

8

7

6

6

6

8

7

5(87)

4(90)

6

6(87)

Adam Sollitt

Jacques Williams

Glen Downey

Stephen Capper

Chris Senior

-

-

-

-

-

Ryan Robinson

Mark Warren

James Corbett

Steven Clark
Michael Kightly

-

-

-(87)

-(87)

-(90)

15

2

10

3

0

19

6

4

Total Goal Attempts

Shots/headers On Target

Shots/headers Off Target

Blocked Shots

Hit Woodwork
Free-Kicks

Corners

Caught Offside

12

2

6

3

1

18

4

1


TLG Man Of The Match – Kevin Maher

At least Kevin Maher, of all people, set a perfect example as captain of the side. Whilst those around him may have faltered, Maher was always there trying to win the ball in midfield and set his team going forward. Credit must also go to Maher's midfield partner Jay Smith but unfortunately the performances of just those two alone cannot possibly lift a whole side.


Match Stats

F.A. CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY- Wednesday, 14th January 2004.


Goal:
Scarborough: Quayle 83 (ran unmarked into the penalty area where he was left with the simple task of finding the net at the far post following Sestanovich's run and cross inside area. Goal timed at 82 minutes 26 seconds).
Booked: Scarborough: Quayle (60 - foul). Southend: Jenkins (56 - foul), Stuart (64 - foul), Smith (73 - foul).

Attendance:
4,829 (approx 1,000 away fans)


Referee:
Brian Curson (Leicestershire) 2 out of 10 - Curson, the same official as we had in the first game, was abysmal. Many of the decisions the official awarded, for either side, were completely bizarre and how on earth Neil Jenkins was booked for a nothing foul is totally beyond me!


Programme Cover:
Mark Quayle.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com