Southend United 0 Canvey Island 1

"It's another defeat, but you have still got to take the positive things out of the game, we have read the riot act to a few of the players after the first half"

And it really was as bad as that in the first half as a sluggish Southend side, including new signing Che Wilson for the first time since joining permantely from Cambridge City, just couldn't keep up with the pace of the game.

However, it was the home side who created the first chance of the match after seven minutes, James Corbett doing very well to rob Lee Protheroe of possession before delivering a good cross to the back post where Tes Bramble's fierce volley was blocked and deflected wide for a corner by Chris Duffy. Just a minute later however Lee Boylan, Canvey's top goalscorer last season and at one time on the books of West Ham United, rolled a shot straight into the arms of Blues goalkeeper Carl Emberson.

It was Emberson again who made the save of the match just before the half hour mark as he showed great agilty to push Ty Gooden's fierce 25 yard shot around the post before, with play moving to the opposite end, Mark Gower's neat knock through sent Drewe Broughton clear, but as the big striker raced clear of the defence he lipped his low shot despairingly wide of the post from 15 yards. Two minutes later and it was the closest United would come to breaking the deadlock. This time another Gower cross saw Keeper Danny Potter drop the ball under pressure from Broughton and as the ball dropped clear, Corbett poked it against the outside of the post.

Emberson was then called into action again, tipping John Kennedy's long range effort away before the only goal arrived in the 41st minute. Kennedy looped a ball into the area and Leon Cort was temporally caught ball watching as Gooden nipped in to head the ball into the ground and up into the net from four yards.

Canvey however were not finished there, and twice more before the interval Emberson was the only man wo stopped the non-leaguers from extending their lead further. First he brilliantly blocked a shot from Jeff Minton before making a fine stop from Boylan after the quick striker had been gifted the ball by Kevin Maher.

It was a different story after the interval as Southend finally stepped up a gear, but despite Canvey not actually mustering a single effort at goal, the Shrimpers simply could not find the back of the net for love nor money, even with the introduction at half time, in place of Bramble, of popular new signing from Aston Villa, Michael Husbands.

Husbands caused a lot of problems for Canvey, especially with his persistnt running, but despite the best efforts of he and his team mates, United just couldn't find that elusive goal as Canvey defender as if it was their cup final.

Corbett saw a shot well stopped by substitute custodian Ashley Harrison after a fine run on 50 minutes before Broughton brilliantly chased down Ben Chenery, who, under pressure knocked the ball across goal where Husbands nicked in infroint of Harrison and poked the ball inches wide of the post.

Gower curled a 25 yard free kick wide of the mark before Broughton nodded a Duncan Jupp cross just wide of the post. Then, as time ticked away Broughton saw a fierce shot blocked on the line by what appeared to be the hand of Kennedy, unfortunately no penalty was awarded.

Despite the game entering its closing stages, it suddenly erupted into a rage. Maher pushed Steve Parmenter after a strong challenge and a 21 man brawl ensued involving everybody except Emberson. Then, two minutes later Broughton was told be substututed by referee Neil West, rather harshly after a challenge with Prothereoe. Parmenter was also substituted for his part in the brawl.

A disappointing afternoon, and a disappointing result. Hopefully not a sign of things to come!

SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2, with ratings out of ten):- Carl Emberson 8; Duncan Jupp 6, Che Wilson 6, Mark Warren 7 (David McSweeney 46, 6), Leon Cort 7; Kevin Maher 5, Jamie Fullarton 7, Mark Gower 6, James Corbett 6; Tesfaye Bramble 6 (Michael Husbands 46, 7), Drewe Broughton 7 (Michael Kightly 86). Unused subs - Jamie Stuart, Ryan Robinson.

CANVEY ISLAND (5-3-2):- Danny Potter (Ashley Harrison 46); John Kennedy, Chris Duffy (Craig Davidson 89), Gavin Cowan, Ben Chenery, Lee Protheroe; Ty Gooden, Jeff Minton, Micky Bennett (Steve Parmenter 68 (Kevin Dobinson 86)); Lee Boylan, Neil Midgeley. Unused subs - Ollie Berquez, Neil Gregory.

TLG MAN OF THE MATCH: Carl Emberson.
The Shrimpers new 29-year old shot stopper was virtually redundant in the second half as United finally got their act together, but it was the heroics of the former Colchester United and Luton Town man that kept the home side even in the contest in the first half. Emberson commanded his area brilliantky, and made many first class saves to keep Canvey out in what was a nightmare first period for Southend.

Attendance: 1,562 (approx 215 away fans).
Referee: Neil West (Southend-on-Sea) 2 out of 10.

Programme Cover: Tes Bramble.

- THIS was the first time that Southend United had been defeated by a non-league side at Roots Hall in a pre-season friendly. The only ever time that United had previously met non-league opposition in a home friendly was an early sixties victory over Peterborough United. It was the third time that United's first team had lost at home to a non-league Club, other dfeats coming in FA Cup matches against Doncaster Rovers in 1998 and Kingstonian in 2001.

- REFEREE Neil West, from Southend-on-Sea was at one time the groundsman at Roots Hall before moving into the same job at Tottenham Hotspur. He is an avid Southend United supporter and usually referee's in the Southend Borough Combination and the Essex Senior League.

- CANVEY Island featured four players who have previously turned out for the Shrimpers. Jeff Minton was on trial in 2002, as was Lee Boylan in 2000 whilst Steve Parmenter (1994-1996) and Craig Davidson (1992-1995) came through the Blues Youth Team, the latter making a first team appearance in the Coca-Cola Cup against Watford.

- SOUTHEND are the second Football League Club that Canvey have faced this summer, they lost 1-0 to Hull City at Park Lane two weeks ago with former United striker Daniel Webb netting the only goal.

- IT would seem that Cambridge City, of the Dr Martens Premier Division, are becoming somewhat of a breeding ground for United players. Che (pronounced 'Shay') Wilson becomes the fourth man in three years to arrive from Milton Road, following goalkeeper Chris Porter and defender Shane Wardley who have both now departed for pastures new as well as current striker Tes Bramble.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com