The Hatters were defeated by Stoke City 1-0 in 1991/2 and then lost out 2-1 to the other side in the Potteries, Port Vale, 2-1 the following season. Only Tranmere Rovers and Bristol City (who both won the first final and lost the next year) have also appeared in consecutive Trophy finals.
However, Steve Tilson’s Shrimpers will not be bothered by unwanted records having also lost their first match in 18, and will be looking towards Coca-Cola League Two success as they launch an assault on the final five matches of the campaign on Friday night against local rivals Leyton Orient. Agonisingly, they may rue this day more for the two-match suspension picked up by Mark Bentley for accruing ten cautions in the season than for any lasting effect on League results.
Even after Yeovil Town’s crushing 5-2 victory against Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon, the Seasiders are just a point behind the Glovers with a game in hand, and lead fourth-placed Swansea City by three points. The clash with Orient now takes on added significance as Tilson and his troops set their eyes upon United’s 73-year-old record of 16 League matches unbeaten. That run currently stands at 14.
For the second successive season, this was a 2-0 defeat against opposition from a division higher than Southend. In 2003/4, Blackpool emerged winners in what ended up being a comfortable triumph, but the Red Dragons were made to work hard for their deserved win twelve months later, with top goalscorer Juan Ugarte and Darren Ferguson grabbing the extra time goals that gave Wrexham their first LDV Vans Trophy.
Many aspects of the media concentrated on the personal showdown between Spanish striker Ugarte and the Shrimpers’ frontman Freddy Eastwood. Indeed, Blues’ acquisition from Grays Athletic (Ugarte himself was picked up from Dorchester Town) went closest during the first half with a shot that hit the left-hand upright, but it was Ugarte’s opener some 108 minutes into the tie that so demoralised Southend and inspired the north Wales team.
The Essex club continued with the same side that had appeared against Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers, both of which ended in 2-0 wins. The only change came on the substitutes’ bench, where Andy Edwards, a central defender, came in for Nicky Nicolau, who had played his part in the run to the final with a goal direct from a corner against Swindon Town in the area semi-final.
Despite their experience in last year’s final, Southend still looked a little shaky and overawed by the occasion in the opening stages, and it was the Red Dragons that made the better start, After six minutes, Chris Llewellyn made a dangerous run on the left, but his cross was blocked out by Adam Barrett and, after a slight fumble, Darryl Flahavan claimed the ensuing corner.
When Blues did come forward, they were always likely to be hit on the counter-attack. Carlos Edwards broke up one such build-up of forward momentum and set Ugarte away, the Spaniard tricking Che Wilson but then allowing the former Bristol Rovers captain the chance to block his shot. Spencer Prior was called upon a minute later when Edwards’ right-wing centre was miscontrolled by Ugarte.
Wilson, who endured a nightmare at the hands of Martin Bullock against the Tangerines last season, fared little better at the Millennium Stadium this time around, and Mark Gower’s shot pass left him exposed as Edwards galloped forward into the left-back’s space. His pass inside to 19-goal Ugarte was wasted when the forward blasted wildly to the right of goal.
Yet another effort was set up for Ugarte, this time by Dennis Lawrence, but the ex-Real Sociedad striker curled a 20-yard effort inches over the crossbar. Finally, with Shaun Pejic replacing the injured Steve Roberts on just 14 minutes, the first Southend attack of note was initiated. Roberts had fallen heavily after a challenge with Wayne Gray.
Eastwood’s jinxing run was finally ended when Lawrence tapped the ball out for a corner kick, which club captain Kevin Maher delivered to the back post. Spencer Prior met the ball with some power, but Ben Foster in the Wrexham goal managed to tip over the crossbar above his head. Foster was quick to defend Gower’s flag-kick from the other side after Matt Crowell’s nod back was pressurised by Wayne Gray.
The Welshmen appeared to over-run Southend in the middle of the park as they exhibited a 3-5-2 formation, and that helped Edwards and Andy Holt to create a number of chances. It was central midfielder Crowell who almost opened the scoring, however, when his searing 25-yard effort curled around the left-hand post with Flahavan beaten.
On the half-hour came Eastwood’s moment of magic. He won possession from Ferguson on the right wing, and laid the ball off to Wilson just behind him. The ex-West Ham United scholar accepted the return pass and cut inside before firing against the base of the left-hand post. Unfortunately it careered out for a goal-kick. His next attempt, four minutes later, was curled over the crossbar on his left foot.
As the half drew closer to its end, the Shrimpers had taken the ascendancy. Mark Bentley coaxed a foul from Crowell, and Maher obliged with a short free-kick 30 yards out. Bentley himself larruped the ball around the right-hand edge of the ball, but Foster made ground to save to his left. Wrexham had their first effort on target in the second minute of stoppage time, Ugarte volleying Holt’s pass into Flahavan’s gloves.
Half-time: Southend United 0 Wrexham 0
A goalless first period was never likely to be followed by a cavalcade of chances in the second. Bentley hit a weak shot that was going wide before Foster saved two minutes after the interval, and eleven minutes later Ferguson hit a hopeful shot yards above the crossbar. Bentley also collected his booking at this stage, ruling him out of the encounters at home to Leyton Orient and away to Macclesfield Town either side of next weekend.
Ferguson followed the former Gravesend & Northfleet midfielder into referee Brian Curzon’s notebook when he was pulled up for dissent, and a free-kick was marched forward to the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, Gower was unable to beat the wall, and Carl Pettefer’s cross was well claimed by Foster with Prior lurking.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Bentley was guilty of wasting the best chance of normal time. Eastwood’s switched pass into the inside-left channel led Gray away from the defence, and he was brought the time to pick out Bentley on the right. The 26-year-old turned his marker, but his subsequent shot was slightly scuffed and Foster made good ground to save.
Barrett, who was a colossus and was the man-of-the-match on either side by some distance, then flung himself at an Ugarte shot after Maher had been beaten by the Spaniard. Another worrying moment for Blues came when Ferguson’s free-kick was headed over Flahavan by a back-peddling Bentley, and the ball rebounded off of the top of the crossbar. Ugarte held off the midfielder, but could only nod against the right-hand post himself, Flahavan doing well to smother the loose ball.
The first 70 minutes had been a fine advert for lower league football, especially with Ferguson’s father, Manchester United manager Sir Alex, watching on. It was not until injury time once again, by which time Gower had been replaced by Alan McCormack, that more chances arrived, a long Foster goal-kick being collected by Mark Jones, who hit his shot straight at Flahavan. Kevin Maher missed United’s only opportunity, whacking Carl Pettefer’s pass over the crossbar. Jones again returned the compliment with a saveable shot for Flahavan.
End of normal time: Southend United 0 Wrexham 0
Both sides started to look weary at the end of the ninety minutes, so an extra thirty would take a superhuman effort. Eight minutes in, it was Southend who were attacking. Pettefer’s shot was blocked by Lawrence to Eastwood, but after cutting inside, the 21-year-old hit a rasping shot at Foster, who held above his head. It was Eastwood’s last act as he was substituted in favour of Lawrie Dudfield.
That was, though, seconds after the Red Dragons had taken the lead. Assistant referee Andy Williams of Hertfordshire made what television cameras proved to be a correct decision in a corner dispute between Prior and Llewellyn, and Ferguson’s outswinging flag-kick was justifiably met by Pejic. His header was travelling towards Flahavan when Ugarte nipping in front of the custodian and glanced his header into the centre of the net. (0-1)
There was yet more injury time at the end of the first half of extra time, and in the first of three minutes added on, a flicked Bentley long throw by Gray found Maher, who wasted possession by smashing over. Two minutes later, another great chance went begging. Bentley, now playing wide on the right, galloped down the flank and crossed for a diving Barrett, whose header straight at Foster was not enough to give him his eleventh, and most important, goal of the season.
Half-time in extra time: Southend United 0 Wrexham 1
The influential Bentley was then brought down by Holt, allowing skipper Maher to loft a ball into the box; the looping header than ensued from Bentley being claimed above his head by Foster. The same man nodded off target at the far post from a Duncan Jupp cross, when a call from Gray may have allowed him a better opportunity.
It proved to be Southend’s last. Maher lost his cool, and was booked along with Edwards after a brief contretemps on the left touchline. Ferguson’s set-piece was controlled by Llewellyn, but hit shot was well saved by Flahavan. It was only parried as far as the rampaging Ferguson, and he slammed into the bottom left-hand corner for the killer blow. (0-2)
Full-time: Southend United 0 Wrexham 2
This was not the result that any Shrimpers wanted, marking the end, as it did, to another wonderful run in this competition. 2004/5 was supposed to be the year that Wrexham just enjoyed the day, and Southend were the winners. It was not to be. The Fourth Division Championship of 1980/1 remains the only piece of professional silverware in the Roots Hall trophy cabinet. Now is the time for Steve Tilson’s men to gather the second on May 7th at Grimsby Town: the inaugural Coca-Cola League Two title.
0 LDVF 2 4-4-2 TEAMS 3-5-2 Darryl Flahavan Ben Foster Duncan Jupp 14 Steve Roberts Spencer Prior Craig Morgan Adam Barrett Dennis Lawrence Che Wilson 110 Carlos Edwards Carl Pettefer 109 105 Matt Crowell Mark Bentley Mark Jones Kevin Maher Darren Ferguson Mark Gower 81 Andy Holt Freddy Eastwood 103 Juan Ugarte Wayne Gray Chris Llewellyn Craig Holloway Ryan Harrison Andy Edwards 110 Danny Williams Lawrie Dudfield 103 105 Dean Bennett Alan McCormack 81 14 Shaun Pejic Luke Guttridge 109 Hector SamSOUTHEND UNITED
WREXHAM
36216
Juan Ugarte 99
Darren Ferguson 118SUBS
Match Statistics |
Southend United (0)…0 Wrexham (0)…2 @ the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in the LDV Vans Trophy final on Sunday 10/04/05 |
Goals: Wrexham: Ugarte 99 (glanced in Pejic header from a Ferguson corner; inside area; timed at 98:28), Ferguson 118 (slammed in rebound after Flahavan parried a Llewellyn shot; inside area; 117:53). |
Bookings: Southend: Bentley 57 (foul), Jupp 92 (foul), Maher 118 (unsporting behaviour); Wrexham: Ferguson 62 (dissent), Morgan 78 (foul), Edwards 118 (unsporting behaviour). |
Sent-off: none |
Total Goal Efforts | Shrimpers 14 Red Dragons 18 |
Shots/Headers On Target | Shrimpers 5 Red Dragons 6 |
Shots/Headers Off Target | Shrimpers 6 Red Dragons 6 |
Blocked shots | Shrimpers 2 Red Dragons 5 |
Hit Woodwork | Shrimpers 1 Red Dragons 1 |
Corners | Shrimpers 8 Red Dragons 8 |
Free-kicks | Shrimpers 15 Red Dragons 14 |
Offsides | Shrimpers 2 Red Dragons 6 |
Sundries |
Match Time | 131:14 (First half: 47:24, Second half: 48:17, First half extra time: 18:31, Second half extra time: 16:52) |
Indicated Stoppage Time | First half: 2 minutes, Second half: 3 minutes, First half extra time: 3 minutes, Second half extra time: 2 minutes. |
Actual Stoppage Time | First half: 2:24, Second half: 3:17, First half extra time: 18:31, Second half extra time: 1:52. |
Referee: Brian Curson (Leicestershire FA) 9 out of 10 (general control 5/5, application of laws 2/3, appearance and personality 2/2) – Curson got many of the major decisions correct, and his corner call with assistant Mr. Williams was proved correct by TV cameras. No contentious decisions, although both sets of fans will feel aggrieved at some decisions. |
Attendance: 36,216 (approximately 20,000 Southend United fans) |
Programme Cover: The LDV Vans Trophy |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com