Southend United 1 Leyton Orient 2

Unfortunately for Wignall, and of course the long-suffering Southend supporters, Conference football itself will become a reality for United this time next year if this current sad plight isn't brought to an end quickly. The Seasiders have already crashed to four home League defeats this season, and never against a poor Orient side did the South Essex side look like winning.

Once again Wignall stuck to his 4-5-1 formation with Tes Bramble stuck upfront on his own. Away from home this formation is seen as negative, but can just about be forgiven, however in a home match it really is nothing short of a joke. This became even less funny at half time when Bramble, suffering from a nasty head wound, was replaced by Drewe Broughton. Poor old Drewe, if anyone is suited to a lone strikers role it certainly isn't him, and with leading goalscorer Constantine rooted out on the wing, Broughton couldn't recieve the support he desperately needed.

After the game a middle-aged gentleman came up to me and said '"the manager must be sacked - write it". I've done as he asked, but whether or not I agree with that statement I'll keep to myself for the time being I feel.

A sign for things to come was set early in the match, with two defensive errors almost gifting the East Londoners as early advantage. Already Dean Hammond - amazingly one of three loanees in the O's starting line-up - had seen a 25 yard effort deflected wide off Kevin Maher before, in just the fourth minute a bad slip by Mark Warren gave Gary Alexander a free run down the left flank. The former West Ham United frontman then cut inside before unleashing a fantastic angled drive which beat Darryl Flahavan but flew just inches wide of the far post.

Then, a further six minutes later Leon Cort fired a clearance straight at Alexander who volleyed off target from the edge of the penalty area.

Southend tried to create something of their own but all they could muster was a wayward bicycle kick from Bramble following a decent cross from the out-of-position Constantine.

Orient's lead arrived on 27 minutes, and it came about after terribly slack Southend defending. He looked four or five yards offside, but whether he was is irrelevant, and Alexander was somehow allowed the freedom of Roots Hall to easily head home a Shaun Cooper cross from six yards. Quite where Cort, his marker, and the rest of the Shrimpers defence was remains just a mistery.

It could have been doubled not long later, Hammond slipping a ball into the path of Lee Thorpe whose fierce shot was well held by Flahavan. The United shot-stopper then showed bravery on 39 minutes, rushing off his goalline to block right at the feet of Alexander.

Southend, desperate for a slice of luck, where dealt a major boost on the stroke of half time when Thorpe was given his marching orders for blatantly throwing his left elbow into the face of Duncan Jupp. Despite the visitors protests there was no doubt that referee Paul Taylor was spot-on with his decision.

With their opponents having been reduced to ten men, Southend ought to have really come at Orient in the second period, but when United reappeared still with just one man upfront, albeit now Broughton instead of Bramble, the whole crowd sensed that this just wasn't going to be the case. David McSweeney arrived as a half-time substite, with Warren still struggling from the knock he recieved at Kidderminster Harriers a week earlier.

A goalmouth melee early in the second half, predictably at the end where the healthy away support were now urging their side towards them, saw Matt Lockwood eventually smash a shot well off target before United's first effort on target, on 51 minutes, saw Jupp head a Mark Gower corner into the arms of Lee Harrison.

Southend looked brighter after the break, but there still wasn't enough there until 17-year old Michael Kightly, who impressed the Roots Hall faithful so much with that blockbusting display four days earlier against Bristol Rovers, was introduced as a 72nd minute substitute for the struggling Jay Smith.

Indeed it was Kightly who had United's best chances, firstly he saw a delicate curling chipped shot brilliantly stopped by Harrison before, having latched onto a Jamie Fullarton cross, he cut inside before seeing a hard, low shot blocked by the outstretched legs of Harrison.

The match however was summed up on 87 minutes when United conceded a laughable own goal. Defender McSweeney had all the time and space in the world when he decided to put his head to a long free kick from Harrison, unfortunately his awful clearance flew backwards a dropped into the net over Flahavan. Flahavan claimed afterwards that he called for the ball, if that is the case it seems that McSweeney certainly didn't hear it, and it meant that the Shrimpers had slumped to another dreadful defeat.

There was however, time for Southend to make for an exciting finale by pulling a goal back with a minute to spare. Broughton toucked aball across to Constantine who raced towards goal before rounding Harrison and somehow steering a superb shot into the far corner from the most acute of angles.

Unfortunately however there was to be no fairytale finish and Southend United now need absolutely nothing less than victory in three days time when Boston United, like Orient also struggling, come to Roots Hall.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com