Southend United 1 Swansea City 1

Last updated : 15 March 2004 By Mark Wallis

Steve Tilson took charge of Southend as full time manager for the very first time on this sunny mid-March afternoon, whilst striker Lawrie Dudfield, who ultimately found the net for thre fifth time in eight appearances, made his first United appearance since joining permantely from Northampton Town for a undisclosed fee. Dudfield will now remain at Roots hall until at least the summer of 2005.

Tilson made just one change, an enforced one, from the side who picked up a 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium against Bristol Rovers a week earlier, with goalscorer Mark Gower missing with a niggling injury; his place taken by Drewe Broughton who joined Dudfield on the frontline whilst top-scorer Leon Constantine once again dropped back onto the right flank with Carl Pettefer switching sides to the left.

Southend undoubtedly started this crucial Division Three encounter as the better side and after only three minutes Broughton headed a Kevin Maher corner just wide of young goalkeeper Brian Murphy's upright.

Further early chances soon followed, a long ball up the touchline by Duncan Jupp set pacey Dudfield free but the 23-year old's angled shot drifted agonisingly wide of the far post. Constantine also swung a shot wide of the post whilst, at the other end, Jonathan Coates zipped a fierce volley over the top of Darryl Flahavan's crossbar from 20 yards.

As half time approached a free kick from skipper Maher deflected just off target before an assist from the captain saw tall striker Broughton nod just off target at the far post.

Southend couldn't quite command the same dominance after the interval, and despite Maher dipping an effort just wide two minutes after the re-start, the visitor's grabbed a shock lead, very much against the run of play, on 62 minutes. A huge ball up field by Roberto Martinez caught Southend sleeping at the back and Kevin Nugent sneaked in, unmarked, at the far post to stab an effort over the top of Flahavan.

The goal however shook Southend up somewhat and their immediate reply was for Dudfield to head a Constantine cross off target before the leveller soon arrived only four minutes later. A long throw-in from the right flank by Mark Bentley was flicked on by the head of Broughton for Dudfield to head home from ten yards.

Dudfield then turned and fired an effort just wide of the post on 74 minutes before, a couple of minutes later the Swans were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Murphy was sent-off for deliberate handball after taking the ball off of the head of Dudfield. As a result Nugent was sacrificed to make way for veteren substitute stopper Roger Freestone.

Flahavan then did well to make an reaction stop at the feet of Alan Tate before Paul Connor's free kick took a huge deflrection off of the Southend wall before bouncing wide.

Finally, it was the home side who created the final chance of the afternoon, substitute Tesfaye Bramble heading a Maher free kick over Freestone's crossbar.

Southend United

1-1
(Attendance: 4,763)

Swansea City

Lawrie Dudfield 66

Referee: Graham Barber

Match Time: 93:24
1st half: 46:14, 2nd half: 47:10

Kevin Nugent 62

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp

Che Wilson

Leon Cort

Lewis Hunt --

Kevin Maher --

Mark Bentley

Carl Pettefer

Leon Constantine

Lawrie Dudfield

Drewe Broughton

6

6

6(82)

7

7

7

6

7

6

8

6

Brian Murphy --

Shaun Byrne

Lenny Johnrose

Ezomo Iriekpen

Alan Tate

Robert Martinez

Leon Britton

Jonathan Coates

Stuart Roberts

Kevin Nugent

Paul Connor

6

6

7

6

6

5

7

6(69)

7(69)

7(78)

5

Carl Emberson

Jamie Stuart

Mark Warren

Tesfaye Bramble

Neil Jenkins

-

-

-

-(82)

-

Roger Freestone

Michael Howard

Stuart Jones

Andy Robinson

Bradley Maylett

7(78)

-

-

7(69)

6(69)

20

3

10

1

7

15

5

2

Total Goal Attempts
Shots/headers on target
shots/headers off target
Blocked Shots
Hit Woodwork
Free-Kicks
Corners
Caught Offside

10

2

5

2

1

14

3

3


Match Stats

SOUTHEND UNITED...(0) 1 SWANSEA CITY…(0) 1
Nationwide League Division Three, Saturday, 13th March 2004 @ Roots Hall

Goals:
Southend: Dudfield 66 (a long Bentley throw-in was flicked on by Broughton and Dudfield headed home from 10 yards; inside area; timed at 65:37). Swansea: Nugent 62 (a long Martinez ball forward caught Southend knapping and Hungent stabbed in at the far post; inside area; timed at 61:06)
Bookings: Southend: Maher (71 - foul), Hunt (83 - foul)
Sent-Off:
Swansea: Murphy (76 - deliberate handball)

Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 1 minute (Actual:
01:14), Second Half: 3 minutes (02:10)


Referee:
Graham Barber (Hertfordshire), 7 out of 10 - Barber, a Premiership and UEFA Official, was a lot better than his last appearance at Roots Hall and controlled the game well even if he did give one or two harsh free kicks.


Attendance:
4,763 (approx 300 away fans)


Programme Cover:
Mark Warren

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com


TLG AROUND THE WORLD!!

The Little Gazette's Co-editor Mark Wallis jetted off last week on a mid-season break, but took time out to pose on the pitch at the impressive Yankee Stadium, the biggest Baseball Stadium in the world and home to the New York Yankees!