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 | |
Lawrie Dudfield 66 | Referee: Graham Barber Match Time: 93:24 | 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 | 10 2 5 2 1 14 3 3 |
Match Stats |
SOUTHEND UNITED...(0) 1
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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!