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Southend, full time professionals every one of them, were simply embarrassed by a team of teenagers who had so much more inevention, so much more determination, so much more stamia and so many more ideas. United's side was full of many vastly experienced players, and against a Tottenham side who's naivity was clear at times, there's no doubt that it was Southend who looked like the kids. The Shrimpers blatantly did not give their opponents any respect, and I'm afraid that such an attitude will never win football matches..
The youngsters, who are undoubtedly a very good side, did have one experienced head in their side, 31-year old Norweigan International Oyvind Leonhardsen, but he was most definately the odd man out in a side that was otherwise made up of players all aged under nineteen.
Tottenham began the brighter right from the off, John Sutton screwing an early header just wide before a good move saw Rohan Ricketts and Sutton interlink to set up a fine opportunity for Barnard who shot wayward. Many thought that such a bright lively start would give United a warning of what could come if they did not up their tempo, but obviously United didn't respond as the youngsters took the lead after just ten minutes, an excellent Sutton cross finding the head of Barnard who directed an angled header well out of Flahavan's rwach and into the far corner of the net.
Neil Jenkins soon sent a 25 yard drive well wide, but if the opening goal didn't expose Southend frailties, the second simply highlighted them furthermore. Johnnie Jackson's shot was deflected off David McSweeney for a Spurs corner, and with Southend conceding goals from seemingly every corner they defend at the moment, I need not tell you that it was from the failure to clear this flag kick that Leonhardsen found himself completely unmarked on the edge of the penalty area to smash home a bullet of a shot into the top right hand corner.
Southend finally began to create some chances in the 21st minute, with Barrington Belgrave curling a shot just over the crossbar before Jeff Minton saw a shot blocked by Kelly. Play however soon switched to the accustomed end and Sutton stroked a shot straight into the arms of Flahavan.
Spurs goalkeeper Shwan Jelel did well to fut out a low Belgrave cross with Damon Searle ready to pounce and Graeme Jones then headed a Searle free kick just wide from a tight angle. Jones was soon in the thick of the action again, complimenting a fine Jenkins run with a neat one-two which resulted in Jenkins final shot being well blocked from a slight angle.
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Spurs could have added another goal in the 43rd minute, Diego Bortolozzo allowed the freedom of Roots Hall to run at goal but luckily his fierce drive flashed just wide of the far post. As half time approached Southend should have had a penalty, but usually whistle-happy referee Paul Taylor kept his hands firmly behind has back as Jackson barged Belgrave to the ground.
The second period certainly started no better, in just the third minute Taylor awarded a most bizarre free kick from which Jackson smashed the ball against the foot of a post before Kelly headed a George Snee cross at Flahavan.
Southend however suddenly came to life, Searle flicked the ball into the path of Belgrave who'd adopted a fine position, but the stocky frontman let himself down with a poor touch as the ball trickled to Jelel. Belgrave then slipped Kevin Maher through on goal, but the Blues skipper could only scuff a shot straight at Jelel.
United finally pulled a goal back on 57 minutes, Maher's fine right wing cross finding Belgrave who nodded the ball against the underside of the crossbar and as the ball fell back to earth, assistant referee Neil Perkin adjudged that the ball had crossed the line.
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Typically though just as Southend were beginning to dominate the match yet another corner saw the youngsters increase their advantage again. Once again the corner kick wasn't properly cleared and this time the ball fell to Ricketts who curled as neat shot past the helpless Flahavan.
Southend however were still enjoying their best spell, and Daniel Webb flicked a header just wide froman Ian Selley cross, and then Jelel made a simply world class save to deny a stinging Jenkins volley from a fantastic Mark Beard cross.
A fierce Searle free kick wrong-footed Jelel as the ball took a wicked deflection and zipped inches past the post and Belgrave, unmarked, then nodded a Searle centre just over. The embarrassing rout however was completed on 83 minutes, substitute Dean Marney heading a high centre past Flahavan from an almost impossibly acute angle.
It could have been more though, it was all so very easy for Sutton as he trundled through on goal and it was only a late block by Leon Cort that prevented further damage before Sutton sent a curling free kick past Flahavan, only to see the ball cannon back off the top of the post with the last action of the match two minutes from time.
SOUTHEND:- Darryl Flahavan; David McSweeney (Mark Beard 56), Neil Jenkins, Phil Whelan, Leon Cort; Jeff Minton (Ian Selley 56), Kevin Maher, Steven Clark (Stuart Thurgood 72), Damon Searle (John McGrath 80); Barrington Belgrave, Graeme Jones (Daniel Webb 63). Unused subs - Daniel Lunan, Mark Rawle, Jay Smith, Daniel Gay.
TOTTENHAM:- Shwan Jelel; Mark Hughes, Johnnie Jackson, Stephen Kelly, Ron Henry; Diego Bortolozzo, David Galbraith, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Rohan Ricketts; Danny Barnard, John Sutton. Subs (all used) - George Snee, Rob Burch, Dean Marney, Walter Thomas.
REFEREE - Paul Walton (Northampton)
BOOKINGS- None, DISMISSALS - None.
GOAL - Belgrave 57.
ATTENDANCE - 3,037
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com