|
Hopefully, this defeat will teach Southend a much needed lesson. Having taken a well deserved lead just before half after a fine move had been rounded by the head of Mark Bentley, United seemed content to sit back on their slim single-goal advantage after the break.
Everybody knows that rarely is one goal enough to comfortably enough to win a football match and no matter how poor the opposition – and Wycombe were exceedingly so – goals can come from anywhere and a rare break forward, despite a huge hint of offside, caught the home side out and allowed pacey frontman Nathan Tyson to level the score before a shot out-of-the-blue from Danny Senda gave the visitors maximum points instead.
Indeed, it was only a matter of inches which saw the game swing. With the scores locked at one each Carl Pettefer, by far Southend’s best player, saw his rasping shot cannon off of the angle of crossbar post whilst only moments later Senda’s winner crept just a fraction beneath the bar.
Tilson had to make two enforced changes from the side which emphatically won 4-1 at Rushden & Diamonds seven days earlier, with Club skipper Kevin Maher serving a one-match suspension and replaced by Lewis Hunt in the middle of the pitch whilst Adam Barrett, quite rightly, temporarily took over the captaincy. Meanwhile, Darryl Flahavan replaced crocked shot-stopper Bart Griemink between the sticks.
Strangely, for a first half which saw United often rushing forward, their were very few clear cut opportunities.
Tes Bramble slid a low shot into the arms of Wycombe goalkeeper Frank Talia from the edge of the area, and a fine Che Wilson centre saw Bramble come within inches of heading home.
One slightly different piece of ‘action’ in the first period did see Lawrie Dudfield forced to change his shirt, and duly played out most of the half in a blank top. Order was restored at half time as the striker strode back on in a freshly printed garment!
Stand-in skipper Barrett did well to block a Tyson shot with his legs after a slip from Duncan Jupp had seen the frontman pick-up an Adam Birchall cross, but that was certainly all the visitor’s had to offer before the interval.
It was with 42 minutes on the clock that the Shrimpers took the lead. A fantastic move saw Bramble intelligently pick out Pettefer with a great ball down the touchline before a fabulous cross from the ex-Portsmouth man picked out Bentley who’s firm header rocked the back of the net with ease. (1-0)
Another couple chances just before the break saw Bramble nod a Mark Gower cross into Talia’s arms before the big striker chipped an angled shot just over the top after he had picked up a loose ball after Bentley’s free kick had cannoned off the Wycombe defensive wall.
Half-time: Southend United 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0
Just minutes after the re-start Southend could have seen the game virtually sealed when Lewis Hunt’s surprise free kick dropped just over the bar from 25 yards.
However, a much more clear cut chance saw Gower woefully fluff a fantastic opportunity with only Talia to beat from close range. It was, in the end, to prove more the costly for the home side.
It was in the hour mark the Wanderers stole a leveller against the run of play. Despite looking rather offside, the flag was never raised and pacey Tyson had raced well clear of the static offside-searching Southend defence and from a slight angle, the young striker placed an impressive shot past Flahavan into the bottom left hand corner. (1-1)
Just five minutes later Tyson once again burst clear of the United defence, despite an offside appeal even more vociferous than the last, but this time Flahavan managed to palm an eventual shot around the post.
Then, with exactly fifteen minutes left, came Pettefer’s right foot rocket which actually left the frame of the goal shaking with Talia very much beaten.
Just as United were left completely out of luck at one end though, Wycombe found that the ‘lady’ was on their side with just eight minutes remaining when Senda drifted a hopeful 25 yard chip into the roof of the net with Flahavan left simply clutching at air. (1-2)
Click here for MATCH STATISTICS
Click here for CRAVEN'S MARKS OUT OF TEN
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com