Southend United 3 Rushden & Diamonds 0

Last updated : 01 January 2005 By Mark Wallis

Following Tuesday’s vastly disappointing result and performance against Mansfield Town, boss Steve Tilson dropped both of his strikers, with Freddy Eastwood and Wayne Gray having to make do with a place on the bench with Tesfaye Bramble and Lawrie Dudfield paired on the frontline. Nicky Nicolau also made a long awaited return to the side, impressing on the left flank whilst 17-year old attacker James Lawson was granted a Football League debut in stoppage time.

Maybe Southend were not quite at their best in this game, but the fourth-placed Shrimpers found few problems against a Rushden side fighting for their life at the wrong end of the table.

It was the home side who created all the openings in the first half, the first arriving on seven minutes when a fantastic run and low cross from Nicolau saw Bramble’s diving header, under pressure, fly over the bar.

Diamonds’ nervous goalkeeper Lee Worgan was required to deny Mark Bentley’s low shot, from a Nicolau corner, with his legs.

Then, on 17 minutes, Southend took the lead. Carl Pettefer, wide on the right, found Kevin Maher in space and the Blues skipper fiercely drove home his first goal of the season from fully 25 yards. (1-0)

As Tilson’s side looked to extend their deserved lead, another Nicolau assist saw Andy Edwards head a flag kick over the top from an angle before Bramble beat the offside trap, sprinted clean through on goal, but saw his low drive crash back off of the left hand post.

Big frontman Bramble squandered another opportunity when he dragged a Bentley cut back wide of the upright and then a strong run into the box by Adam Barrett finished with a low shot dropping inches off target.

Half-time: Southend United 1 Rushden & Diamonds 0

It was with the first real chance after the break that United doubled their lead on 59 minutes. A Maher free kick saw Dudfield’s goalbound stab blocked by the legs of Worgan only for ex-Diamonds defender Edwards to tap in the loose ball from close range. (2-0)

Southend continued to pile pressure on the Rushden goal and Bentley crashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar following a neat Maher flick before a great run from Bramble saw the strong striker shrug off Luke Kennedy and strike an effort marginally off target.

Rushden’s first real chance arribed on 72 minutes, a fine run and shot from David Bell forcing Bart Griemink to tip the ball over the crossbar before another chance, five minutes later, saw Griemink tip a long range Phillip Gulliver effort around the post.

However, the Shrimpers fought back, and in the first minute of stoppage time sealed the match with a third strike, Bentley getting on the end of a pin-point Nicolau cross to head home at the far post. (3-0)

MATCH FACTS
SOUTHEND UNITED...(1) 3 RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS…(0) 0
Football League Division Three, Saturday, 1st January 2005 @ Roots Hall

Line-ups:
The Shrimpers (4-4-2; navy shirts, navy shorts, navy socks):- Bart Griemink; Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Andy Edwards, Adam Barrett; Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Carl Pettefer, Nicky Nicolau (James Lawson 90); Lawrie Dudfield (Wayne Gray 80), Tesfaye Bramble. Unused subs – Freddy Eastwood, Spencer Prior, Darryl Flahavan.

The Diamonds (4-4-2; red, red, red):- Lee Worgan; Graham Allen, Rob Gier, Andy Burgess, Peter Hawkins; Stuart Gray (Phillip Gulliver 42), Craig Dove, David Bell, John Dempster (Luke Kennedy 59); Jason Taylor, Alex Hay.

Goals: Southend: Maher 17 (driven shot; outside area; timed at 16:49), Edwards 59 (tapped in a rebound; inside area; timed at 58:13), Bentley 90 (headed in at far post; inside area; timed at 90:16).
Bookings: Southend: None. Rushden: Hawkins (58 – foul), Bell (82 – foul).
Sent-off: None.
Total Goal Efforts: Southend 14, Rushden 7
Shots/headers on target: Southend 6, Rushden 3
Shots/headers off target: Southend 6, Rushden 3
Blocked shots: Southend 0, Rushden 1
Hit Woodwork: Southend 2, Rushden 0
Corners: Southend 8, Rushden 7
Free Kicks: Southend 16, Rushden 13
Caught Offside: Southend 6, Rushden 0

Match Time:
First Half: 47:10. Second Half: 48:10. Total: 95:20.
Indicated stoppage time: First Half: 2 minutes (Actual: 02:10), Second Half: 3 minutes (03:10)

Referee: Trevor Parkes (West Midlands FA), 7 out of 10 (General Control 3/5, Application of Laws 2/3, Personality & Appearance 2/2)

Attendance: 5,930 (239 away fans)

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com

NB. Shots/headers on target includes all goals and Free Kicks includes all penalties.