As manager Steve Tilson ‘tweeked’ his side slightly from the one which beat Northampton Town three days earlier, Duncan Jupp and Che Wilson made way for Mark Bentley and Nicky Nicolau respectively with Lewis Hunt trying his luck at right back whilst Bentley acclaimed his customary central midfield role alongside Kevin Maher.
In a highly entertaining first period, Kevin Street had already fired off target before the Shrimpers took the lead on 13 minutes. Loanee frontman Fredy Eastwood, playing the last game of his initial one month spell, sprinted across the penalty area before unleashing a low shot which found it’s way past Scott Howie and into the bottom right hand corner with the assistance of hapless Stuart Whitehead. (1-0)
Eastwood was soon at it again as he smashed an effort just wide of the upright before Howie reacted well to parry away a fierce strike from Mark Gower.
Shrewsbury suddenly threatened a leveller when Street found the outside of the post from 15 yards when maybe he should have found the target.
However, with 28 minutes on the clock, the visitor’s from Shropshire did find an equaliser when Jamie Tolley forced his way through the midfield before seeing his daisy-cutting 25 yard shot somehow squirm into the net. (1-1)
Shrewsbury were not back on level terms for long though as on 33 minutes United were awarded a penalty. Ever-incompentant referee Keith Hill failed to deem Dave Ridler’s challenge on Wayne Gray as an illegal one, but assistant Gary Evetts kept his flag waving and persuaded Hill to point to the spot. Incredibly despite Gray running through on goal, Ridler was not even cautioned for his infringement.
It wasn’t until the watch had ticked round to the 34th minute that Gray eventually managed to step up and send Howie to to left and the ball into the right hand corner to restore United’s advantage. Given last season’s spot-kick woes, it’s amazing to think that, including the First Round shoot-out at Layer Road, it’s eight-out-of-eight for Blues this season. (2-1)
The next opportunity for Tilson’s men saw Adam Barrett, of all people, bring a fine stop out of Howie from a curling 20 yard effort following neat work involving Gower and Bentley.
The visitor’s were not giving up just yet though, and Flahavan did very well to block at the feet of Duane Darby and did even better to palm away a Darby header from a Sam Aiston cross.
Indeed, Flahavan’s good work paid dividends as Southend extended their lead on 38 minutes, Eastwood darting into the area before unleashing a fierce drive which flew past Howie at his near post. (3-1)
The home side could have added to their tally even further before the break as hat-trick searching Eastwood nodded a Hunt centre of target and Carl Pettefer zipped a shot across the face of a gaping goal.
Half-time: Southend United 3 Shrewsbury Town 1
Unfortunately the second half never quite lived up the the excitement of the first period, but the first chance still arrived only ten minutes after the re-start when Luke Rodgers fired over the top of Flahavan’s crossbar from an acute angle.
Skipper Maher drifted a shot just off target for the home side after a strong Bentley run before Spencer Prior headed a Maher corner wide of the post.
Enjoying his best performance for some time, Gower whacked a 20 yard effort past the upright after a fine one-two involving Eastwood and Nicolau before Gower turned provider for Pettefer to head over the top from eight yards.
Eastwood sent an effort just wayward before the match was sealed with United’s fourth goal on 86 minutes, a perfect Hunt centre picking out Bentley who curled a perfectly placed shot just inside the right hand post from 16 yards. (4-1)
Finally, the last chance inevitably fell to Tilson’s men as Maher’s rasping 20-yard drive cannoned back off of the left hand post.
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Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com