Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Final: Grays Athletic 1 Southend United 2

Essex Cup Senior Cup Quarter-Final: Grays Athletic 1 Southend United 2

The good feel factor around Roots Hall continues as even the reserves get in the act reaching the semi-finals of the county's premier cup competition in the pouring rain at East Thurrock's Rookery Hill, and have keeper Daniel Bentley to thank as much as anyone.

This was the last quarter-final to be played, the semi-final draw will be on BBC Essex at 16.30 Thursday, February 3rd; Southend United, Heybridge Swifts, Billericay Town and Aveley will all enter the hat.

Blues boss Paul Sturrock is at the game to watch a strong starting eleven for the Shrimpers, while Grays are managed by ex-West Ham full-back Julian Dicks.

Miguel Commingues starts at left-back, might not be good long term news for Johnny Herd.

And it took only 45 seconds to get started when the club's other Irishman Harry Crawford shocked the home side by finding the net and giving Graham Coughlan's boys a very early lead.

However, it was the home side who looked to be enjoying the tough conditions, Alex Osborn hitting the post from 20 yards out.

But on 22 minutes Grays were level. A corner causes mild panic in the Shrimpers defence, the ball bouncing up for Simon Thomas to head powerfully into the back of the net in the six yard area.

Southend keeper Bentley was then called into action, saving well from Osborn who is proving to be a bit of a nuisance, smashing the ball against the crossbar on 35 minutes!

The half-time whistle can't come fast enough for the Shrimpers seconds who have been outplayed in the first half, but the scores are level.

Grays continue where they left off keeping the league side on the back foot forcing a number of corners yet the breakthough doesn't arrive and it's the Shrimpers who take advantage.

A chance of a corner comes there way at last after 54 minutes, and there's former youth payer and centre-back trailist David Obaza to head home from close range, will not do his cause any harm.

Athletic do not let heads drop and a 22-yarder from Dan Bentley looks to have placed them level again until Bentley appears to tip the ball around the post, great stuff from the young shot stopper.

Who repeats the trick a few minutes later, this time from that man Osborn again with another superb strike, but not good enough to beat Bentley on this evening's form.

More Grays pressure allows Marvin Samuel to head wide when he scoring may have been easier; last ten, Southend will be pleased to get out of this alive.

At last the ball gets up the other end, Substitute Kyle Asante crosses from the left finding Louie Soares who curls a good shot just wide.

And that's enough action for the evening, the referee blows the final whistle and the Shrimpers have grabbed the result.

Last four cup football for the seconds.

Greys Athletic: Northwood, Worrall, Reynolds, Docker, Fontaine, Samuel, Demetriou, Pennant, Thomas, Osborn, Bunce.

Subs: Harvey, Small, Morgan, Brown, Hearty.

Southend United: Bentley, Furlong, Phillips, Obaze, Commingues, Woodyard, Bouzid, Sawyer, James-Lewis, Soares, Crawford.

Subs: Stevens, Chambers, Nesbitt, Smith, Asante.

The Shrimpers seconds won through to this stage after beating Chelmsford in a penalty shoot-out last month. (Report below).

Essex Senior Cup Update

The Essex Senior Cup is a knock-out system football competition that has been running since 1884, and is the most prestigious cup competition in the county.

The competition is supported by BBC Essex 103.5.

Round One (by 11th September 2010)