Essex Senior Cup Semi-Final: Aveley 2 Southend United 1

Oh dear, not a happy Blues boss Paul Sturrock at the Field Mill this evening to see Graham Coughlan's Shrimpers seconds sink to a semi-final defeat.

The Millers went two up after only fifteen minutes; the first, on twelve, when Charlton Athletic loanee Tamer Tuna, what a fine name, struck home after a Morris error, and only three minutes later Andy Howes took advantage of some poor Shrimpers defending to find the net from 12 yards out.

The Shrimpers shot stopper made some amends soon after when saving well from the Millers Shewin Stanley as Southend continued to just go through the motions showing no appetite for the game at all.

On 35 minutes though the reserves goal scoring machine Kyle Asante kept his good run going when he headed home from Adetayo Osifuwa's cross from the right.

This brought a reasonably strong Blues Two's back in the game that enjoyed greater possession in the second half.

A Johnny Herd shot forced a great save from Aveley keeper David McCartney, while Asante seemed to have saved the day when he went clear and rounded McCartney but the linesman had raised his flag for off-side.

And that was that, the final whistle was blown which sees the Ryman League Premier side to paly either Billericay Town or Heybridge Swifts in the final.

Southend United: Morris, Comminges, Osifuwa, Prosser, Herd, Nesbitt (Baucutt 57), Soares, Woodyard, James-Lewis (Stevens 68), Asante, Crawford.

Subs not used: Chambers, Smith, Bouzid.

Bottom of the Ryman League Premier

18	Hastings United	30		3	3	9	16	23		2	5	8	16	26		5	8	17	32	49		23	-17
19	Aveley	28		3	3	8	11	22		3	2	9	9	19		6	5	17	20	41		23	-21
20	Folkestone Invicta	28		2	6	5	9	15		2	3	10	12	25		4	9	15	21	40		21	-19
21	Maidstone United	29		0	5	10	13	32		4	4	6	15	23		4	9	16	28	55		21	-27
22	Croydon Athletic (-3)	29		4	2	9	18	34		3	1	10	15	36		7	3	19	33	70		21	-37

Essex Semi-Final Draw

Aveley 2 Southend United 1
Billericay Town v Heybridge Swifts

This was the fifth time in the last nine seasons the Shrimpers seconds have reached the last four of the county's premier knock-out competition after beating Grays Athletic 2-1 earlier this month with goals from Harry Crawford and trailist David Obaze (full report below.)

Blues Two's bury the Gravelmen:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/sngl/ed91/essex_senior_cup_quarterfinal_
grays_athletic_1_southend_united_2_628592/index.shtml

Aveley Town official website:
www.pitchero.com/clubs/aveley

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)