Southend Mens 1st XI 0 - 3 Chelmsford 3rd XI
Southend started strongly and battled well against top of the table Chelmsford but eventually went down 3 - 0. The first incident of the game was Chris Crowhurst setting what must surely be a record by getting a green card before he had even set foot on the pitch. Hew was given the card for ignoring the umpire when asked to put on a different coloured top. Crowhurst commented "I couldn't hear what the umpire was saying as I was on the phone sorting out a date for Saturday night. I hardly pay attention when i'm on the pitch so you can't expect me to be interested when i'm off it, besides I play for Essex you know there's no way I should be a lowly substitute." If you ask nicely Chris will show the results of the phone call in the bar, as apparently he has a number of photographs stored on his telephone.
Eventually Chelmsford pressure told and they scored from a lucky short corner and then another from a fine strike. In the second half Southend picked up further cards with both the Styles brothers reprimanded by the umpires. Styles Jnr picked up a green and Styles Snr a yellow leaving Southend to cope with ten men. For some reason this actually sparked a comeback and Southend up their game, but were unable to capitalise and eventually Chelmsford scored again with yet another short corner.
The end result was that the game was much closer than the scoreline suggested and a strong Chelmsford team were unable to score against Southend in open play.
Team - Christie, Arnold, Mellish, Hayman, Harvey P, Styles Jnr, Styles Snr, Reynolds, Crompton, Robeson, Crowhurst, Legget, Utton
Southend Mens 2nd XI 2 - 1 Redbridge & Ilford 2nd XI
Southend maintained their 3 point lead at the top of the division following a hard fought but ultimately deserved victory against a stubborn R&I opposition. Despite dominating the first 10 minutes of the match it was R&I who opened the scoring with a break away goal (not helped by sloppy defending). Following the goal Southend struggled to regain their early rhythm and it was not until Jenkins, latching on to a superbly flighted cross-field aerial from skipper Druce, and lashing home with aplomb did Southend regain a foothold in the game.
The second half, much like the first, saw the home side fail to convert a string of penalty corners which would have put the game beyond R&I's reach. Ironically, however, it was following the breakdown of a penalty corner that Southend conjured the winning goal. Young Essex starlet Stuart Jones, capping a man of the match performance with a neat piece of control and finish 5 minutes from time. Praise also goes to Luke Danbrook who again put in a solid performance at right back combining well with Jones down the right flank.
Southend 3rd XI 2 - 3 Wapping 4th XI
In the absence of a report from stand in captain Cliff Lockwood this is what was sent to the Echo:
Southend fought well against top of the table Wapping but eventually went down to a late goal to lose the game. Southends two goals came from striker Micky Walsh who must surely now be a contender for the clubs top goal scorer award.
And this is what Wapping thought of it on their website (apparently Andy Poulain was at fault for one of the goals and the defence were very old!!)
M4 dig deep
by Aaron Kelly
24th October 2004
M4 battled hard on a miserable, wet afternoon to secure 3 points against a well-organised and disciplined Southend side.
This was always going to be a tough fixture and Wapping set out to keep possession and play at a high tempo.
Chances were few and far between thanks mainly to an experienced Southend back line, but the deadlock was broken when Van Haastert flicked the ball between the legs of the Southend keeper, much to his embarrasment. He made up for it moments later saving a well struck strike from Kelly.
Halftime came with no further changes to the score and Wapping looked to build on their lead.
This was very much and end-to-end and hard fought battle, epitomised by the fact that Southend refused to give in. Luckily, the Force is strong in M4!
Southend equalised through a well struck shot from the edge of the D (or was it outside....). This spurred Wapping onto the offensive and Kelly slotted home to regain the lead for M4.
Southend, however, were not done either and they equalised again with just 4 minutes to go.
The game could have gone either way but M4 showed the kind of resilience and determination which has been a feature of their excellent start to the season. Talbot secured the points with just 2 minutes to go.
Well done Wapping. Games like this demonstrate their potential to have a special season.
Squad: Trailor (GK), Smith, Alexander, Holmes, Whitbread, Nelson, Steele, Brown, Van Haastert, Talbot, Kelly (c), Cartledge, McConnell *2
Southend 4th XI 2 - 3 Old Loughtonians Woodsmen
The 4th XI travelled to Old Loughts this week and despite a gritty performance came away on the wrong end of a 3-2 score line. An early goal for Loughts set the tone for the game when a cross from the right wing played pinball around the D and somehow crossed the line. Southend pressed forward and produced good chances with Jak Taylor and Cameron Rose coming close from open play and some well earned short corners. Southend pulled level 5 minutes from half time when Cameron Rose's short corner strike was deflected round the keeper by Peter Taylor for 1-1. The blues then suffered a blow when a poor short corner decision resulted in another good save from keeper Vandervelde but a scrappy follow up was forced over the line on the stroke of half time.
The second half was end to end but Southend had the better of the exchanges again earning 8 short corners during the half but only converting one with Taylor Scoring again. Loughton sealed the 3-2 home win 15 minutes from time from open play but a draw would have been a fairer reflection of Southends effort and commitment.
Final score 3-2 (Peter Taylor *2)
Southend & Benfleet Ladies 1st XI 3 - 1 Brentwood
Excellent performance by the Ladies 1st XI. It was agreed that the pitch over at St Thomas Moore is so bad that it was anybody's game for the taking.
After previous performances I think we all had something to prove and were determined not to lose. A strong start gave us a goal by Naomi Barker in the first five minutes; she got a clean pass and beat the defence to go it alone with the keeper, a strong strike and a hit through on to the back board, 1-0. The play stayed fairly static for both teams up till half time with some great defending from Brentwood to hold us off. Excellent!
We started again with the majority of the play in our favour, a strong attack awarded us a short corner, which Brentwood came out strong for but a lucky deflection and Lora Sharples managed to take a clean strike at the goal, a superb finish and the first goal for Lora this season. Fantastic!
Brentwood came out of that fighting and put pressure on us to defend. Southend Ladies held up well and defended some short corners, preventing Brentwood from scoring. However, a quick slip through their midfield and up on their right hand side proved too quick for us and with a bit of confusion by our defence Brentwood sneaked one past our keeper. Damn.
Anyway that wasn't going to stop us, again we came back organised and prepared and with another superb attack from the midfield with some precision passing Lora Sharples fired another one away.
The game ended 10 minutes later, with high spirits by both teams, excellent sportsmanship, no sore losers and an enjoyable game had by all, (even if it was chucking it down and we were all wet and cold). Final score 3-1 to Southend & Benfleet.
Southend & Benfleet ladies 2nd XI 5 - 1 Romford
On Sat ladies 2s played Romford ladies away. After a slow start and a fast goal from Romford by half time we were one all. The second half we woke up and saw goals from Ann-Marie Byford, Claire King and Mance Milne. The final score was 5 - 1 . Ann-Marie and Claire got 2 goals each. |
