Southend 1st XI 3 - 4 Brentwood 2nd XI
"Southend lose points after Brentwood score last gasp winner"
Southend started strongly, scoring two goals in the first few minutes, against a slow starting but strong Brentwood team. Captain Neil "Strawberry" Utton was the first to get his name on the scoresheet when he made an optimistic throughball from Dave Robeson look good with a neat touch past the keeper. Ian "Puppy" Crompton then added the second, only a few minutes later, when he smashed the ball into the top corner after a nice run. Southend were then made to work hard for the rest of the first half as Brentwood pressed strongly, and they were rewarded for their efforts with three goals to find themselves ahead. Southend then regained the initiative with another trademark piece of Leggett goal-line sniffing when he poked the ball home from his usual place one yard from the line, and things also looked good when Southend were awarded a penalty flick. Unfortunately this was missed when the Brentwood goalkeeper made the save (*See notes below).
The second half was far less eventful, with no goals until Brentwood scored their last gasp winner. The only real action centered around Steve Hayman, who once again showed his inability to complete a full match, although at least this time he was sent to the sin bin by the umpire rather than injured when he left the pitch.
Notes regarding Keith Arnold's penalty flick miss
Option 1
It was one of the best saves I have ever seen (This option is for the Keith Arnold fan club)
Option 2
It was a nice height for the keeper to make an easy save and the miss cost us the points.
(This is for those not in the above fan club)
Captain Neil "Strawberry" Utton now has to make a decision as to who will take the next penalty flick, and as you can see from below there are plenty of options. The latest odds from Ladbrokes are as follows:
Rob "Nobby" Styles Snr - 5/4
"I was taking the flicks earlier in the season until I missed one, I have the hardest flick in the team and its now my turn again"
Keith Arnold - 6/4
"I hit it really well, the keeper just made a great save. It should still be me".
Neil "Strawberry" Utton - 4/1
"I am the Captain and so I should be taking all the penalty flicks and corners. I'm not scoring from open play, and I want to win the top goalscorers trophy again, so it has to be me. Besides, I get blown whenever I score, and i'm getting desperate (I got 36 last season you know)".
Dave Robeson - 6/1
"I used to take them years ago until I missed so many, but i'm hoping that people would have forgotten about those as they were so long ago".
Lee Styles - 20/1
"I can't hit the ball, but I can flick it (I even scored at indoor the other week) it should be me".
Steve Hayman - 150/1
"Let me take it, let me take it. I can flick it, honest I can, I could come up for shorts too!"
Chris Crowhurst - 300/1
"I should take them, I play for Essex you know"
Phil Leggett - 500/1
"Its a bit far out for me as I only usually score from a yard or less, but I reckon I could reach".
Jak Taylor - 1000/1
"I took one the other week so I could do it if you want"
Paul Mellish - 1000/1
"I scored last week, i'm on a run now"
James "Ginger" Morgan - 1000/1
"I've taken them for the second team and this could be the only way I can get back into the first team"
Team - Christie, Arnold, Mellish, Harvey P, Hayman, Reynolds, Robeson, Crompton, Utton, Legget, Chrowhurst, Styles Jnr.
Scorers - Utton, Leggett, Crompton
Southend 2nd XI 2 – 0 Brentwood 3rd XI
Goalscorers : S. Jones & J. Morgan
Southend maintained their position at the top of the East League Division 5SE, their lead still 5 points over Chelmsford with Harlow a further 2 points adrift albeit with a game in hand.
Late arrivals for a home match yet again disrupted Southend’s pre-match routine (BARRY PUNCHER AND MIKE FALLOWS - NOT JAMIE MCPHEE, AT LEAST HE TURNED UP THIS TIME) and understandably caused the home team’s rather hesitant start to the match. Despite the date there were few fireworks in this match, other than a brief face-to-face mask confrontation involving Morgan. A well-organised Brentwood team proved difficult to breakdown and chances at both ends were at a premium, particularly 1st half. It was with some relief therefore when young Essex star Stuart Jones continued his run of goalscoring with a clinical piece of poaching from a John Etheridge strike mid-way through the half.
The 2nd half continued in much the same vein as the 1st with Brentwood rarely threatening the home team’s goal with the exception of the occasional penalty corner. Southend ‘s second goal arrived early in the 2nd half, the result of a clever deflection by Morgan following a Druce strike from a penalty corner. With 15 minutes to go the skipper departed the game with a hamstring injury to be replaced by James Lockwood who, to his credit and in spite of his age, didn’t look out of place at this level. Well-done James!
A personal thanks go out to all those who are currently doubling up by playing & umpiring on the same day. Your efforts are much appreciated by myself and I would imagine the rest of the club. Keep up the good work.
Jester’ hat was awarded to Stuart Jones for leaving the half-time water bottles at home outside his backdoor (teas were good though, thanks). Award should have gone to the skipper though for nearly decapitating half a dozen spectators with a somewhat wayward aerial.
Team: M Scott, L Danbrook, M Watson, J Etheridge, J McPhee, M Fallows, K Druce (capt), B Puncher, S Jones, C Jenkins & J Morgan sub: J Lockwood
Southend 3rd XI 1 - 3 Havering 4th XI
Southends 3rd XI conceded only their second loss of the season away to an experienced Havering side. The exchanges were open and Southend looked the better side for much of the game creating chances but lacking the means, or good fortune to make the final touch count. Havering scored two goals in quick succession during the first period and Daniel Needham netted his first of the season to keep the game alive at 2-1 going in to the break. More bad fortune followed in the second half when Ray Trendell pulled up with a hamstring injury. After the substitution Southend never really got going again and as the game died away Havering notched up a third to send Southend home empty handed nursing a final 3-1 scoreline.
Southend 4s 1 - 6 Wapping 5s
A tough afternoon at home for the 4s
A demanding encounter was expected with Wapping and Southend had come prepared for this with a defensive line-up. Unfortunately Southend conceded a very messy goal within a few minutes of the first half and, over the next 20 minutes a second, third and fourth goal had given the away side a significant margin. However, Southend continued playing positively and were able to produce some good attacking play that often surprised the Wapping defence, a short corner converted by John Evans bringing Southend back into the game just before half-time.
The second half brought about a more concerted effort to prevent a whitewash and seemingly paid-off with some good play all round limiting Wapping to a further two goals.
Despite the gloomy scoreline, Southend produced some excellent play and maintained composure in the face of a strong and well organised away side.
SOUTHEND & BENFLEET LADIES 1ST XI 2 - 2 BASILDON LADIES
After our pre-season friendly, we were well prepared on what to expect from Basildon….A tough game, bit of a shove and a desperate fight for the goals.
So, we started on form as we had planned with the majority of possession on our sticks. We managed to find our shape early on and maintain that long enough for us to push forward, defend quite high and set Naomi Barker up for a terrific first point. Excellent.
So the lead didn’t last long but it was a good boost early on. Basildon came back strong and managed to bury one away just before half time.
At half time it would be fair to say that we were the better team with overall better performance as a team and good spirits. Keep our heads high and don’t give up the fight.
Second half started and Basildon had only one thing on their minds - Win - Win - Win!!! However, Southend Girls did us proud by holding them off even if Basildon tactics were to rial us up and each other with a bit of pushing and shoving and a bit of bad language… Hayley Middleton and myself found ourselves on the receiving end of some of that rialling, but we managed to keep our tempers and not fight back (NOT - lucky there were no coloured cards).
We rose to the challenge and again with some excellent play out from the defence and through the mid-field Claire Powell managed to go against the keeper and put another gaol away for us -Yipee 2-1.
Then it didn’t last long, Basildon came back again and evened the score up. The fight continued till the dying minutes and thankfully the whistle went. 2-2. A Fantastic performance by all the ladies and a good fight. we’re happy with the draw.
Team: L,Ballard. S,Revell. R,Goddard. S,Watkinson. A,Johnson. L,Sharples. N,Bryant C,Rose. H,Middleton. C,Powell. K,Colman. N,Barker.
Goal Scorers: C,Powell 1 N,Barker 1
Southend and Benfleet Ladies 2nd XI 2 - 4 Colne Ladies
The second team played Colne Ladies and they ended their unbeaten run with Colne ending up 4-2 winners. In the first half Southend made a very slow start and conceded 2 goals despite a valiant effort from the defenders and goalkeeper Zoe who has only had to touch the
ball half a dozen times this season!
The pace picked up in the second half and the first goal was scored by
Claire King after a short corner pass by Emma Philips. Colne came back with
another goal closely followed by Sarah Brook's second goal this season.
Unfortunately our come back was short lived and Colne scored another with 5
mins to spare leaving us unable to stage a come back.
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