DIAMOND PERFORMANCE FROM SOUTHEND
biggest away win since 1993

Southend United recorded their biggest League win away from Roots Hall for over ten years with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over an extremely poor Rushden & Diamonds side at Nene Park.  22 August 1993 was the last time Southend won so convincingly on their travels in the Football League and that time they did so on live TV as Millwall "celebrated" their first League match at their New Den Stadium by getting mauled on the pitch by the Shrimpers. This time there were no television cameras present to convey the win live to the nation as Southend ran riot in Northamptonshire.

Two goals from Lawrie Dudfield, opening his account for the new season, and a strike each from Tes Bramble, his first of the season, and Adam Barrett, his fourth of the season, clinched all three points and lifted the Shrimpers into 14th position, their highest placing since April. However it didn't go all Southend's way as keeper Bart Griemink was stretchered off in the first half after feeling a "pop at the back of his knee" and could be out for some time. Reserve keeper Darryl Flahavan made his first appearance of the season and made a capable performance between the sticks.

Southend United : Griemink (Flahavan), Jupp, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer, Bentley, Maher, Gower (Corbett), Dudfield , Bramble (Broughton).

The Match Report (Kev Talbott)

Well, well, well. Where do I start? A superb away performance by Steve Tilson’s men saw THE SHRIMPERS come home with all three points after an easy 4-1 victory at Nene Park. 569 fans were in attendance (although it seemed more like 800/900) to see our biggest away win since the 4-1 defeat of Milwall in the 93/94 season. Lawrie Dudfield scored his first of the match - and season - with a typical ‘fox in the box’ type finish and his second came through the penalty spot after he had been taken down in the box; Rushden defender Robert Gier was shown the red card by Mr Probert, and Rushden were down to 10 men. God (Tes Bramble) scored the third with an excellent header and the game was rounded off in the 90th minute after an O.G from a Kevin Maher corner. Lawrie Dudfield didn’t score it, and neither did Adam Barrett, although he looks like he might be claiming it …

The day kicked off at 10am and a stop at the White Horse and Roots Hall saw the car crammed full of SZFC Yoots and we were on our way. The route was fairly busy and after a quick stop at Cambridge services we managed to reach the village of Irthlingborough at about 20 past 12 and we headed for The British Arms along Baker Street just off the main road. We joined the Train Crew Blues and the rest of the gang (GNH, Ninja, Shagster et all) for a few drinks (well, just the one for me – I was driving after all) a few games of pool and losing money on the ‘beloved’ fruits whilst listening to probably the best juke box I’ve ever heard. Many pictures of motor-bikes and I'm sure it wouldn’t be the most inviting of pubs on a dark, cold night in the middle of winter! We left at half-two to park closer to the ground (as we couldn’t be bothered to walk) and parked, along with a fair few other cars, on some grass verge! . A five minute walk to the ground, a programme, and we all manage to get in for £6. Result. Burger, drink and look who’s in front of us behind the goal? Mark Rawle – with bird in tow. Rumours have suggested that he’s been released by Oxford and has asked Tilly for a job. Tilly has told him where to go, and quite right too. We have enough attackers at the moment – and even Gray and Husbands can’t get on the bench.

The team lined up as follows: Griemink – Jupp Prior Barrett Cheese – Pettefer Maher Bentley Gower – God (Bramble) Dudfield. Flahavan, Edwards, Corbett, Dreweeeeee and Hunt warmed the bench.

Southend had numerous chances throughout the first half. Bramble headed over, Bentley shot wide as did Gower and Dudfield had chances before Lawrie Dudfield opened the scoring. An 18th minute corner from Mark Gower saw Adam Barrett nod down at the back-post in which Dudfield reacted quickest and poked in from about five yards out. Rushden made two quick changes and left them with just one substitution left. Southend dominated the first half and the only chance came when Bartman did well to block an Alex Hay chance, which saw the former Swindon man taken off and got an excellent reception from both home and away fans. This saw the introduction of a slightly podgy looking Darryl Flahavan.   

Half Time – R&D 0 SUFC 1

Whilst everyone was eating and drinking, a selection of Southend fans beat a selection of Diamond fans in a penalty shoot-out in front of the travelling army.

The second half came and Southend got off to a very slow start. A Spencer Prior mistake after 50 minutes saw Rushden equalise through Andy Burgess. Rushden and Diamonds had a good ten minute spell but that came to an abrupt end when Southend hit on the break through Lawrie Dudfield who was up-ended just inside the box and Gier was shown his marching orders. Dudfield slotted the penalty home to the Southend fans delight and from then on in, Southend dominated the match.

Chances galore came along and were squandered but Southend never looked like conceding and with 20 minutes to go, God wrapped up proceedings with a bullet header under the injured Billy Turley and from then on in, both teams knew who were the victors were going to be and Southend started knocking the ball around against a hapless Rushden team. Bentley, Dudfield, Maher and Bramble all had chances to score but the final goal came in the 90th minute from an O.G thanks to a Kevin Maher corner. Both Dudfield and Barrett are after it, but they didn’t even get close to it. The Southend fans were sent home delighted and the players came over to acknowledge the support and visa versa.   

Full Time – R&D 1 SUFC 4

Back to the car and back to the Spread by 25 past 7 to ‘watch’ a poor England side draw 2-2. However, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the Southend fans and bring on Tony Adams’ Wycombe Wanderers next Saturday.

What the fans thought ...

Shrimpboy said : "We completely dominated, and for once we converted our domination into goals. The set pieces were impressive again, they've obviously been worked on in training. Both the strikers got goals which was nice to see and hopefully it's improved their confidence. We defended well, especially Barrett who had another awesome game. The away support was tremendous, loads of singing and we were repaid with a brilliant three points."

Shrimpboy's MOTM : Lawrie Dudfield. "He got two well-deserved goals and was lively all afternoon."

RobM said : "Fab! Ace! Great! Barnstormer! Yippee!"

RobM's MOTM : Adam Barrett

Shrimpergarry said : "Funniest moment: Southend fans singing 'nice ground, no fans!' Mark Rawle was there watching, sat in with us, chatted to a few people at half-time. Shame about Bart's injury - doesn't sound too good. Awesome performance - played with real confidence. Good to see both strikers get on the score sheet."

Shrimpergarry's MOTM : Adam Barrett. "He can do no wrong (apart from claim the last goal which was definitely an O.G.!)"

Southender said : "An excellent all round performance with the blues playing good passing football. Bramble & Dudfield should now be our regular starting strikers as the Rushen back line struggled against them all afternoon. Sloppy goal to give away, sometimes in defence we just need to get rid of the ball. Great away support again although why did we have to put up with the Mark Rawle / Judas rubbish again. Get over it! Bring on Col Ewe."

Southender's MOTM : Lawrie Dudfield "Looked lively again just like when he first came in on loan."

What the managers thought ...

STEVE TILSON (SUFC) :
"It was a good performance and it was just nice for both centre forwards to have scored a goal. I thought we played well for the first 25 minutes and I thought we should have been two or three up. But then we let tham back into it and straight after half-time we have given a poor goal away. Spinner has given the ball away on the edge of the box and they have scored. Then we got the penalty and they've gone down to ten men and the match changed from there. So that's two wins in a row now and we have Wycombe at home next week. But a few wins and your League position can change completely."

ERNIE TIPPETT (RDFC) :
"It was certainly a nightmare. I'm not pleased with the situation and some tough decisions have got to be made. I went for a positive situation as opposed to a negative one and it didn't work. It's hard to put the finger on why but it was an uphill task and I need to look at why that was. We got back into the game and just before the penalty we could have got a goal ourselves. But that's football. We've been kicked in the teeth certainly when we didn't want to and when we didn't expect to. You have to expect the unexpected - these things happen and we've been punished."