Southend v Scunthorpe United

Friday, February 11, 2005

Football League Two

Southend :
Flahavan, Hunt, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer, Bentley, Maher, Nicolau (Gower 67), Gray (Dudfield 67), Eastwood
Subs not used:
Jupp, Bramble, Holloway

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Byrne, Crosby, Angus, Sharp, Taylor, Kell, Baraclough, Sparrow, Torpey, Walters (Hayes 70)
Subs not used:
Jackson, Beagrie, Ridley, Evans

SULSESC REPORT

by Richard Pollard at Roots Hall

A Friday night visit to Roots Hall gave a rare opportunity for a SULSESC newcomer like myself to obtain a Pass Out from family duties and get to see my first away game since a mid-eighties cup clash at Elland Road, where Scunny’s tactic of fielding 11 small bald men somehow foxed the Leeds aristocracy into a muddled draw and later humiliation for them at the Old Show Ground.

Things had not changed too much. It wasn’t the same 11 small bald men but sometimes it felt that way. The recent flush of youth in the form of Mr. Butler was there sure enough but way out of position sitting two rows behind us in the visitors’ stand.

The evening started well enough with a couple of swift jars amongst the suits of the city at the Hamilton Hall near Liverpool Street. A posse of half a dozen of us then ventured forth for an hour’s train journey, taking us to a pub outside the ground, arguably called the Railway Tavern. All the talk was of not losing, but somehow a better result did seem possible.

Kick off came with a new formation, without Beagrie but with Sparrow perched on the left. This may have been done to provide more defensive stability but in attack, Sparrow looked to receive the ball with his right foot, meaning he was usually facing the wrong way when he did. Sharp was also looking rusty on the left, meaning our usual threat down that flank never really got going.

The home side were sharp out of the blocks but never looked likely to threaten the Iron goal. Gradually Scunthorpe got a game together that slowly wrestled the initative away.

Walters was selected at the front, partly to offer his niggly close control and partially to give a slap to young Hayes for recent laggard displays. Torps was his usual self but well contained by the Southend centre backs.

The most solid part of the formation was the centre backs where ex-Cambridge man Angus made his debut at the expense of Jackson, who got the message and took his bags off to Kidderminster a couple of weeks later. The move worked well as Angus’ pace was more than enough to see off one time Iron target Freddy Eastwood who was so anonymous that one of us asked innocently if he was playing.

With the Iron having the better of the second quarter, half-time arrived with some optimism. This was someway mislaid as the pie shop sold only steak and onion or crisps, with hardly a chip in sight.

Scunny continued in the same vein early in the second-half and even had a couple of guilt edge chances, falling to Walters and Torpey. Southend’s keeper did just enough each time to keep things level.

The last quarter reverted to type as the lads began to settle for a point, probably about 15 minutes too early. Eastwood began a few jinking runs and the Scunthorpe midfield began sitting back way too far. A nail biting last few minutes ensued but a draw was the predestined result and probably about fair too.

A final cruel twist followed with the last train out from Roots Hall arriving at 11.01 in London, too late for the follow up beer. Overall, a result we would have settled for beforehand, apart from the chips and beer.