Ravens View of Southend

Last updated : 27 September 2006 By Mark R

Left at 7.35 expecting to walk straight in the ground, but you had to join a queue to buy tickets, then go in, so missed the first 5 minutes.

A reasonable turn out from Brighton fans, 400+ and it was an entertaining game.

The match was pretty even, but we had the better chances in the first half.

Cox was having another storming game. Fraser started in Midfield, Reid was back to right back, El-ABd at centre back and Santos I assume is injured?

After 70 minutes, Hammond won the ball back, Reid surged forward, substitute Loft knocked the ball square to Cox, who curled the ball round the keeper and just inside the post.

Great goal, deserved to win the game.

Southend huffed and puffed and we look to be going through 1-0. They win a corner with 4 minutes left and Wilkins brings on Butters for Reid and the resulting corner is nodded in as we are exposed from a set piece in the air again.

I didnt want extra time and penalties, but then I didnt want Southend to go straight back up the other end, some headed ping pong and no clearance from us and the Southend player smashes the ball in.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, so 4 minutes injury time goes up, so we have hope of equalising but then its Freddy Eastwood on his own and he beats Kuipers at his near post from 25 yards with a very powerful shot.

3 goals in 4 minutes and we are stunned. From the restart we attack, get a corner and then El-Abd bundles the ball in. Sadly the time runs out and we are out the cup.

I would have settled for 1 goal in 90 minutes, the 4 in 7 minutes were slighlty unexpected!

Oh well, roll on the Johnstones Paint Trophy in October (I understand its leagues 2 & 3 only and the non league teams kicked
out of it this season - at the insistance of the sponsors apparently!)

Mark R