Southend United crashed to their first opening day defeat in nine years on Saturday as Cheltenham Town recorded a comfortable 2-0 triumph at a scorching hot Roots Hall.

Race to goal - Blues' substitute frontman Tes Bramble, centre, races past Cheltenham duo Jamie Victory and Graham Fyfe - He was later sent off

Goals in the opening half an hour from John Melligan and Kayode Odejayi handed John Ward's men a well deserved win over a sorry Shrimpers side who had striker Tes Bramble sent off deep into stoppage time.

That compounded a miserable afternoon for the Seasiders who started slowly against the Robins - with debutant shot-stopper Bart Griemink tentatively rushing out of his area to unconvincingly deal with a hefty Shane Higgs clearance after just five minutes.

Higgs, the Cheltenham custodian, then easily gathered a swerving long range effort from Mark Gower but, with play soon switching to the other end of the field, Town then hit back with Andy Edwards bravely diverting a well struck Graham Fyfe shot to safety.

With 18 minutes on the clock though, Edwards was left holding his head in his hands, as Town midfielder John Melligan tricked his way around the experienced centre back before curling a clinical 16-yard shot into the bottom right hand corner of the South Stand net.

In reply, the home-side's shouts for a penalty following a mis-timed Shane Duff challenge on Shrimpers skipper Kevin Maher soon fell on deaf ears and, just seconds later - in the 28th minute - the Robins doubled their advantage courtesy of a well constructed counter attack orchestrated by Martin Devaney.

The Cheltenham-born midfielder raced half the length of the pitch, speeding past a helpless Nicky Nicolau on the right wing to slot a low cross into the path of the dangerous Kayode Odejayi who duly slotted home, unchallenged, from close range.

Bramble was sent off deep into stoppage time for a two-footed lunge on Jamie Victory.

Published Monday August 9, 2004

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