Southend United saw their FA Cup dreams shattered at non-league Scarborough last night as Seadogs striker Mark Quayle netted the only goal of a dire and disappointing third round replay.

The nippy front-runner tapped home Jimmy Kelly's well-directed cross just seven minutes from time to secure a mouth-watering clash with Premiership high flyers Chelsea at the McCain Stadium.

The clash, to be screened live on Sky Sports, will earn the Conference Club a reported £500,000 after Russell Slade's side progressed past a below-par Blues, who produced by far their worst display under the guidance of current caretaker chief Steve Tilson.

True, the Shrimpers did come close to opening the scoring with Neil Jenkins, Tes Bramble and Leon Constantine all nearly netting for the Third Division strugglers, but the Blues seemed nervous and edgy with so much at stake.

As a result, while the Seadogs will be facing the might of Hasselbaink, Lampard and Desailly in a Chelsea side managed by Claudio Ranieri next Saturday, Southend will be travelling to Mansfield Town to face the likes of Liam Lawrence in a Stags line-up bossed by Keith Curle.

And the cash-strapped Shrimpers have now paid the ultimate price for failing to kill off the Seadogs - as their carelessness in front of goal handed a spirited Scarborough side yet another chance to cause an unexpected upset by claiming their third Football League scalp of this year's FA Cup competition.

But, with the cup campaign now over for another season, the Blues must somehow forget this heart-breaking and demoralising defeat to concentrate on raising their spirits to ensure Southend United are still in the League this time next year, and not making another trip to the McCain Stadium in the Conference.

Published Thursday January 15, 2004

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