In the words of Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson, 'it was a pre-season match that had 0-0 written all over it'.
Parkinson judged the outcome correctly, but just fell short of predicting the 1-1 scoreline against lowly Essex opponents Southend United at Roots Hall on Saturday.
The only bright spot for the 207 travelling Colchester fans was Kem Izzet's sizzling 20-yard strike that crashed against the underside of the cross bar and in.
It was no surprise that Third Division Southend took the lead, through defender Leon Cort in the 73rd minute.
The Shrimpers had looked the hungrier side throughout and were really starting to challenge Colchester with substitute Steve Clark battling it out against Sam Stockley and teenager Michael Husbands wrestling with Scott Fitzgerald in the centre.
Cort headed Southend ahead when he latched on to a Kevin Maher free-kick and rose unchallenged to nod past Simon Brown.
Disappointingly, it took this to kick-start the U's into life.
Published Monday, August 4, 2003
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