Southend United were given an early scare by an Oxford side who would go on to offer a minimal threat at Roots Hall last night.

After just two minutes, the visitors' Republic of Ireland midfielder Dave Savage sent a 25-yard effort whistling just past the right post. But it was a false dawn and the Shrimpers soon took control.

Action from last night's match

Blues' right-winger Danny Marney drove straight at Oxford goalkeeper Andy Woodman from 16-yards, as Southend began to build up the pressure.

And on 10 minutes, the Seasiders' other wideman, Steven Clark, did well to keep the ball in play on the right touchline and feed forward Tes Bramble, whose accurate cross was headed over by skipper Kevin Maher.

Blues full-back Damon Searle advanced to strike past the left upright from long range, before Bramble beat James Hunt to the ball, but could only guide his 18-yard effort into Woodman's gloves.

But right bang on the stroke of half-time, Rawle got the sparse Roots Hall crowd on their feet with his eighth goal of the season.

Clark's long range effort deflected fortuitously off U's defender Matt Bound into the path of the forward, who cut in from the right flank and curled a shot under Woodman's body and inside the left post from 15 yards.

Seven minutes after the restart, Bramble drilled a right flank centre across the six-yard box, which Rawle slid into Woodman's gloves after nipping ahead of Waterman.

On 71 minutes Bramble conjured up an all-important second goal, his 11th of the season, with a flash of brilliance on the edge of the visitors' box.

The forward controlled right-back Daryl Sutch's free-kick with his back to goal and turned towering defender Crosby, before hammering the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the Oxford net from 12 yards.

Three minutes from time, Bramble demonstrated neat skill, chipping the ball over the head of Oxford's defensive substitute Christian Edwards, before sending an 18-yard effort into Woodman's hands.

But Blues suffered a lapse of concentration one minute from time when U's striker Basham brushed aside Shrimpers defenders Cort and David McSweeney to meet a basic long punt forward and net a barely-deserved, close range consolation goal.

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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