Substitute striker Tes Bramble said the best was yet to come after grabbing Southend United's last minute equaliser during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Hull City.

The Shrimpers' opening game of the new Third Division campaign got off to a bad start when midfielder Stuart Green fired the Tigers into an early lead.

But Blues fought back with winger Neil Jenkins hitting a second-half goal on his debut, before Hull's £230,000 new boy Stuart Elliott put the Humbersiders in front again.

However, Bramble made sure justice was done and snatched a deserved point for Southend against the basement league title favourites, who had midfielder Ian Ashbee sent off five minutes from time.

"All the lads were well pleased when I scored and I was just glad I made sure we got the result we deserved," said the 22-year-old, who was Blues' top-scorer with 13 strikes last term.

And Shrimpers boss Rob Newman was wearing a smile as wide as the River Humber after the game.

He said: "I would have been devastated if we hadn't got something out of this game as we more than matched Hull in what was a very open match."

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Published Monday August 12, 2002

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