Southend United eased their way through to the final of the Thames-side Trophy after winning a bruising battle against the competition's holders Canvey Island at Park Lane last night.

After watching his side beat off a spirited challenge from the newly crowned Ryman Division One champions, Blues boss Alan Little praised his side for a professional display.

"Canvey put us under a lot of pressure at times, but we survived and battled our way to a good result in a very physical encounter," he said.

"I thought we had more of a cutting edge than Canvey and at the end of the day the quality of our finishing was the difference between the two sides."

Disappointed Gulls boss Jeff King said: "I'm upset we've been knocked out and in all honesty I feel the final scoreline flattered Southend.

"But we've had a long hard campaign and there were some tired legs out there tonight. We've won our league and the Essex Senior Cup and that will do us for this season."

The Shrimpers fielded ten players with first team experience in their starting line-up, but it was Canvey who made the early running in a pulsating start to the tie.

Southend's rookie keeper Steve Spittle was called into action after just five minutes as he pushed away a stinging 35-yard effort from Gulls midfielder Scott Lindsey.

Then three minutes later he was left completely exposed as former Southend youngster Steve Parmenter broke clear of Blues' sluggish defence, but blazed wildly over the bar from a tight angle.

However, having soaked up the early pressure Southend took the lead after 22 minutes when Adrian Clarke's left-wing cross was headed home by striker Barry Conlon.

The Seasiders went close again just before the break as right-wing-back Julian Hails' deflected shot flew inches wide of the right post and Canvey custodian Brian Horne pushed away an 18-yard drive from Blues' assistant manager Mick Gooding.

After the break Southend controlled the game at their own pace as Canvey struggled to find a way through, despite enjoying their fair share of the possession, and it came as no surprise when the Seasiders notched another two goals.

Forward Trevor Fitzpatrick fired into the top right hand corner of Horne's goal after 72 minutes from the edge of the box and substitute hitman Yemi Abiodun headed home Clarke's left-wing centre three minutes later.

Blues now face Ford United in the final at the Ryman Division Three champions' Rush Green home, near Romford, on Monday night.

Southend: Spittle, Hails (Cross), Clarke, Perkins, Roget, Dublin, McGavin (Johnson), Gooding, Conlon (Abiodun), Fitzpatrick, Unger.

Canvey: Horne, Brazier, Taylor, Ward, Britnell (Porter), Brett, Tilson, Payne, Lindsey (Barry), Parmenter (Hazle), Williams.

On the Park - Blues' Keith Dublin closes in on Canvey's Steve Parmenter

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD Bowers bow out in style

Schweppes Essex Senior League champions Bowers United finished their most successful season ever in style last night with a 2-1 win at Hullbridge.

Goals from Mark Kelynack (32 minutes) and Steve Warner (54 minutes) put the Pitsea team in the driving seat before the home outfit pulled one back through David Kreyling 18 minutes from the end.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.