SUPER BIM PEPP-ERS THE BLUES

BRENTWOOD Town’s dream start lasted no more than nine minutes before being on the rough end of the Aribim Pepple show in the second half as National League Southend United reigned supreme in an eight-goal all-Essex third-round thriller.

- Raphael Adelugba

The most recent memorable occasion that these sides faced off was a 10-1 win in Southend’s favour in the second round of 1968-69 FA Cup. Fifty-six years later, it was another high-scoring affair in the Shrimpers’ favour.

“That was the objective [to win], and we’ve done it; that’s the pleasing part,” Kevin Maher, the Southend manager, told The NLP.

“Could have been difficult, but we managed the game well and got our goals when we needed them,” he added.

For all the assurance and zip in Southend’s opening endeavours, it was the Isthmian North outfit who made and took the game’s first credible chance not long after the ten-minute mark.