Striker Tes Bramble and defender Stephen Broad both came through the entire 90 minutes of Southend United's second-string draw against Barnet at Roots Hall yesterday.

Farnborough Town hitman Rocky Baptiste made his second reserve team outing for Blues and laid on a goal for Bramble, who was unlucky not to net a hat-trick after returning from a groin problem.

Heads up - Blues triallist Rocky Baptiste tries to get in front of a Barnet defender Picture DAVE HENDERSON

Broad, who was handed the captain's armband, looked assured at centre-back following a hamstring injury, but it was 16-year-old Barnet goalkeeper Mark Cousins who was the star of the show for the Avon Insurance Combination League's bottom side.

The tiny teenager pulled off a string of breathtaking saves to keep his young team mates in the game. On nine minutes, Cousins denied Blues midfielder Anthony Clark from six yards, before tipping Bramble's rasping 20-yard follow-up past the left upright.

Southend custodian Danny Gay stole back some of the limelight on 24 minutes, parrying a penalty, conceded by defender Daniel Lunan, from Bees striker Toby Oshitola, who skied the rebound over the bar.

But Cousins soon upped the goalkeeping stakes again, clawing a vicious 25-yard Bramble free-kick past the right post, before denying both Stuart Thurgood and Anthony Clark again either side of half-time.

Bramble toe-poked Blues ahead from six yards on 74 minutes after Baptiste had guided a Steve Tilson free-kick into his path.

But the Bees really began buzzing as the game drew to a close with substitute forward Lee Roach bagging a close-range equaliser three minutes from time.

Published Thursday, April 24, 2003

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