Sean & the Oxford keeper: 'Still give him a bit of banter about the goal I got against him'

08 November 2011 09:46
Oxford United: Southend United full-back Sean Clohessy is good mates with U's shot stopper Ryan Clarke after their time at Salisbury City together, but that will be forgotten this evening as the Shrimpers travel to the Kassam Stadium for their JPT clash

Clohessy: 'We’ve had a lot of clean sheets this season'

Blues right back Sean Clohessy doesn't score many goals so when he does he tends to remember every one, especially when it was his first, and so far only, strike for his new club.

However, the Croydon born boy, Southend's only ever present this campaign, has another reason not to forget the goal that helped the Essex boys beat Oxford United at their place last season in a 2-1 win on New Year's Day.

The keeper for the U's, as on Saturday in the 2-1 league win, was Ryan Clarke, who was Clohessy's teammate at the now Conference South club, and they keep in touch, well Sean does! 

Clohessy told www.echo-news.co.uk: “We were at Salisbury together and he’s a good keeper but I do still give him a bit of banter about the goal I got against him last season. If I’m being honest it was a fluky goal and it goes to show what can happen to even the best of goalkeepers. But it would be great to score past him again, especially as I wasn’t given the Morecambe goal which I still can’t believe.”

Well, Sean, that maybe because the Shrimps defender brilliantly volleyed it over his own keeper, but moving back to tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy regional quarter-final tie, phew, must find an easier way to write that, the Shrimpers have only let in five goals in their last eleven unbeaten matches, so Clohessy is part of a very successful defensive unit.

Clohessy confirmed:“We’ve had a lot of clean sheets this season and I think that’s one of the major reasons why we’re doing well. Last season we didn’t keep many at all, particularly towards the start. But we’ve really improved in that department now and it’s something we all take seriously. We want to keep it going and realise if we do then it improves our chances of keeping the good run we’re on going.”

Would be twelve games since that Swindon away 2-0 defeat, that seems such a long time ago now, if they see off the U's and put the lads in good heart for the long trip up the M6 to face Preston in Saturday's first round of the FA Cup.

The Clohessy Files

Personal information Full name Sean David Clohessy Date of birth 12 December 1986 (1986-12-12) (age 24) Place of birth Croydon, London, England Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Playing position Defender Club information Current club Southend United Number 2 Youth career 000?–2005 Arsenal Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2005–2009 Gillingham 43 (1) 2008–2009 → Salisbury City (loan) 36 (3) 2009–2010 Salisbury City 40 (2) 2010 Bath City 0 (0) 2010– Southend United 60 (1) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 10 April 2011 (UTC).† Appearances (Goals).

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Clohessy) 

Source: FOOTYMAD