<page_title> Essex derby </page_title> <section_title> Cup Matches </section_title> <table> <cell> 10 February 2004 <col_header> Date </col_header> </cell> <cell> Layer Road <col_header> Venue </col_header> </cell> <cell> Colchester United <col_header> Home team </col_header> </cell> <cell> 2–3 <col_header> Score </col_header> </cell> <cell> Football League Trophy <col_header> Competition </col_header> </cell> <cell> Southern Area Final 1st Leg <col_header> Round </col_header> </cell> </table>
The two clubs both reached the Football League Trophy Southern Area Final, where they met on 10 February 2004, at Layer Road for the first leg, with Southend winning 3–2.