Tuesday 18 March 2014

Southend Manor 0 Haringey Borough 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 15th March 2014

Manor battled for their lives yesterday to earn a fantastic point against a Haringey side who had been scoring goals for fun recently. Manor had their captain Dean Smith-Shaw back in midfield as well as two new signings in the starting eleven and this seemed to galvanize the home side who were showing a lot more heart and determination that had been severely lacking in the home defeat to Stansted in midweek. Manor did have a lot of luck in this match it has to be said but it's about time some luck went our way truth be told. The first slices of luck came in the first half when Borough hit the crossbar and post in one shot which somehow didn't cross the line and then later in the first half they hit the bar again from twelve yards the ball bounced down then back up and against the bar again and away. Manor were limited to rare breakaway attacks and from one they fashioned an attempt on target when Charle Bridgeman tested Austin Byfield but in truth it was straight at the keeper and easy for him to hold onto. The second half was much the same, Manor digging in and trying to hold their opponents at bay. Borough hit the bar again from a free kick by Dean Fenton and then soon after a ball across the goal was somehow not converted and was cleared. The Manor goal was indeed leading a charmed life. As the half wore on Borough were getting more and more frustrated as they just could not find a way through. Towards the end of the match Manor tried to break out a couple of times and on one occasion Charlie Little broke down the right but his cross failed to find Hastings Banda in the middle and the chance had gone. Manor first team coach John Langton was brought on in injury time to try and sure up the defensive side of Manor to complete what would be a great point against a good side in Haringey and sure enough at the final whistle it felt like a win, such was the commitment and effort put into this game by Manor to earn this draw. Hopefully now Manor can push on and use this game as a springboard to try and get some results to end the season as well as they can. Today though was a great battling performance and every one of those players deserve a pat on the back.















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