I was over at The Arena in Southchurch Park to see Southend Manor Reserves take on Barking Reserves in a significant game for the visitors from Mayesbrook Park.
If Barking picked up three points they would pip Thurrock to runners up in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division on goal difference so they would of been up for the challenge no doubt and with Manor having nothing but 9th place to gain you would of been forgiven for thinking the hosts would just go through the motions.
However this was not to be the case as you will see. Both sides had early efforts at goal and then on ten minutes Barking had a chance deflected wide but it had been a fairly quiet start to the game as a whole. A minute later the hosts broke through with Kelly down the right but his effort was saved by Baker down to his left.
Not a lot happened for the next ten or so minutes, that was until the 25th minute when the hosts grabbed a surprise lead as a Kelly cross into the area invaded both Barking keeper Baker and Manor forward Beavis allowing the ball to make it's way to full back Jenkinson who headed home the bouncing ball from ten yards.
Barking knew they were in a game by now although on 35 minutes saw the visitors forward Creed get clear down the right but he failed to pull the trigger for some reason and the chance was eventually snuffed out. Barking did finish the half stronger after a fairly mediorce first half from the visitors by creating a couple of openings when firsly a glancing header from Creed was tipped onto the bar by a diving Warren and then the visitors went close again just before half time but could not break down a stubborn Manor defence.
Half Time: Southend Manor Reserves 1 Barking Reserves 0
The hosts almost grabbed a second with barely a minute of the half gone when Kelly's cross almost caught out Baker who managed to back pedal and tip the cross/shot over and then on 51 minutes the visitors went close when a corner fell to Creed who could only hit his left footed effort over the bar.
Another fairly chanceless period of play followed before a ball over the Manor back line on 68 minutes saw Odedoyin latch onto it but he could only slice well wide under pressure and then four minutes after this Manor really should of increased their lead when the impressive Kagbanda burst down the left hand side and the hosts found themselves two on one but the winger's squared ball to sub Rera saw him miss the ball and the chance went begging.
On 78 minutes the hosts had a similar break again but again failed to capitalise and you wondered if they would end up paying for these missed opportunities. With ten minutes to go Barking sub Chapman curled an effort at goal but it was straight at keeper Warren. The visitors were having a lot of the ball but there was no end product thus far.
That was until six minutes from time when the Blues equalised when a ball forward saw Odedoyin turn his marker on the edge of the box before driving into the area and firing across Warren into the far corner of the net. Barking needed another goal to claim runners up spot and they almost got this with the last kick of the game when they had two decent efforts blocked inside the area.
However they failed to score and Manor held on to deny the Blues second spot. Manor end the season 9th whilst Barking have to settle for third.
Full Time: Southend Manor Reserves 1 Barking Reserves 1
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