So I was over at my local football ground in the shape of The Southchurch Arena to see a top six local derby clash between Southend Manor and Hullbridge Sports in the Essex Senior League.
Manor have been doing very well this season and sat second only three points behind leadersBarking prior to kick off whilst Sports sat in sixth after a solid season to date so this was always billed to be a decent battle, as is normally the case with these two when they meet.
Before kick off their was an impeccably observed minutes silence for the late Margaret Errington and with her husband and league chairman Robert in attendance this made the moment even more poinent indeed.
It was also learned prior to the game that neither of these teams would be applying for promotion to the Ryman North this season so would this have an effect on either side? Who knows but we would soon find out.
It certainly didn’t affect Manor early doors as they started the better of the two sides and on seven minutes saw Eamon Payne fouled attempting to beat keeper James Pellin resulting in ayellow card for the goalkeeper and a penalty for the hosts, which saw Aundre Spencer step up and convert and give the hosts a deserved lead.
Manor continued to have more of the possession early on but found Sports, especially through Charlie Little, a threat on the counter. After Little had gone close he went one better on twenty minutes in spectacular style as he drove into the box before hitting a superb effort beyond hosts keeper Lewis Down and into the top corner and the ex-manor winger had his goal against his old foes.
However Manor so nearly caught the visitors cold moments later as Payne got in behind but saw his effort brilliantly tipped wide by Pellin. It proved pivotal as just before the half hour mark the visitors took the lead when after a comedy of errors at the back from the hosts, they gifted the ball to Matt Brinklow some thirty odd yards out, and with keeper Down stranded the Bridge winger sent a lob over him and into the empty net and the visitors had turned it round just like that.
Sports almost made it three a few minutes later when Down was forced to tip an effort across him wide of the far post before the hosts saw a couple of efforts blocked before Daniel Okah could only lift over the final effort when a lob would of been better. However the visitors went into the break ahead and the next goal would no doubt prove crucial.
Half Time Southend Manor 1 Hullbridge Sports 2
The first ten or so minutes of the second period were fairly quiet but then in the 57th minute came another bad moment for the hosts when skipper Vinny Murphy apparently elbowed an opponent off the ball and me and a few others wondered what the linesman on the near side was flagging for but he had spotted it and the hosts skipper was duly shown the red card.
Midway through the half saw Hullbridge take advantage of that extra man as they netted twice in as many minutes to really take control of the contest. On 66 minutes Luke Osborne volley home and corner after being left totally unmarked in the middle of the box and then on 68 minutes Harry Skinner got across his marker to convert at the near post despite Down’s best efforts to keep it out and the visitors now had a 4-1 lead with an extra man.
To be fair to Manor they attempted to battle back and with twelve minutes remaining saw Lee Rome brought down by Pellin for another penalty and the visitors keeper shown his second yellow and therefore dismissed from the field, much to his disgust. It meant Sports forwardJimmy Cox had to don the gloves for the final twelve minutes and the first thing he did was to pick the ball out of the net as Payne sent the penalty beyond him and Manor had a small lifeline.
To be fair though they never really threatened the Hullbridge net in the final fifteen minutes or so and Okah saw his frustrations get the better of him as with two minutes left he said one to many things to the referee and was shown a second yellow and therefore sent off meaning the hosts ended the game with nine men.
So a derby which saw six goals, three red cards, and plenty of action ended with the visitors taking the points and sees them up to fifth in the table, whilst Manor stay second although with Barking’s win at Sawbridgeworth Town means they now trail the leaders by six points.
Full Time Southend Manor 2 Hullbridge Sports 4
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