A nice local game for me on Wednesday evening saw me over at Southchurch Park inSouthend on Sea as Southend Manor hosted Takeley in an Essex Senior League contest.
Both teams had begun the campaign unbeaten with the visitors having won all four of their games in all competitions. But those wins had all come at home and this was their first away trip of the new season so could Manor inflict defeat on them for the first time this season.
The opening ten minutes saw the visitors go close on three occasions and should really have taken an early lead but they were unable to convert their early dominance into goals.
The following ten minutes saw the hosts start to grow into the contest and did flash a decent cross from the right through the penalty area as they began to show signs of settling into the game.
However the following passage of play saw the game devoid of much goalmouth action as the game remained goalless but as the game approached half time the best chance of the half since the opening few minutes saw a Manor close range effort saved.
The visitors had started well but saw the hosts grow into the game as the first half went on, however it was a half that did end goalless. The question was could anyone take the early initiative in the second half.
Well both teams saw an opening each in the first ten minutes of the second period but it remains goaless at Southchurch Park. The following few minutes saw Manor go close on three occasions whilst Takeley struck the outside of the post from a cross.
Manor though continued to have the better of the half and passed up another decent chance to go in front an so the game entered it’s final quarter hour still goalless and you felt one goal would win it.
With six minutes remaining Takeley went close in what was a rare opportunity for them in the second half as Manor should have been in front but were unable to convert the openings that had come their way.
And the hosts were to rue those missed opportunities when as the clock ticked into stoppage time a cross from the left saw Stuart Zanone poke home from close range at the near post and give Takeley the lead. It was very harsh on the home side but if you don’t take your chances you get punished eventually.
Manor tried as hard as they could to find a leveller in stoppage time but as in keeping with the game failed to find a way through and Takeley held on for the three points and keep their 100% record in tact.
The visitors really had to grind this one out against a Manor side who on another day could of been two or three goals up before Takeley’s late winner. That’s football though as you say and it was certainly a good battle between two decent sides. Both now turn their attentions to theFA Cup at the weekend.
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