Southend Manor 0 Ware 5

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Tuesday 1st September 2020 

First day of September yielded my first competitive viewing of the 20/21 season and it was over at my most local club across Southchurch Park as Southend Manor of the Essex Senior League took on Isthmian South Central side Ware in an Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round contest.

Manor were definitely the underdogs going into this one as their young squad were hosting a side packed full of experience at Isthmian League level so this would be a big test for Gary Pond’s side that was for sure, but this is the FA Cup so the magic can happen in this tournament.

And Manor’s biggest crowd for years of nearly 200 were in attendance to see if their local side could pull off an upset, with a healthy number also traveling down from Hertfordshire to give their side some support too.

The visitors struck first though after sixteen minutes when a cross from the right saw Leigh Rose glance a header across goal and into the far corner and give the Ware supporters behind the goal something to cheer as their side got their noses in front.

The visitors continued to have the better of the contest and were the side creating the opportunities, with the best one seeing an effort thump against the post, and although Manor battled gamely, they were limited to two long range efforts which failed to test the keeper, and it saw Ware go into the break with a one goal lead and looking fairly comfortable.

Half Time Southend Manor 0 Ware 1

Manor knew at 1-0 they were still in this contest and knew they had to keep it that way for as long as possible and maybe nick something at the other end, but barely two minutes into the second period they conceded when a loose ball fell to David Kendall at the back post and he fired home to double his sides lead.

It was the worst possible start to the second period for the hosts and the best one for the visitors who were now sensing more goals, although Manor did have their best chance after the second Ware goal when they saw a decent header well tipped over by the visiting keeper.

This turned out to be Manor’s best moment going forward though as Ware continued to be on the front foot against their inexperienced opponents, and just past the hour mark it was three when a flick on found Kendall who volleyed powerfully into the net from close range and this tie was most certainly done n dusted now.

You felt it was how many Ware wanted to get as they were totally overrunning the hosts, and they made it four with fifteen minutes remaining as a flick on from a ball in from the right found Louis Rose totally unmarked at the back post and he rammed home, and then just two minutes later a corner in from the left saw Albert Adu-Donyinah glance home a header into the far corner, pretty much a repeat of the first goal Rose had scored in the first period, albeit from the opposite side.

You did fear from Manor that it could be very very embarrassing, but Ware failed to net any more although had the chances too, especially when somehow volleying against the bar with the goal gaping in one chance, but it mattered not as the visitors cruised into the next round.

It was men against boys at times in this one at times, but this young Manor line up will certainly have learned much from this one, and whilst going out of the FA Cup in disappointing, hopefully they take what they have learned into the league which begins at the weekend.

For Ware it was a good professional performance, and they will certainly be very happy at getting into the next round of the competition, they were far to good for their opponents this evening and they now have a much tougher test in the Preliminary Round as they travel to Isthmian North side Canvey Island on the 12^th September. 

Full Time Southend Manor 0 Ware 5