Southend Manor 4 Stansted 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 30th March 2013

Southend Manor made it six win's on the bounce with a convincing 4-1 victory over Stansted at Southchurch Park today. Manor had the lead on 15 minutes when Jamie Salmon's ball into the box was headed in by Eddie Hart with his header looping over Merson Holt in the Stansted goal for 1-0. Bradley Williams had a good effort on goal midway through the first half when his effort was brilliant tipped over by Holt to keep the score at 1-0. Bradley Williams was replaced by Jay Smith at the start of the second half and this was Smith's first appearance since December 18th. Three minutes into the second half Smith scored. He burst into the box and brilliantly knocked the ball past Holt for 2-0. Manor continued to create chances although Stansted weren't without their's also and Adam Seal in the Manor goal had to make a couple of decent saves as the half wore on. On 66 minutes Eddie Hart hit a shot which Holt tipped onto the crossbar but four minutes later it was 3-0 whenJay Smith played a ball over the top of the stansted defence and Eddie Hart ran onto the ball and touched past Holt into the net. On 79 minutes it was 4-0. Yew Danso's great run into the box ended with him squaring the ball across the six yard box and Eddie Hart touched home his cross for his hat trick. Manor then made two more subs, Kye Jude on for Brad Vaughan andAaron Baldwin on for Mark Sisson. Stansted pulled a goal back on 90 minutes when their skipper Tom Le Masurier struck home from the edge of the box but it was another great victory for the home side.

East Thurrock United 2 Canvey Island 0

Ryman League Premier Division, Friday 29th March 2013

Good friday brought sunshine finally and also a cracking prospect of a local essex derby.   East Thurrock started the better of the two sides and took the lead on 12 minutes when James Lawson got into the box and thumped a bullet of a shot in off the underside of the crossbar giving the keeper no chance.  East Thurrock continued to have the better of the play but towards the end of the half Canvey created a couple of good chances but could not convert.   The second half went much the same way and on 74 minutes a truly great goal was witnessed by the strong 315 crowd.   The ball was crossed over and Sam Higgins volleyed the ball first time with his left foot straight past the keeper into the goal.  It was a terrific strike and one of the best I've seen for a while.   Canvey did create a couple of decent efforts towards the end but it wasn't to be their day.   East Thurrock could of added to their tally also but it finished 2-0 and a well deserved victory for The Rooks today.

Southend Manor 4 London Bari 1

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 27th March 2013

Southend Manor produced a fantastic second half performance to run out 4-1 winners in tonights match with London Bari.   The game started very slowly and took a while to get going in the freezing cold conditions at southchurch park. Manor created a couple of good chances thereafter but chances were few and far between in the first half an hour. Manor's Ash Pibworth had to go off after 30 minutes with an injury and he was replaced by experienced striker David Tubbs.   Bari did create a good opportunity on 35 minutes when their centre back Smith was given a free header but he couldn't get it on target and it flew over. So it remained 0-0 going into the break.   Manor came out with more purpose in the second half and grabbed the lead on 62 minutes when Jamie Salmon got into the box before he was taken out by the defender and a penalty was awarded. Salmon stepped up to place the spot kick past the keeper's right hand into the corner for 1-0. Bari felt they should of had a spot kick themselves a minute later but the referee thought otherwise.   On 66 minutes the best moment of the match. Mark Sisson played a fantastic ball through to Eddie Hart who without breaking stride stroked the ball first time past the outstretched arm of Durrell for 2-0.   On 78 minutes it was 3-0. Yaw Danso broke free into the box and his first effort hit the post but he followed up the rebound to smash home for his first goal for the club. Two minutes later it was 4-0 as Manor took total control when Mark Sisson turned his marker before hitting the ball past Durrell in the Bari goal. Sisson was then replaced by youngster Alfie Taylor for the last ten minutes.   Bari did pull a goal back in the final minute of the 90 through Alhrbi but Manor ran out comfortable winners to send them up to a season high 7th place in the league.

Tilbury 2 Cheshunt 1

Ryman League Division One North, Tuesday 26th March 2013

I made the short trip up the C2C line to Tilbury for tonights game where Tilbury were still harbouring play off  ambitions, albeit they are very slim hopes but you never know in football.   Cheshunt arrived 14th in the division and not a lot to play for.  The game itself was scrappy and lacked any sort of quality and chances were at a premium with the first half pretty even.   Tilbury stepped up the pressure in the second half and had a golden chance to take the lead on 53 minutes but Sam Cutler blazed the spot kick high and wide and it kind of summed up the evening.   Tilbury finally broke the deadlock on 74 minutes when after a goalmouth scramble Jack Carlile poked the ball over the line.   The game was made safe on 90 minutes when Gary Henty headed the ball through to striker Emiel Aiken who shook off his marker to slot the ball past the keeper for 2-0.   Cheshunt did grab a goal back in the second minute of injury time through Lee Brennan to make the final two minutes of stoppage time interesting but Tilbury held on for what was a deserved victory.

Bowers & Pitsea 4 London Bari 1 (5-3 on agg)

Essex Senior League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg, Monday 25th March 2013

This was my first visit to The Len Salmon Stadium and it's quite a nice setup.   Bowers need to overturn a one goal deficit to get through in this tie.   On 27 minutes their task was made all the more difficult when Bari took the lead when a ball from the right was attempted to be cut out at the near post by Bowers defender Matt Thoma but sadly he knocked the ball past his keeper instead.  Bowers were level on 38 minutes however when Calvin Poku was played through and he slotted home expertly.   On 67 minutes Bowers levelled the tie overall at 3-3 and 2-1 on the night when Matt Tapley broke into the box and his ball across the goal was turned into his own net by Bari midfielder Jack Sawyer.   On 70 minutes it was 3-1 to Bowers when a corner from the right by Lloyd Wilson was headed home by Ollie Hadley.  On 77 minutes Bowers put breathing space between them and the visitors when another corner from Lloyd Wilson was yet again headed home by Ollie Hadley.   Lloyd Wilson was a constant thorn in the visitors defence all evening.  Deep into stoppage time a scuffle between both sides resulted in Bari's Aaron May to be sent off for a second booking but by then the result was not in doubt and Bowers deserved their victory.