Canvey Island Reserves 4 Southend Manor Reserves 1

Essex Senior League Reserve Division East, Saturday 31st August 2013

So Manor's reserves finally played their first league match of the season this afternoon at The Prospect's Stadium against Canvey Island.   The home side were also getting their own campaign underway and began the better and on 7 minutes took the lead when Canvey full back Hartman lost his marker and breezed into the box and his drive across the goal was turned in at the back post on the slide by Parvitt for 1-0 to the hosts.   It was a lead that only lasted six minutes however as Manor responded with a goal of their own. Hounvio nicked the ball off the full back as he tried to run it out for a goal kick and squared the ball to Roberts who came inside onto his left foot and drilled the ball past the keeper for a good equaliser to make it 1-1.   Manor keeper Ruston was called into action on 32 minutes as goalscorer Parvitt's close range effort was brilliantly tipped away by the Manor stopper.   This only delayed Canvey taking the lead for a further three minutes as on 35 minutes the home side were back in front from a good close range finish by Chatting. Grant whipped a free kick over the bar for Manor just before half time but Canvey went in 2-1 up at the break.   Manor made a change for the start of the second half when Hounvio was replaced by Yasin.  Manor had a golden chance to level the match on 46 minutes as Roberts got clean through on goal but his effort was well saved by the keeper.   On 56 miniutes Roberts again got in on the right hand side but his cross across the six yard box was cleared before anyone could capitalise on it.  Manor were enjoying their best spell of the game and it looked as if they were the more likely to score the next goal.   On 58 minutes Roberts was replaced by Pullen.   Manor had another sight of goal on the hour mark when the ball was played towards Yasin who was totally unmarked on the penalty box and with the goal in front of him he missed the ball completely trying to volley it and the chance was gone.   Then on 61 minutes a moment of madness from Manor keeper Ruston, who had been having a solid game until this moment.   His clearance went straight to forward Chatting who composed himself before slotting home past Ruston for 3-1.   This was harsh on Manor who had been dominating the half until this point.   On 66 minutes another defensive lapse let Canvey in again but this time Ruston got down well to his left to save the shot.   Manor then broke from this and Rhys Fatt cut inside but his effort was dragged wide of the post.   On 77 minutes Canvey were awarded a penalty after a Alabaster foul and Chatting struck the ball home for his hat-trick and a 4-1 lead for the home side.   Manor made their final change when Henesey replaced Lewis for the final ten minutes but by then the game had gone for Manor.   So Canvey won the game 4-1 but the scoreline flattered the home side in all honesty as Manor gave a good account of themselves just some poor finishing and defensive lapses cost them today.  

Southend Manor 1 Basildon United 0

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 28th August 2013

Manor played Basildon for the third time in 10 days as they met for the first time in the league this season.   Both games had been tight tough affairs so this one was expected to be no different.   The first sight of goal was on 8 minutes for the away side but Auybnn's effort was straight at Priddle in the Manor goal.   Manor immediately had an opening of their own as Drury got down the wing but his cross invaded Little in the six yard box.   On 15 minutes Basildon's Akpele had a great chance as he got in on goal rounded Priddle but he was being pressured by a defender who eventually poked it away for a corner before Akpele could score.   Auybnn and Akpele were looking dangerous again but Manor also had a threat going forward in the shape of Charlie Little who was causing the away defence some cause for concern.  On the half hour a long throw into the Manor area wasn't dealt with but when the ball fell to Hayes he could only balloon over.   On 32 minutes Little got into the area but his shot from an angle was beaten away by Brown in the Basildon goal.   Seven minutes later and Manor had the lead.   The ball broke to Charlie Little inside the area on the right side and he took a touch before smacking the ball past Brown to his left for his first goal of the season to make it 1-0 to the home side.   On 43 minutes Little again showed great pace to get past the full back but his cross into the area was cleared away from danger.   So half time was Manor 1 Basildon 0.   Basildon had the first opening of the second half when a header towards goal was punched clear amass a series of bodies by Manor keeper Priddle.   Manor made their first change on 53 minutes as Alabaster replaced Stevens in defence.   Danso made a couple of breaks towards Basildon's goal but they ended up coming to nothing but he was looking threatening when on the ball.   On 63 minutes Manor made another change when Williams came on for full back Drury.   On 68 minutes Akpele got behind the Manor defence but his ball across the six yard box missed everyone and went out for a throw.   Four minutes later and Manor were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out and Newell took it and it almost caught Brown napping but the ball sailed just over.   Manor made their final change on 78 minutes as the tiring and injured Burrell was replaced by Yasin. The last ten minutes were backs to the wall stuff for Manor as Basildon pushed them back in an attempt to get an equaliser but just like on Saturday at London APSA the back four held firm and Basildon just couldn't break through.   There was a scramble inside the Manor box on 87 minutes but it ended with the ball being hooked wide then on 90 minutes the away side were sure they had a penalty after a foul but the referee saw it differently and waved play on, much to Basildon's dismay.   Both teams had one final chance each before the referee finally brought this contest to an end after 8 minutes of injury time.   So Manor now climb to 5th in the league after two wins and two clean sheets in a row.   It's still work in progress but things seem to be slowly coming together after another battling victory against a good side.  

Great Wakering Rovers 1 Hullbridge Sports 0

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 27th August 2013

On a warm muggy gnat infested Burroughs Park two Essex rivals locked horns in an early season game.  It was a typical hard fought battle lacking quality in all honesty.   The best chance of the half fell to Wakering's Billy Johnson but his lob over the advancing keeper drifted wide.  He would soon go off injured and the home side will hope its not to serious as he has been banging in the goals so far.   There were a few tackles as always with games of this type, one particular naughty one from the away side had Wakering's players incensed but the referee calmed the situation down and booked the player in question.  It was a game of few real good chances but Hullbridge produced a double save from Wakering custodian Adam Seal soon after the second half got underway.   Half chances came and went and you kept thinking to yourself that one bit of quality or a mistake would settle this tight affair and it proved to be the former on 69 minutes.  Wakering's full back Max Kent whipped in a pinpoint free kick right onto the head of centre back Nick Skelton inside the six yard box and he buried his header into the back of the net for 1-0.   Hullbridge to their credit kept plugging away and as the game neared its conclusion they were putting the home side under pressure but they couldn't find that killer touch and Wakering ran out 1-0 winners.   So not the greatest of games but Wakering won't care about that as they pick up 3 points and move to the top of the table.

London APSA 0 Southend Manor 2

Essex Senior League, Saturday 24th August 2013

In a game played in awful conditions at The Terrance McMillan Stadium in Newham Manor battled to their first win of the season and first clean sheet against their hosts London APSA.   The pitch was remarkably good considering the conditions although some players found staying on their feet difficult in slippery conditions.   It was 13 minutes before the first effort on goal when Danso burst into the box for Manor but his effort from an acute angle flashed across goal and wide.   On 22 minutes Lawrence Priddle in the Manor goal had his first save although it was an easy one and then down the other end Danso again caused problems down the right and his cutback to Newell was blasted high over the bar.   On 38 minutes APSA forward Agyerum crosshot almost drifted into the goal but flashed just wide.   Two minutes later Newell's free kick was saved well by Richardson in very difficult conditions for the keepers with the ball zipping off the pitch at a fair old pace.   To be honest it wasn't the greatest half of football and the half time score was 0-0.   As the rain continued to fall Manor began the second half well and were ahead on 48 minutes.   Sisson's ball across the six yard box was tapped in by midfielder Tom Newell for his first goal for the club and gave manor a 1-0 advantage.   On 51 minutes and Manor made their first change with Louis Hounvio replaced winger Waiwaiku.   On 58 minutes APSA's Kilron got past Alabaster and could only blast his effort wide of the goal.  Manor made a second change after this when Charlie Little replaced Robbie Lewis.  At this point the home side had much more possession and pressed the away side back time and time again but their shooting was less than impressive and didn't make Priddle make a noticeable save at all.   The defence held firm and Manor did have a couple of breaks themselves but nothing came of them sadly.   On 69 minutes a Danso run ended with the ball at Little's feet but he could only send his shot wide.  On 71 minutes sub Louis Hounvio almost made it 2-0 but produced a great save from APSA keeper Richardson.   APSA had a golden chance to equalise soon after when a break resulted in a two on one situation but a poor cross was eventually gathered by Priddle.   On 76 minutes Priddle had to save again from a header as the home side stamped up the pressure.   On 79 minutes Manor broke out again and ended with Louis Hounvio been given offside although it looked as though the last touch was off an APSA player.   APSA broke but another wayward effort went off target.   On 85 minutes Manor made there final change when Bright was replaced by Lane.   With three minutes  to go Manor made the points safe.  Mark Sisson stole a bouncing ball off the defender who then clattered into him to give away a stonewall penalty.  Tom Newell took it and doubled Manor's advantage to 2-0 and it was his second goal of the game too.   This was a very hard fought victory for Manor in testing conditions.