The Southchurch Arena was the setting for first of this seasons ESL Reserve Shield Semi-Finals as Southend Manor took on Great Wakering Rovers in what was billed as a potential cracker it being a local derby as well as a semi final.
The game started slowly with both teams looking to stake their presence on the match. On 10 minutes Manor made the first move. A corner was played out to Harrison Grant who took a touch and the smashed the ball past the keeper from a good 20 yards or so out for a great goal and a 1-0 lead for the hosts.
It should of been 2-0 on 18 minutes when Manor forward Ollie Thursby beat the offside trap but he could only lob the ball over the bar. Rovers immediately went down the other end but the eventual effort on goal was struck well wide.
On 24 minutes another good chance for the hosts when Alex Stephenson played a ball across the box into the path of Nick Henesy who sized up the opportunity but then completely missed his kick allowing Rovers to clear there lines. Then from this clearence Rovers found themselves through on goal but Manor keeper Alex Warren saved well.
A minute later it was 2-0 to Manor. A ball over the top found Rhys Fatt bearing down on goal and he duly knocked the ball past the advancing keeper to give Manor a commanding position in the game.
That commanding position was strenghtened further a minute later when a long ball into the Rovers box was headed past a stranded keeper by Alex Stephenson for 3-0. Manor were totally dominant at this stage and well worth their 3-0 advantage.
After this though Rovers did slowly carve a way back and on the half hour a nice move ended with a weak effort into Warren's arms and then on 39 minutes a through ball from the away side resulted in the forward rounding keeper Warren but the finish was tame and Manor defender Dan McCarthy managed to get back and clear the ball before it bobbled into the goal.
McCarthy was there again three minutes later to produce a great last ditch challenge to prevent a clear shot at Manor's goal. This was the last moment of goal mouth action in the half as Manor went in 3-0 up at the break.
The second period was only three minutes old when Rovers brought themselves back into the contest with a good finish from inside the box to make it 3-1. Three minutes later it was 3-2 when hesitation in the Manor backline allowed Rovers to lob Warren into the empty net and it really was game on now as Manor just couldn't get out of their half.
Rovers continued to pin Manor back in their final third and it was no surprise on the hour mark when they equalised with a truly wonderful strike from at least thirty yards out past the outstretched hand of Warren into the top corner. It really was an incredible comeback from the away side.
However just as it looked as though Manor would crumble completely they picked themselves up and duly re took the lead on 62 minutes when a great ball across the box from Martin Fiander was tapped home by Ollie Thursby for a 4-3 lead. It really was an incredible 17 minutes of football.
After this is calmed down somewhat but you just never knew which way it would go next. On 74 minutes Rovers had a golden chance to level once again and they found themselves in a great position in front of goal but the volley from ten yards out was weak and straight at keeper Warren.
Manor had a chance to seal the tie eight minutes from time when a corner from the left was run onto by Alex Stephenson but he got his header all wrong and ended up glancing it across the goal instead of into it. Ollie Thursby then had a chance near the end when he rounded the keeper but his effort was tamely hit and the defender got back to clear.
Into injury time and Rovers had one last chance when they were given a free kick outside the box but this came to nothing eventually and Manor held on for a 4-3 win and a place in Sunday's Reserve Shield final against either East Thurrock United or AFC Hornchurch at Takeley's Station Road ground.
No comments:
Post a Comment