Peter Dudley reporting from the Essex Senior League Reserve Shield Final at Takeley's Station Road. East Thurrock United and Southend Manor were the two contesting finalists this afternoon. Both teams had taken three points off each other in the league this season so a tight affair was predicted.
On 3 minutes Thurrock had the first sight of goal when a free header at the back post was headed well wide of the Manor goal. This was probably the best sight of goal any side had in the first half hour. Manor were getting some good balls into the box but sadly no one could get on the end of them as Thurrock held firm.
A lot of the action was happening in the middle of the park where both teams battled to try and get a nudge on one another. On 28 minutes Thurrock forward Ngandu shrugged off full back Lane to get in on goal but his effort was well saved by the legs of Warren.
On 36 minutes a long range effort went way over Manor's goal as neither keeper had much to do as both teams struggled to really get any noteworthy efforts on goal. On 41 minutes a good chance for Thurrock as a free kick into the box was glanced just wide of the Manor goal with keeper Warren caught up in the mele of bodies trying to win the ball.
As the half time whistle sounded both teams left the field both probably feeling they could play better than they had been and the 0-0 scoreline suggested that the forward lines would have to be better n the second half.
Fifthteen seconds into the second half that all changed when Thurrock took the lead. A ball forward found Ngandu who got past his marker but then went to shoot and lost his balance so you thought the chance had gone, but the defenders also missed clearing the ball allowing Jason Ngandu a second bite of the cherry and he made no mistake by sliding the ball under keeper Warren for a 1-0 lead.
Manor struggled to get any kind of foot on the ball for the next few minutes as an understandly boyed up Thurrock team were galvanised by the goal. Manor did have a brief shout for a penalty on 56 minutes when Dube went down in the box but the officials saw no foul play and played on.
There was almnost a comical moment in the Manor box on 64 minutes when both Stephenson and McCarthy miskicked their clearences but luckerly for them keeper Warren was on hand to gather the loose ball.
Six minutes later Nick Henesy, Manor's midfield captain, flicked a corner on at the near post but sadly for Manor it drifted harmlessly wide of Thurrock's goal. Then a minute later it should of been 2-0. Nagndu ran onto a threw ball and Warren half came out and Ngandu poked the ball past him towards the goal and it looked for all money it was going to go in but somehow centre back McCarthy got back to just about clear the ball off the goal line to deny Thurrock's second goal. It was a wonderful piece of defending.
Two minutes later and Rhys Fatt had Manor's first effort on target when he cut inside and let fly with a shot but it was weak and easily saved by Holiday. Then play switched down the other end and Warren had to get down smartly to save an effort across goal.
On 78 minutes Rhys Fatt got onto a ball over the top but as he tried to head the ball over the advancing keeper Hoilday a nudge from the defender meant he didn't properly connect with the ball and the chance went a begging. Manor were now getting more balls into the box and a deflected shot on 80 minutes almost fell to Fatt but the keeper managed to come and smother the ball before Fatt could get a foot on it. Thurrock then broke down the other end of the field and were shouting loudly for a foul on the edge of the box but this was waved away but the referee.
On 84 minutes a stinging shot from the angle was saved by Manor keeper Warren and then two minutes later produced his best save of the game by tipping over to deny goalscorer Ngandu after his overhead kick was heading for the roof of the net.
On 87 minutes Fiander received the ball about 30 yards out but his longe range shot went way over the Thurrock goal. Manor were trying to get some sort of effort on goal but Thurrock's defence held firm once again as Manor failed to break them down.
Three minutes into the five additional minutes and Thurrock substitute Maskell, once of Manor's youth set up, hit a snap shot which was well saved by Warren. But ultimately that one lapse of concentration at the start of the second half cost Manor as that proved to be the only goal of the game as the referee brought an end to proceedings. Thurrock though were delighted to win the trophy as you can imagine and they probably deserved it on balance of play and chances.
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