Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Preliminary Round, Wednesday 22nd August 2018
Walthamstow survived a second half comeback from Southend Manor to edge through to the next round of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy after a penalty shoot out triumph at Southchurch Park.
It started very well for the visitors as they took the lead on seven minutes, largely thanks to a huge error from hosts keeper Catling, who lost the ball to Ramsay on the edge of the box before the visiting attacker rolled the ball into the empty net, and it was so nearly two seven minutes later but Da Silva saw his downward header saved by the leg of Catling.
But just moments later the visitors did increase their lead when Watkins took aim from distance and saw Catling get a hand to it but fail to stop it finding the net and Stow were threatening to run riot in this one.
Further chances for the visitors saw Da Silva glance a header over the bar whilst Owusu cut inside onto his left foot and struck an effort wide of the hosts goal, as the away side continued to dominate proceedings.
Manor's first attempt on target didn't arrive until six minutes from time when Fatt cut inside onto his right foot but his effort was straight at Clark and easy for the keeper, and four minutes before the break Catling almost gifted Stow another goal however the effort at goal was sliced off target and Manor survived.
Despite this let off the hosts were still in need of a big second half improvement if they were to get back into this contest as the visitors were comfortably ahead at the break.
Half Time Southend Manor 0 Walthamstow 2
Stow had the better of the early exchanges of the second period too and ten minutes into it should really have put the game to bed when a knock down found Da Silva right in front of goal but the attacker could only slice his effort wide of the post.
Manor responded with a chance of their own when substitute Burns saw an effort blocked, and then just before the hour mark the hosts got themselves back into the contest when Burns ran onto a brilliant pass and slotted beyond an oncoming Clark and the hosts suddenly had belief running through their veins.
Manor then brought on Little and he burst into the Stow area but saw his goal-bound cross-shot cleared by a now worried Stow back-line, and then Burns saw another effort go over the bar as Manor were now looking more and more likely to get a leveller.
Manor went oh so close to levelling with seventeen minutes remaining when Little got in on the right but saw his effort well saved by Clark, and then a few minutes later Fatt saw Clark make another good save to keep his side ahead in this one.
But with twelve minutes remaining Clark could do nothing about Slater's long range blockbuster that brought Manor level and the tie was indeed all square and you had to say more than deserved on the hosts second half showing.
With eight minutes left Stow player-boss Maxwell almost gifted Manor the lead when he slipped over, allowing the hosts in, but the final effort from Fatt was brilliantly tipped over by the superb Clark in the Stow goal, and then down the other end a scramble inside Manor's box saw the hosts eventually clear.
And then moments later Clark almost undone all his good work before when his clearance hit Manor striker Little but luckily for the keeper saw the ball bounce away to safety. It all meant the tie went to penalties as the game ended all square.
Both teams saw their first kicks saved, before the next two penalties for either side were successful, and then Manor hit the bar with their fourth, handing the advantage to Stow who managed to net their fourth. Manor had to net their final kick and did, leaving Peagram the chance to win it for Stow, which he did, and send his side into the next round.
Full Time Southend Manor 2 Walthamstow 2 (Walthamstow won 4-3 on penalties)
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