Clapton netted late on to make sure the ‘Southchurch Park derby’ ended all square against Southend Manor in their Essex Senior League contest on the Essex Coast.
Clapton were officially the home team in this one, and their form leading into this contest was superb having won seven of their last nine in all competitions which had seen them go level on points with tenth placed West Essex and reach the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Quarter Final.
Visitors for the evening on their own ground, Manor came into this one off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Ilford, but had only lost two in seven in 2020, and were only five points off their opponents, so a win here would see them close to the top ten in a congested bottom half.
Manor began the better and sent an early long range effort just off target, but in the fourth minute they found an early breakthrough when Harry Rodgers ran onto a through ball before lofting a brilliant effort over the onrushing keeper and into the back of the net.
Manor continued to threaten and carved out another decent opening but after Ben Allen had cut inside, he saw his scuffed effort deflected on route to the keeper’s hands, before Clapton tried to respond but saw a looping header sail over the bar.
The Tons then attacked by dragged a poor effort wide, but it was Manor who were looking more dangerous, and they should have doubled their lead when after the Clapton keeper had saved, Rodgers somehow put the rebound against the post.
A ball into the Clapton box then saw it bounce up and then headed just over the far post by Manor, before Manor then attacked down the left through Allen, before he cut inside but saw his effort saved, then another long range effort went straight at the Tons stopper.
The Tons then launched at attack near the end of the half but allowed a defender to come and make a challenge after it looked like they had got in down the right. Clapton wanted a penalty, but this was never a foul and the referee played on correctly. It meant Manor went into the break a goal ahead although they would have probably felt their lead could have been more.
Half Time Clapton 0 Southend Manor 1
Manor began the second half in much the same fashion as the first, and were putting the Tons defence under immense pressure, but they could not find a second goal which would have certainly put them well in control of this one.
Clapton though gave their opponents warning when they had the ball in the net, but it was offside so no goal was given, and they should of then levelled when getting into the box unchallenged but sent a decent opening over the bar in what was their best chance by a mile up to that point.
Manor then should of made it two themselves, not for the first time, when after getting in down the right a ball across the box found Allen at the far post who could only guide his effort back across goal and into the keepers grateful arms, before they then fired a free-kick towards the near post but the Tons keeper got across to keep it out.
Clapton then sent a decent header at the Manor goal, but this was claimed by Manor keeper Josh Harrison, before a dangerous Tons attack saw them flagged offside for about the one millionth time, frustrating their bench no end.
Manor though then missed another wonderful chance to probably kill this one when after they broke the offside trap (although it looked offside to me) through Grant Francis, his ball across seemed destined to be tapped in, but the ball was miskicked somehow and the chance went, and the Clapton broke but the ball across the box had too much pace on it and flew away from danger.
The hosts then saw a header well blocked before Clapton then broke again and were asking for a penalty, which again fell on deaf ears, and then Manor missed an unbelievable chance to seal the points when after a ball forward saw the keeper totally miskick his clearance, the loose ball fell to Allen who lobbed it back over the stranded keeper but see the ball bounce inside the six yard box and up onto the bar and cleared. It was an incredible passage of play and Manor could not believe it had stayed out!!!
And sure enough Manor paid for these misses when Clapton sent in a free kick from the left and this was headed brilliantly over Harrison and into the far corner, and with four minutes of the ninety remaining we were all square.
Manor tried their hardest to try and find a winner and got in down the right but saw the effort blocked, before more late Manor pressure saw the Tons defending for their lives, and then they broke dangerously themselves but saw Harrison dive to claim the ball across goal.
The Tons then went for a winner themselves and saw an effort diverted at goal but straight at Harrison, before another effort was claimed by the keeper, and soon after the whistle went to end this contest and see the points shared although Clapton would have no doubt been happier with the point.
It means Clapton draw level with tenth placed West Essex once again, whilst Manor do climb a place to 15th and are five points off the top ten, although they will feel they should of won this one so will see it as two points dropped for sure.
Full Time Clapton 1 Southend Manor 1
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