Essex Senior League, Tuesday January 18th
Tuesday night saw me venture over to Southchurch Park, however mother nature ended up winning the contest as the Essex Senior League local derby match between Southend Manor and White Ensign was abandoned with less than three minutes on the clock due to fog.
This game was already a rearranged fixture from a week ago on Saturday after the heavy rains of that afternoon saw the original contest postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and both sides were raring to go in what is a local derby with the sides both coming from Southend of course (Ensign of course play up the road at Manor's other rivals Great Wakering Rovers).
The hosts are now under ex-Hullbridge Sports assistant James Wakeling, and this was due to be his first home game, much like the original game was supposed to be, and he had a big job on his hands as he took over a side who were second bottom in the division and five points off 19th placed Sawbridgeworth Town, although in his only two games thus far, a 1-0 win over Benfleet in a friendly, and a 1-0 loss at Walthamstow in a cup game, there was much to be positive about headed into this one.
Ensign of course are recently under new management themselves after the departure of Brett Munyard and Co to Brightlingsea several weeks ago, as well as the loss of quite a few players to the same club too, however new bosses Jack Maleary and Carl Conway, who were current first team players when the old management left, have done a sterling job since taking over.
In the eight games they have taken charge in, their only losses were to National League South side Billericay Town in the Essex Senior Cup, and more recently a home loss to Hoddesdon Town, but they have netted four wins in that time too, netting seventeen times in those wins as well, and with the club sitting in seventh spot with forty two points from their twenty five games, they were in very good shape still.
This was going to be a hard game for Manor then, although with the new boss and management installed, and some new signings in along with some of the old squad, confidence was high in the hosts camp non the less, and myself, along with a few others, were looking forward to seeing how the new look Manor would get on against a decent local opposition.
Sadly we were never to see this for now at least, literally!!! As with 2 minutes and 52 seconds on the referees watch, the game was stopped as the linesman could not see the other side of the pitch to give offsides, so it was decided to abandon the game, although after some frank discussions by the tunnel between officials and management, it was agreed to give it ten minutes to see if the fog cleared or at least eased a bit for visibility to improve, but sadly it did not so the game was officially abandoned.
Very frustrating for everyone concerned, and as referee Dr Daniel Baines said to me visibility during warm ups wasn't to bad, but it just got worse as it moved towards kick off time, and he did warn both managers that the game may not finish, but he wanted to give it every chance before calling it off, sadly he was in a no win situation and you cannot beat mother nature. (and when I got home after 9pm the fog still had not lifted, so the right decision was made). Pretty sure this is the shortest game of football I've ever seen, but it is not a record for the league I've been reliably informed!!!
The game has to be rearranged yet again then, hopefully it's third time lucky and hopefully James can finally manage at home for the first time when Manor welcome Woodford Town to Southchurch Park at the weekend, whereas for Ensign they travel to take on Saffron Walden Town at the weekend, which will be a very tough assignment, as will Manors no doubt. Let's hope the weather plays ball!!!
Southend Manor A-A White Ensign (Match abandoned after three minutes due to fog)
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