Shoebury Town 2 Manford Way 2 (Manford Way won 4-3 on penalties)

EOFL Denny King Memorial Cup Second Round, Saturday 26th February

Saturday saw me at my first football match for two weeks, and it saw me make my first ever trip to Cupid's Country Club to see Manford Way edge out Shoebury Town on penalty kicks to set up a Last Eight tie back at Cupid's against Wakering Sports.

Cupid's is a lovely venue and belongs to Wakering Sports who have several sides competing in the local leagues, and it is also Shoebury Towns home for this season too (although the club are looking to move to Ecko Sports and Social Club next season perhaps), it has four full size football pitches, two of which are suitable for Olympian Football.

The main pitch has a seated stand and is used by Wakering Sports who play in the EOFL Division One, whilst Shoebury use the second pitch alongside it, both these pitches are roped off with permanent wooden stakes holding them up, and dugouts too, and the facility also has smaller seven a side pitch too which also has a small stand, and then there is a lovely clubhouse too with all the amenities you could want, so very impressive indeed for the level they are at. There are some senior clubs who could learn from Cupid's that is for sure.

Today's match was an all Division Two affair in the Denny King Memorial Cup, this was a secontd round tie although 15 of the 17 sides who compete in this competition got byes to Round Two anyway (the only two sides who haven't are Southend Manor Development and Snaresbrook, who are to play their First Round tie in two weekends time, with the winners meeting Epping Town at home in Round Two, and the winners of today's game at Cupid's would return to play on the main pitch in the Quarters against Wakering Sports.

Could Shoebury set up an all Cupid's Quarter Final against their landlords? They certainly began the better and saw two golden chances pass them by early on, Garry Johnson somehow slotted wide after getting in on goal, and then centre half Boosey somehow headed wide from point blank range as the hosts had the better of the first period, although hosts keeper Sebastian Godwin-Turner had to make two decent stops down the other end when the visitors did mount some attacks themselves.

Ten minutes before the break though Shoebury did grab the lead when miscommunication between keeper and defender allowed the ball to go between the keepers legs, and allow Steven Valente to ghost in behind and have an empty goal to slot into and hand the hosts a deserved lead.

However, this lead was only to last five minutes as Manford Way got themselves back on level terms with a fortuitous goal, Samuel Oramadike cut inside onto his right foot and fired an effort at the near post, keeper Godwin-Turner managed to tip it onto the inside of the post, but it came back and hit the keeper before going back onto the inside of the post and into the net for an own goal, leaving the hosts frustrated.

Shoebury were to get their noses back in front in first half stoppage time though as more calamitous defending from the visitors saw them give the ball away inside the own box and see Kyle McAlindon brought down for a spot kick, and although Johnson's penalty wasn't the best, the visiting keeper could not keep it out and the hosts had the half time lead.

Shoebury's levels dropped off somewhat in the second period and allowed Manford Way to get more of a foothold in the tie, and they were given an advantage with just under twenty minutes to go when Johnson was adjudged to be offside even though he had looked to have made a run from inside his own half to go clear on goal, and his frustrations saw referee Phillip Clarke send him to the sin bin for ten minutes, meaning the hosts would have to dig deep to keep the visitors out.

Despite some pressure from Manford Way the hosts held firm and were looking dangerous on the counter, but it looked as if Shoebury would hold out and make it through to the next round, but, a minute into stoppage time the visitors found a leveller to take the tie to penalties when Fuad Ibrahim managed to squeeze an effort beyond Godwin-Turner at his near post.

It had been a decent cup tie, and now it would be decided on spot kicks, the first six were all dispatched, and then the hosts saw a poor kick saved by the legs of the keeper, and after Manford netted their fourth it meant Shoebury had to net theirs to keep the shootout going, but they struck the bar and it meant Manford Way progressed into the Final Eight. Well played to both teams though who certainly entertained the small crowd at Cupid's.

Full time Shoebury Town 2 Manford Way 2 (Manford Way won 4-3 on penalties)

Before I go, let's see how the Denny King Memorial Cup stands after today's games:-

First Round

Southend Manor Development Vs Snaresbrook (Saturday March 12th)

Second Round

Southend Manor Development/Snaresbrook Vs Epping Town

AS Rawreth 3-0 Leytonstone United

Old Chelmsfordians Vs Wakebury (Saturday March 5th)

Old Barkabbeyans 2-4 Beacon Hill Rovers

Pitsea Athletic 2-6 Runwell Sports

Rochford Town 1-3 Collier Row

Wakering Sports 1-1 Hullbridge Sports Reserves (Wakering Sports won 5-4 on penalties)

Shoebury Town 2-2 Manford Way (Manford Way won 4-3 on penalties)

 

Quarter Finals

Southend Manor Development/Snaresbrook/Epping Town Vs AS Rawreth

Old Chelmsfordians/Wakebury Vs Beacon Hill Rovers

Runwell Sports Vs Collier Row

Wakering Sports Vs Manford Way

The Quarter Final ties should be finalised by the end of March once the sole first round tie and the two second round ties are completed over the next couple of weekends or so I'd suspect. Expect Snaresbrook to defeat Manor's Development side as they are three Divisions above meaning they would then take on fellow Division One foes Epping Town.

Going on league positions Epping Town may edge that game, so would hosts Division Two strugglers AS Rawreth for a place in the final four, whilst the other Second Round tie, which is played next weekend, is between mid table Division One side Old Chelmsfordians and third placed Division Two Wakebury, that is a hard one to call although the visitors would certainly fancy it that is for sure.

If I was a betting man I'd say Wakebury may just edge it, meaning they would be at home to Division One side Beacon Hill Rovers, who are worse off than OS, so they would fancy a last four berth if they can get through next weekends tie. And of the other two Quarter Final ties, expecting both Division One sides Runwell Sports and Wakebury Sports to progress as they are both at home to lower league opponents, but of course this means nothing as football is not played on paper.

Anyway that's all for now, the next few weekends will show if I know anything or not.....