Southend Manor 1 Stansted 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 30th July

I was over at Southchurch Park as the Essex Senior League got underway this weekend, and saw Southend Manor and Stansted play out a very hard fought draw in very warm and muggy conditions on the Essex Coast.

Both these sides harboured hopes of having a very good season indeed, Manor had made ten signings over the summer and had a decent pre season showing, whereas The Airportmen had also seen a few changes of personal in their squad and had also had a decent showing leading up to this season beginning, although pre season doesn't count for much if you have a poor start to the campaign.

The visitors could and should have netted inside the opening minute but saw an effort scrambled away somehow, before they saw another effort cleared off the line and a shot somehow slotted wide of the post, Manor's only real effort of note saw a long range effort fly inches wide from outside the box, but the hosts were lucky to be level as they approached the latter part of the first half.  

And with six minutes of the half remaining the home side edged themselves in front, which was totally undeserved on balance of how the half had gone, when Jon Evans nodded home a cross from the left, although that lead was short lived as just three minutes later a lovely ball from Ashaan Siddik released Jack Mitchell who lofted a lovely effort over a stranded Luca Collins, and it meant the sides went into the break all square.

Manor boss James Wakeling had a right go at his players in the dressing room at the break and it seemed to have the desired affect as they looked much more of a threat second period, and almost took the lead when Ben Allen's superb effort was brilliantly saved by Louis Hawes, but it was a much tighter second period overall and Manor keeper Collins had to make a smart save late on to make sure his side came away with something.

So a point a piece in the end, Stansted will be unhappy they didn't take all three points after their first half showing, but Manor would have been pleased the way they came back in the second period an at times dug in and stayed in the game, especially first half, and could easily have won it in the second period, but both teams at least are off and running now ahead of important FA Cup ties next weekend.

Full time Southend Manor 1 Stansted 1