Essex Senior League, Tuesday 18th April
This week was the week the Essex Senior League title was to be decided, Redbridge began the week five points behind The Es and knowing if they could win against Athletic Newham on Monday and then beat Enfield at home on Thursday evening then they could end the week in pole position for the title showdown at the weekend.
This solely relied on if Enfield, who had Manor away in this contest I was at and then Ensign at home at the weekend, slipping up against one of those and against Redbridge if they were to be pipped to the title, although many felt the Es would probably win both these games and claim the title, although stranger things have happened in football as we all know, pressure does funny things.
As it turned out Redbridge were beaten 2-0 at The Terry Mac by Athletic Newham, meaning if Enfield could win at bottom side and already relegated Manor they would seal the title, and as it turned out, they did it in style.
Manor, who had nothing to lose and also hosted Redbridge on the final regular weekend, began ok in the first few minutes, but then disaster as a bouncing ball on the edge of the box saw keeper Bradley Davidson try and control with his chest but it bounced to high and past him, allowing Luke Hirst to have the simple chance of getting him behind him and firing the ball into the empty net, whoops.
The hosts continued to have a decent opening to the game despite this, but once the visitors doubled their lead after seventeen minutes when a cross found Tom Richardson totally unmarked to scuff a finish into the bottom corner, it was one way traffic.
Enfield's third came in twenty-six minutes when Samrai Gebrai glanced home a header into the far corner, and shortly after the hosts task wasn't made any easier for ten minutes when defender Leon Lewis was sin binned for something he said to the referee, and just before the half hour mark Enfield made it four as Hirst broke down the left and squared to Solomon Ofori who belted a finish past Davidson, and you feared it could get very embarrassing for the hosts at this point.
Matters were then made worse three minutes before the break for Manor when Lewis, back on after his sin bin, wiped out Gebrai down the left, meaning he received a second yellow (yes he had been booked prior to his sin bin) and was sent off meaning Manor were now down to ten men again, although this time permanently, and it is the first time I have seen someone booked twice and sin binned in one game, let alone in 42 minutes of play.
Manor did manage to get to half time without anymore damage, but only five minutes after the break a fifth goal arrived for the champions elect after Hirst grabbed his second, cutting inside and firing into the bottom corner, and midway through the second period Gavin Cockman got himself on the scoresheet when nodding home from close range, it really was a question of how many Es would get now.
Three minutes later a seventh arrived when Hirst completed his hat-trick when he got clear of the home defence before producing a lovely finish into the corner of the net, and then with just under fifteen minutes to go Cockman was felled inside the box and saw Louis Johnson step up to convert the penalty for number eight, and double figures were now a real possibility.
This didn't materialize though but the final time whistle signalled wild celebrations amongst the visiting players, management and fans as they had sealed the title and promotion to Step Four, well done to them, they have been superb all season and deserve the title at the end of the day, what a way to seal it too!!! They can now go into the last two games and a relaxed frame of mind, wouldn't it be ironic if Redbridge grabbed at least a point on Thursday against the champions to seal second spot and give themselves a crack at joining Es at the next level.
Full time Southend Manor 0 Enfield 8
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