Essex Senior League Round Up (15th/16th September 2020)

(action from Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2 on Tuesday night at Crofters) 

Tuesday September 15

Cockfosters 8 Clapton 1 (Ryan Wade netted a first half hat-trick as Cockfosters thrashed Clapton at Chalk Lane to make it three wins from three and top the table on goal difference.  Marcus Crowther put the home side ahead on 15 minutes before Wade grabbed his first to double his sides advantage and then it was three on 21 minutes when Reece Mosanya drilled home.  A Price Madu cross was converted by Wade for 4-0 at just 27 minutes, and although The Tons pulled one back through Daniel Emolvon six minutes before the break, Wade completed his hat-trick a minute before half time from the penalty spot to send the hosts in the dressing room 5-1 to the good.  Fosters then added a sixth through Kaidyn Michael with twenty minutes left, bursting through to fire home, and then Ned Clarke added a couple in the final few minutes to complete a brilliant evening for the home side)

 

Hoddesdon Town 1 West Essex 3 (West Essex continued their fine start to the season with another impressive away win, this time at Lowfield against Hoddesdon Town, to make it seven points from nine in the league so far.  The visitors took the lead a minute before the break when a shot from Brad Russell was parried by Liam Nugent and Michael Mignot was on hand to poke home, and they doubled that lead when Callum Bloss fired home a free kick.  Hoddy managed to pull one back with fifteen minutes remaining when a handball inside the box gave the home side a spot kick which Jack Gibbs converted, but West sealed the points with six to go after a mix up between Ollie Sharman and Nugent ended up with the former heading beyond his keeper who had come out and see the ball roll into the net)

 

Redbridge 2 Sporting Bengal United 3 (The Motormen snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after letting a two-goal lead slip to lose to two injury time strikes against Sporting Bengal United at Oakside.  The hosts lead 1-0 at the break after James Barlow’s powerful header and they looked sure to be heading to their first win of the season when substitute Amoafu, who had only just come on, doubled their lead after tapping home.  Sporting gave themselves a lifeline when Ramos struck home a wonderful free-kick, but going into stoppage time Redbridge still led, that was until the 91^st minute when a needless foul inside the box saw Ramos convert from the spot to draw Sporting level, and then deeper into stoppage time the visitors won it incredibly when a terrible mistake put substitute Viera through and his square ball was nodded home by Ramos for his hat-trick and sealed a dramatic comeback from the Mile End side)

 

Saffron Walden Town 5 St Margaretsbury 0 (Craig Calver netted a hat-trick as Walden grabbed their first win of the season as they thrashed St Margaretsbury at Catons Lane.  Calver netted twice inside the opening twenty minutes before adding another early in the second period after good work from Gavin Cockman had set him up.  Alfie Hilton then made it four in the 90^th minute and then the best was saved till last when Dimitri Hatzimouratis netted a thunderbolt three minutes into added on time and seal a big win for the hosts)

 

Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2 (The Robins have almost equalled their points tally from last season already after making it seven from nine following an entertaining win over Woodford Town at Crofters.  Sawbo grabbed an early lead when Cabham Clarke sent a looping header over the keeper but Woodford responded ten minutes later when Jeremiah Lunera volleyed home unmarked at the far post.  Then came a moment of brilliance from Kieran Amos, sending a long range effort from the left hand touchline over the keeper into the far corner to restore the hosts lead before Conor Clarke emphatically converted a spot kick to send the hosts into the break in command with a two goal cushion.  Woodford though were handed a route back into the contest early in the second period when a poor header back allowed Marcin Painter to nip in and slot home and despite the visitors having Hary Barrett and Jack Newbury-Neme sent off they still looked the likelier to level, but the hosts hung on to record a second win in three leaving Woodford bottom with no points from three games)

 

Takeley 1 Hashtag United 3 (Hashtag United netted two late goals as they came from behind at the break to defeat Takeley at Station Road to maintain their 100% start to their campaign.  The hosts led at the break thanks to a 29^th minute goal from Tom Jelliman, tapping home after a George Wappett corner had been poorly dealt with by Tim Pitman, but in the 64^th minute Hashtag levelled from the spot through who else but George Smith after Joshua Osude had been fouled inside the box.  And in the 89^th minute the visitors went ahead when Smith turned provider to play a great ball into Osude who burst through and rounded Corderoy to slot home, and they sealed the points deep into stoppage time after Osude broke through to slot home, and it means the hosts are still yet to win this season)

 

Walthamstow 2 Southend Manor 3 (Manor made it two wins in a row after their opening day debacle to stun Walthamstow at Wadham Lodge and in turn inflict Stow’s second straight defeat at home in the process.  Manor grabbed the lead after fifteen minutes through Luka Frankis but Stow levelled five minutes before half time after Clements headed home a Connor Scully cross to see the sides go into the break all square.  Stow then took the lead three minutes after the break when a superb cross from Crowley found James Hammond who headed home, but Manor showed immense character to fight back in this one and levelled just before the hour mark after Charlie Mann had missed a cross and saw the ball tapped home by Frankis before winning it with twenty five minutes remaining after Darnell Bromfield dispatched a penalty kick and hand Manor a terrific three points)

 

Wednesday September 16

Enfield 0 Stansted 1 (The Airportmen made it seven points from a possible nine after a narrow win at Woodside Park against Enfield.  The only goal of the game came midway through the first half when a Billy Coyne free kick was spilt by keeper Jack Wilmot, allowing Ryan Ramsay to tap home the loose ball, and it saw the visitors to a second win in three and means Enfield are still without a win after three league games)

Latest League table below:-

Benfleet 1 Frenford 0

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South, Wednesday 16th September 2020 

Wednesday evening saw me over on the island of Canvey for my first tase of Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South this season as Benfleet welcomed Frenford to Park Lane.

The hosts were playing their second league game of the season, they had drawn their first 2-2 at Spa Road against Hackney Wick, and they had also almost caused a big surprise in the FA Cup at Brantham Athletic, eventually losing out on penalties in that one in what was a fantastic effort against a decent Thurlow Nunn Premier outfit.

Frenford came into this one having won both their league games so far against Holland and Harwich & Parkeston, and both also saw them collect clean sheets so they could not have started the season any better, so they were looking to make it three on the spin here.

The opening exchanges saw Fleet get in down the right thanks to good work from Sam Dulieu, whilst the visitors saw a long range effort well tipped round the post by home keeper Flo Gislette, but chances/openings were at a premium in the opening half, although when a chance did come along it was a very good one.

One of these saw the hosts thump an effort against the woodwork, whilst down the other end Gislette had to be alert to make a smart stop to prevent the visitors from edging ahead, and all this added up to a goalless opening half with neither side really getting the upper hand.

Half Time Benfleet 0 Frenford 0

Frenford started the second half the better and saw a near post effort tipped wide by Gislette, and later on in the half they had a brilliant chance to go ahead when they got in down the left, but the effort was dragged wide of the far post and Benfleet could breathe a sigh of relief.

It was a half that saw quite a few niggly injuries which saw the game broken up and very stop start, it wasn’t a classic that was for sure and both sides were giving the ball away quite a bit too, it was all a bit of a struggle out there!!!

Benfleet themselves had hardly threatened the visitors at all in the final third in this half, but after Frenford saw an injury to one of their full backs, they were down to ten men for the final ten or so minutes after they had used all three substitutes, and this saw the hosts begin to threaten.

They struck a decent opening straight at the keeper with about six minutes remaining, but with two minutes of normal time left they grabbed what proved to be the winner as a free kick from the right was flicked on into the six yard box and it ended with centre half Cameron Harris putting the ball in from close range.

It was the first goal Frenford had shipped this season and it was a poor one to concede too, very scrappy and in keeping with the contest that had gone before it.  Things were to get worse for the visitors in stoppage time too as their skipper Lewis Bartrip had a moment of madness and was given a straight red after an off the ball incident, meaning he will now miss three games.

Benfleet saw out the remaining minutes to record their first win of the season, it wasn’t pretty that is for sure but they won’t mind that at all, this was certainly a well earned one and it’s a clean sheet to boot too.  For Frenford it was a disappointing evening, they probably didn’t deserve to lose but they did, and they will have to regroup and go again in the Vase at the weekend.

Full Time Benfleet 1 Frenford 0

Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 15th September 2020

My first Essex Senior League outing for the 20/21 season saw me over at Crofters for a match up between Sawbridgeworth Town and Woodford Town on a sultry evening on the Essex/Herts border.

Now the hosts start to this season couldn’t be any more different than last, with one win and a draw in their two games thus far, and of course that superb FA Cup win over Romford as well.  They were up against a side in Woodford who last season smashed eight past them here on the opening day, but neither side resemble those ones of a year ago and this Woodford side had begun the league campaign with two losses, so they wanted to try and put the first points on the board here.

The visitors of course had got the competitive season underway with their FA Cup win over London Colney in what was the first time the competition had ended and started in the same month, it certainly has been a weird one hasn’t it!!!

Anyway back to the contest this evening, well after just six minutes the hosts got their noses in front as a cross from the right saw Cabham Clarke send a looping header over keeper Rasmus Kriisa, who had come off his line and was left stranded, and find the net to send the Ultras behind that goal wild.

Woodford though responded ten minutes later as a cross from the right found Jeremiah Lunera totally unmarked at the far post and he duly volleyed past Michael Bett in the hosts goal and the game was all square again.  It was some start and the tempo of the game was very high.

The visitors were only level for three minutes though as a moment of brilliance saw Sawbo retake the lead.  Kieran Amos, made famous for shedding several stone in lockdown to restart his football career, decided to try his luck from miles out from the left-hand side and sent a wonderful effort over keeper Kriisa into the far corner.  Now I thought it was a cross that caught the keeper out, but Kieran has told me he definitely meant it so who am I to argue!!!  It was a wonderful goal and you’ll struggle to see a better one this season.

This really galvanised the hosts who dominated the first period thereafter and after striking the bar they did add a third when after a penalty was awarded for a push inside the box, Conor Clarke stepped up to emphatically convert the spot kick, and The Robins went into the break in command with a two goal cushion.

Half Time Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 1

No doubt Dee Safer and his boys would have had stern words in the dressing room at the break, they were second best in this contest so far for sure, but seven minutes after the restart they brought themselves right back into the contest, with some help from the hosts, as a poor header back was seized upon by Marcin Painter who rounded Bett to slot home, and it was very much game on.

This got Woodford’s tails up and they were now the ones looking likely to find a leveller, although they made their task harder when Hary Barrett was shown a second yellow just past the hour mark for a body check, and then with eighteen minutes left were reduced to nine men after Jack Newbury-Neme’s challenge on the far side was deemed a straight red by the referee.

Despite having nine men though, Woodford continued to threaten a leveller, and so nearly grabbed one with less then five to go as after brilliant play from Lunera, his effort struck the bar before the desperate hosts managed to scramble the ball clear.  It had been a decent comeback in the second period from the visitors and they were on the cusp of grabbing what seemed an unlikely point at the break.

But, Sawbo did manage to hold on and make it seven points from a possible nine, which is one point less than they managed in the entire league campaign last season before it was curtailed, so shows you the progress already made from then.  For Woodford it is now three defeats from three and are now the only side without a point this season.  Their second half showing will give them some positives going forward though.  Very enjoyable game it was and well done to the hosts!!!

Full Time Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2

 

Essex Senior League Round Up (7th/8th/9th September 2020)

(Action from Hashtag United 3 Hadley 2 on Monday, thanks to Lockie Photo (@Lockie_Photo) for the picture)

Monday September 7

Hashtag United 3 Hadley 2 (Hashtag made it two wins from two after coming from behind to defeat Hadley at The Len Salmon Stadium.  The hosts took the lead after sixteen minutes when Ellis Devereux, son of boss Jay of course, saw a twenty five yard free kick end up in the top corner to give the hosts the lead, but right on half time Hadley levelled as Solomon Ofori, who else, slotted home from close range after a corner was not dealt with by the home side.  Hadley then grabbed the lead eight minutes into the second period when Luke Jupp set up Shaz Anwar whose effort rebounded back to Jupp who slotted home, however, in the 63^rd minute Hashtag levelled when Harry Honesty sent a cross into the box for Joe Gregory, who had replaced the injured George Smith, to leap highest to head home.  And with seven minutes remaining Hashtag netted the winner when a Josh Osude cross went in off a visiting player and handed the hosts a big three points)

Tuesday September 8

Cockfosters 1 Enfield 0 (Reece Mosanya’s late winner saw Cockfosters make it two wins from two after it was enough to defeat Enfield at Chalk Lane.  The game was goalless until Mosanya’s deflected effort broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining and sees them second behind Hashtag United on goal difference)

 

Saffron Walden Town 1 West Essex 2 (West netted twice in the final eleven minutes as they came from behind to take a brilliant win at Catons Lane against Saffron Walden.  Walden took a ninth minute lead when after the visitors had lost the ball cheaply, Craig Calver sent Lewis Francis in on goal and he made no mistake by tucking home, but with eleven minutes remaining the visitors levelled when Callum Bloss played a lovely ball through to Cameron Gray who slotted home.  And five minutes later West netted the winner as after Nick Walk was brought down inside the box, Bloss converted the spot kick and hand the visitors superb three points)

 

Sawbridgeworth Town 1 Clapton 1 (The points were shared at Crofters as Sawbridgeworth Town and Clapton shared a 1-1 draw.  Abdul Shobowale put the Tons ahead after just five minutes but Skeet levelled for the hosts to make sure the game ended all square)

 

Southend Manor 2 Woodford Town 1 (Manor bounced back from their opening day defeat to record their first win of the new campaign after coming from behind to beat Woodford Town at Southchurch Park.  Woodford edged ahead on the half hour mark when Zain Moreea’s centre found Rigert Rama who slotted home, but Manor levelled three minutes before the break after Matthew Keiller’s header found the net.  And with five minutes remaining Manor grabbed a winner as a Ben Allen rocket from twenty-five yards burst the net and handed the hosts a much-needed tonic after their disappointing opening day)

 

Takeley 3 Hoddesdon Town 4 (Cyrus Babaie betted a second half hat-trick as Hoddy came from behind to win a topsy-turvy affair at Station Road against Takeley.  Jack Gibbs put the visitors ahead but Glenn O’Hanlon then headed home an equaliser before Andre Humphreys netted a screamer to put the hosts ahead, however, Hoddy levelled when Babaie netted his first goal nine minutes into the second period.  Babaie then netted again four minutes later to put his side into the lead and then made it 4-2 to the visitors when completing his hat-trick ten minutes from time, and although Takleey did pull one back late on they could not deny the visitors all three points)

 

Walthamstow 1 Stansted 2 (The Airportmen came from behind to take all three points against Stow at Wadham Lodge.  Charncey Dash slotted home an early penalty after ex-Stansted striker Callum Ibe had been brought down inside the box, but the visitors levelled when miscommunication in defence allowed the visitors to poke home at the back post.  And Stansted won it when ball whipped in was headed past Mann and it gave the visitors a big win at one of the title favourites)

 

Wednesday September 9

Ilford 6 Redbridge 2 (The Foxes bounced back in style from their opening day loss after Juan Cardona netted a hat-trick as they hammered local rivals Redbridge at Cricklefield Stadium.  Yemi Adelani put the hosts ahead on seven minutes before Cardona doubled their lead with a brilliant free kick in the 17^th minute, and it was 3-0 to the hosts just a minute later as Cardona grabbed another.  Tom Harvey did pull one back for the Motormen from the spot two minutes before the break but with twenty to go Cardona completed his treble to increase Ilford’s lead once again, before Adelani grabbed his second two minutes later to make it five.  Redbridge were then reduced to ten men before Fredie Agyemang made it six after just coming on, and although Bailly Hossack put through his own net late on to give Redbridge a second, Ilford were home and hosed by then and picked up a superb three points)

 

Sporting Bengal United 0 St Margaretsbury 0 (There were no goals at Mile End as Sporting Bengal and St Mags drew a blank in a goalless draw meaning both sides picked up a point, meaning the visitors have drawn their opening two encounters 0-0 whilst it is a first point of the season for the home side)

Here is the latest table:-

Essex Senior League Round Up (4th/5th September 2020)

(Action from Stansted 2 Clapton 2 at Hargrave Park, many thanks to Matt North (@MattNorth) for the photo)

Friday September 4

West Essex 1 Takeley 1 (The opening game of the ESL season finished all square, Reece Barrett’s delicate finish three minutes before the break gave Takeley the lead, but Symeon Taylor cut in from the left before bending one into the top corner just before the hour mark to gain a point for the home side)

 

Saturday September 5

Cockfosters 3 Hoddesdon Town 1 (Fosters got their league campaign off to a winning start after victory over Hoddesdon Town at Chalk Lane.  The hosts went in front on the quarter hour mark after Reuben Campbell turned home a cross before doubling their lead when Ryan Wade curled home a free-kick to see his side grab a two-goal lead in the opening twenty five minutes. Hoddy pulled one back with seven minutes of the first half remaining after Harrison Rookard headed home, but nine minutes into the second half Fosters increased the lead to two again after a pass from Wade allowed Carl Mullins to score and earn the home side all three points)

 

Enfield 0 St Margeretsbury 0 (Neither side could break the deadlock at Woodside Park as Enfield and St Margaretsbury drew a blank in their opening league game of the season meaning they pick up a point each)

 

Hadley 4 Woodford Town 0 (Hadley got their league campaign off to a great start after defeating Woodford Town 4-0 at Brickfield Lane.  The hosts got themselves ahead when good work from Solomon Ofori set up Luke Alfano to smash home, and then moments later Ofori himself doubled the hosts lead after controlling a long ball and smashing it home.  And the hosts made it three just before the hour mark when Ofori grabbed his second by lobbing Scannell, before they added a late fourth to cap a fine opening day as Jordan Edwards netted)

 

Hashtag United 4 Ilford 0 (Hashtag United netted four as they defeated Ilford in their opening league fixture of the season.  The hosts edged in front in the 25^th minute when George Smooth converted from the spot after Jesse Waller Lassen had been brought down inside the box, and they doubled their lead after Toby Aromolaran bent a twenty five yard effort into the top corner ten minutes into the second half.  And with six minutes to go Hashtag made it three when a Harry Honesty cross was deflected into the path of Lee Hursit who made no mistake before the hosts added another before the end after Ross Gleed pounced following a long range effort from Kris Newby had come off a couple of players into the path of the attacker and seal a good opening day win)

 

Redbridge 2 Saffron Walden Town 2 (Tom Pullen came off the bench to net a late late leveller and salvage a point for Walden in their opening day encounter at Oakside against Redbridge.  The hosts had the chance to take the lead on the half hour mark but saw Tom Harvey miss from the spot, but seven minutes into the second period they did grab the lead thanks to James Barlow.  Walden though responded after Lewis Francis brought them level on the hour mark, but The Motormen retook the lead with eight minutes remaining when Barlow netted again.  Walden were not to be denied a point though as they levelled late on after Pullen, who had been brought on a minute into stoppage time, netted a 93^rd minute equaliser to deny the hosts all three points)

 

Southend Manor 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 5 (Kieran Amos netted a stunning hat-trick as Sawbo hit five at Southchurch Park against Southend Manor.  Manor took the lead from a corner which saw Luka Frankis head home in the 20^th minute before an absolute screamer from Amos brought the visitors level, and then Amos added another to give his side the lead at the break.  Frankis though grabbed his second of the game for the hosts when heading home a leveller five minutes into the second period, however sleepy defending allowed Sawbo to retake the lead through Cav Clarke ten minutes into the second period.  And with five minutes left Sawbo sealed victory after an irresistible effort from Horace before Amos completed his hat-trick with a brilliant free-kick and back up Tuesday’s win over Romford in the Cup with an excellent start to their league campaign here)

 

Sporting Bengal United 1 Walthamstow 3 (Walthamstow grabbed all three points after victory over Sporting Bengal United at Mile End.  Stow grabbed the lead early in the second period when after Charncey Dash had been pushed over in the box, he picked himself up to roll the penalty home, and Dash then turned provider to hook over to Clements who’s shot was too powerful for the keeper to double the visitors lead.  And the visitors added a late third when superb work from Aiken saw him help it to Osei who cut back to Jeremiah to tap home.  Sporting did deny Stow a clean sheet after a superb free kick right at the death from Joel Ramos, but it is three points to the visitors to start their league campaign on the right foot)

 

Stansted 2 Clapton 2 (Clapton fought back from two goals down at the break to earn a terrific point against Stansted at Hargrave Park.  Moses Carvalho headed home an early Billy Coyne’s set piece to give the hosts the lead, and three minutes before the break The Airportmen doubled their advantage when Coyne’s delivery was headed home by Nick Reynolds for his first goal for the Hargrave Park outfit.  Clapton though pulled one back three minutes into the second period when a ball played into Shawn Gittleson saw him lob Monk brilliantly, and incredibly the visitors levelled seven minutes later when after Gittleson was fouled inside the box, Ruben Kennedy dispatched the spot kick.  It meant both sides picked up a point on the opening weekend of the league campaign) 

 

 

Ilford 1 Halstead Town 3

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Wednesday 2nd September 2020 

It was more Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round action on Wednesday evening as I was over a Cricklefield Stadium for Essex Senior League Ilford Vs Halstead Town from the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South on a soggy evening in Seven Kings.

The Foxes play a step above their opponents in the pyramid and were expected to beat their Step Six opponents although I felt it would be a tight contest as Halstead are certainly a decent Step Six outfit so Ilford would find it difficult no doubt.

However the opening twenty minutes or so suggested otherwise as Ilford looked very useful going forward and hit the post after just fifteen seconds, and the visitors soon found themselves behind as on five minutes and after another desperate block from the visitors, Juan Cardona controlled the loose ball before firing home.

Halstead were finding the Ilford attack hard to deal with and it took them almost half an hour to really settle into the contest, and after they saw two headers go close, the game seemed to change on one moment when a ball forward saw the Ilford stopper come to clear his lines ahead of Halstead attacker Joe Jones.

But the Ilford keeper hesitated, and this allowed Jones to nip in and slot the ball into the empty net, and the visitors were level ten minutes before the break.

Ilford were now on the back foot and five minutes later conceded again as a cross to the back post saw the keeper turn his back on the cross thinking it was going out of play, but Chris Harris had other ideas and headed the ball towards goal and managed to squeeze it in between keeper and post.

Ilford had started well and dominated the opening quarter of the contest, but the side from North Essex had come back into the contest and truck two blows late on in the half to go in at the break ahead in this tie.

Half Time Ilford 1 Halstead Town 2

No doubt the team talk in the home dressing room at half time would have been something along the lines of keep it tight lads and we well no doubt get back into this tie and maybe even win it, but don’t concede early in the half.

Well, barely a minute into the half Halstead added a third as the hosts team talk no doubt went out of the window as a ball in from the left saw Harris send a lovely looping header over the keeper into the far corner, and Halstead had netted three times in eleven minutes either side of the break, leaving The Foxes a mountain to climb.

Halstead could have made things even more comfortable had they not struck the post when it looked easier to score, but Ilford also could of made things interesting in the final few minutes when they went through but could only strike the woodwork themselves.

But apart from the opening quarter of the game when Ilford started quickly and looked dangerous, Halstead were the better side and looked fairly comfortable once they got ahead, and this was a marvellous victory for them against a side in a league above.  FA Cup magic most certainly had struck at Cricklefield Stadium.

Ilford will no doubt take positives from this, but three poor goals given away certainly were their undoing here, whilst for Halstead this will give them a lot of confidence going into their league campaign on Saturday. Halstead now travel to Leiston of the Southern Premier Central in the Preliminary Round on September 12^th looking to cause another cup upset no doubt.

Full Time Ilford 1 Halstead Town 3

Southend Manor 0 Ware 5

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Tuesday 1st September 2020 

First day of September yielded my first competitive viewing of the 20/21 season and it was over at my most local club across Southchurch Park as Southend Manor of the Essex Senior League took on Isthmian South Central side Ware in an Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round contest.

Manor were definitely the underdogs going into this one as their young squad were hosting a side packed full of experience at Isthmian League level so this would be a big test for Gary Pond’s side that was for sure, but this is the FA Cup so the magic can happen in this tournament.

And Manor’s biggest crowd for years of nearly 200 were in attendance to see if their local side could pull off an upset, with a healthy number also traveling down from Hertfordshire to give their side some support too.

The visitors struck first though after sixteen minutes when a cross from the right saw Leigh Rose glance a header across goal and into the far corner and give the Ware supporters behind the goal something to cheer as their side got their noses in front.

The visitors continued to have the better of the contest and were the side creating the opportunities, with the best one seeing an effort thump against the post, and although Manor battled gamely, they were limited to two long range efforts which failed to test the keeper, and it saw Ware go into the break with a one goal lead and looking fairly comfortable.

Half Time Southend Manor 0 Ware 1

Manor knew at 1-0 they were still in this contest and knew they had to keep it that way for as long as possible and maybe nick something at the other end, but barely two minutes into the second period they conceded when a loose ball fell to David Kendall at the back post and he fired home to double his sides lead.

It was the worst possible start to the second period for the hosts and the best one for the visitors who were now sensing more goals, although Manor did have their best chance after the second Ware goal when they saw a decent header well tipped over by the visiting keeper.

This turned out to be Manor’s best moment going forward though as Ware continued to be on the front foot against their inexperienced opponents, and just past the hour mark it was three when a flick on found Kendall who volleyed powerfully into the net from close range and this tie was most certainly done n dusted now.

You felt it was how many Ware wanted to get as they were totally overrunning the hosts, and they made it four with fifteen minutes remaining as a flick on from a ball in from the right found Louis Rose totally unmarked at the back post and he rammed home, and then just two minutes later a corner in from the left saw Albert Adu-Donyinah glance home a header into the far corner, pretty much a repeat of the first goal Rose had scored in the first period, albeit from the opposite side.

You did fear from Manor that it could be very very embarrassing, but Ware failed to net any more although had the chances too, especially when somehow volleying against the bar with the goal gaping in one chance, but it mattered not as the visitors cruised into the next round.

It was men against boys at times in this one at times, but this young Manor line up will certainly have learned much from this one, and whilst going out of the FA Cup in disappointing, hopefully they take what they have learned into the league which begins at the weekend.

For Ware it was a good professional performance, and they will certainly be very happy at getting into the next round of the competition, they were far to good for their opponents this evening and they now have a much tougher test in the Preliminary Round as they travel to Isthmian North side Canvey Island on the 12^th September. 

Full Time Southend Manor 0 Ware 5