The Manor kicked off their season with a sensational win against last seasons league champions Concord Rangers. The Manor started brightly and were in no mood to repeat the performances of last season against the talented ESL Champions.

Manor Celebrate the Opening Goal

Eton Manor Manager Kirk Whitelock using his trusted 3-5-2 formation saw his Manor team dominate the first 15 minutes. Grant Smith back from England LD duty showed his class taking on the Concord defenders down the left and hitting the side netting, you could sense that this was not going to be easy for Concord as they tried to counter attack. The Manor defence now bonding with Nick Mitchell playing a sweeper role looked solid and blended well with Manor favourite Chris Barrett held off Concord's strikers.

Concord Rangers on the counter attack

15 minutes into the game Asa Pamplin using his experience in hs's holding role played a neat ball to Grant Smith playing wide on the left swept the ball into the path of Delroy Forde who outpaced the defender to slot the ball past the approaching Keeper 0-1 to the Manor. Concord playing some neat football tried hard to get back into the game and lost the ball in the Manor half, Lee Whitelock collecting the ball and sent a beautifully timed pass into the path of Glenn Connolly down the right, Connolly rounding two defenders sliced the ball into the waiting path of Pamplin who struck the ball perfectly only to be foiled by the outstretched Lewis Green Concord Keeper.
30 minutes on the clock Pamplin and Forde continued to create havoc in the Concord half, Forde knocking on a header into the path of Pamplin just shooting wide of the post. Ian Wistell Concord skipper desperately trying to hold his back line together from the Manor onslaught. Concord fought back with wave after wave of attacks on the Manor defence and looked certain to equalise, when a through ball dropped into the path of an oncoming Concord striker Lee Brant hitting the ball from 15 yards out forcing the Manor Keeper Carl Prince to make an outstanding save to his right kept the score 0-1 to the Manor at the break.

Asa Pamplin frustrated the Concord defence

Concord dominated early in the second half and at times would not allow Manor out of their half. Some good build up play from Concord lead to their equaliser in the 58th minute from Neil Richmond. Concord continued to pressurise the Manor defence. 61 minutes gone and Billy Cove on as substitute playing in a Manor shirt for the first time in the ESL since he was a 16 year old. Cove's first touch of the ball was in the 65th minute when a through ball from Georgie Durrant landed to the feet of Forde who caressed the ball to Cove and from 30 yards blasted a shoot into the right hand side of the net. 1-2 to the Manor.
The Manor players stepping up a gear worked hard for one another and got their reward in the 70th minute when Connolly playing outstanding Football on the right cut inside to Cove who stroked a beautiful ball over the advancing Concord defence right into the path of the rejuvenated Forde to slot home his 2nd and Manor's 3rd of the game 1-3.

Inspirational Skipper Gary Scales takes a throw in

George Durrant playing his best Football for the Manor showed true determination as he fought hard to keep possession in the middle of the park. Armstrong coming on in the 55th minute for the booked Whitelock played his part in the build up to Manor's 4th goal when he robbed a Concord attack and took the ball wide, laying a fabulous ball down the right to Connolly who skipped down the wing then looped the ball into the Concord box, Forde pulling the ball back into the path of Quinn who rounded a defender and slotted the ball home 1-4. Concord still battled hard to get back into the game and nearly scored if not for Skipper Gary Scales bravely throwing himself in front of the ball. Armstrong again doing a superb job in defence collected the ball outside the Manor area placing a perfectly weighted ball to Cove then passing a ball onto the arriving head of Forde who hits the bar! Now into injury time and Manor halt another Concord attack the ball going wide to Jamie Morris on for Grant Smith, Morris flighted a curved through ball to Cove, Forde collects the ball and sensing a Hatrick is on lays a nice through ball to Billy Cove, with Cove now in possession and inside the Concord half Cove twisting and turning the Concord Defence allowed enough time for Forde to get into the Concord area Cove noticing Delroy made some space curved the ball around the defence and onto the waiting foot of Forde 1-5 to The Manor.

Manor Celebrate a fabulous Victory with their signature song "Oh East london"

A truly entertaining game that offered end to end football. The Manor starting to look like a unit showed their class today. Special mention's to Skipper Gary Scales who is a constant source of encouragement, Chris Barrett always at the heart of the action, New boy Nick Mitchell making his Manor Debut stuck to the task set him by Manager Kirk Whitelock throughout the game and the Courageous & Tireless Gerogie Durrant contestant for MOM

Goal Scorers, Eton Manor, Forde 15,70,90, Cove 65, Quinn 73, Concord Rangers, Richmond 58,

Manor MOM : Delroy Ford. Hatrick Man, worked hard for the team and got his reward.

The Manor's next game is against Bowers & Pitsea at Tilbury FC on Tuesday 17th August Kick off 7:45pm.

Team: Prince, Scales, Mitchell, Barrett, Smith (78 mins Morris), Quinn, L.Whitelock(55 mins Armstrong), Connolly, Durrant, Forde, Pamplin (61 mins Cove) Subs – Jenkins, Fulbrook, S.Whitelock, Richards, Cove, Morris, Armstrong.