Manor were forced to make changes from their regular line up tonight due to injury and work commitments, out went Carl Prince, Tony Marsh, Jon Quinn, Dave Dowling & Stephen Whitelock, as Stephen Richards, Danny Beattie, Prosper Lobe, James Morris & Chris Hammond stepped into the fray.

The game started at a lively pace as both teams sought to take an early advantage, Barking looked the more confident on the ball in the early stages but it was Manor who were looking the more likely of the two sides to make the break through. Prosper Lobe had a couple of early chances, after breaking down the opposition in midfield he unleashed a fierce left foot strike which went just wide and then in an almost identical move he hit a screamer of a shot from some 30yds which flew straight at the keeper. Barking had their moments, but found keeper Stephen Richards in outstanding form when they did eventually break through; the best of his saves saw him at full stretch to tip over a 25yd free kick which looked a certain goal. Manor had their moments as Felice, Mills & Connolly all went close, and a Steven Reading free kick caused the Barking Keeper all sorts of problems as it seemed to be creeping in, but went just wide of the post. Manor started to settle into the game the longer it went on, and with Glen Connolly causing the oppositions defence all sorts of problems with his pace, it was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, a clearance by Manor keeper Richards, found Felice out on the right, he turned his marker and pushed forward, cutting infield he evaded two more challenges before striking a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 20yds, 1-0 Manor, 35mins gone. Manor now kept up the pressure as they looked to double their advantage, and it was Chris Hammond who thought he was through on goal, but a late flag ruled his effort out for offside, Hammond was now beginning to upset the seasoned Barking defenders with his constant pressure and running off the ball, so much so, that they doubled up on him everywhere he went.

1-0 at the break, a great first half by both sides and the game still very much in the balance. Barking started the second half with a substitution, bringing on another striker, which in a way flattered the Manor who had kept any threat in the first half from the front men at arms length, and showed that it was a game they wanted to win. Both sides looked busy in the middle of the park, but it was Barking who were pushing harder of the two looking for the equaliser, it was again left to Manor keeper Richards to perform the heroics when the back four were finally breached, saving a certain goal on two occasions with some agile keeping. With the back four being marshalled superbly by Nicky Mitchell and the constant hard work by the midfield, Manor started to gain the upper hand in this closely fought contest.

A two goal lead looked to be on the cards when the ever lively Chris Hammond beat the offside trap to race through on goal, his shot was good, but not good enough to beat the keeper who made a fine save, more Manor pressure resulted in a free kick some 30yds from goal, and only another fine save from the Barking keeper stopped James Morris from making it 2-0. Stephen Richards was not to be out done at the other end turning a fine goal bound header round the post for a Barking corner. Bradley Mills was starting to win his midfield battle and was striking some quality through balls for the front men, which set up some half chances, it was from his persistence in the middle of the park that Manor finally increased their lead, after winning the ball he laid it square to Felice who beat his marker and found Chris Hammond about 30yds from goal, in one move he turned his man and unleashed a cracking drive which flew in off the underside of the bar and left the keeper rooted to the spot. 60mins and 2-0 Manor, and how Hammond celebrated, he’d been close all game and had been denied a goal since early December by the woodwork and great keeping in previous matches, the relief was there for all to see, and what a great effort to get back into the scoring habit with. The celebrations were short lived, as yet another Richards save went for a corner, as the ball was swung in there was no challenge on the Barking player who headed home from close range, 2-1 and an exciting end in prospect. Paul Docherty replaced Hammond on 80mins, to stiffen up the midfield, but there was still a couple of chances for Manor to extend their lead as first Barratt and then Mills saw efforts go close. It ended 2-1 to the Manor, and let’s not take anything away from this result, because it was thoroughly deserved on the night, against a team 2 divisions higher than them, who are pushing for promotion.
A superb team effort and extremely hard to pick a M.O.M. but it went to Danny Beattie, who despite making his debut tonight never put a foot wrong and slotted into the back for superbly.

Scorers: Felice, Hammond, For the Blues Stuart Brown

MOM: Danny Beattie, Not a foot wrong.

Above: Danny Beattie played superbly

Barking & East Ham: Wylie, Bennett, Savidge, Wicks, B.Turner, Quincey, Bruce, Brown, Read, Ritchie, Mackin Subs : J. Turner, Mole, Steel, Reed, O’Callaghan

Team: Manor :Richards, Reading, Mitchell, Beattie, Barratt, Connolly, Mills, Lobe, Morris, Felice, Hammond. Subs: Docherty, Fullbrook, Prince, Jenkins, Dowling.