Feisty afternoon at the Abbey as Manor's poor run continues. Match stats don't tell the whole story, 8 bookings and 2 sending offs for the braves, but this was never a nasty game.

"Disappointed" said Kirk Whitelock "But not in the way we played. Jason and Chris both deserved to walk, and they've let me down, "cos, I need them to be playing. Whitelock went on to say "I didn't always agree with the ref, but you have to accept his decision and get on with things. Shame as we were on top and might have nicked something in the last 20 minutes."

Start of the game see the Manor once again slow out of the blocks. Abbey dominate early stages, little surprise when Mark Sontag opens home account on six minutes, terrific finish, Carl Prince stranded by 25 yard chip.

13 minutes - First Manor booking for Darren Adams, a minute later and Jamie Wallace has the braves first worthwhile effort on goal.

21 minutes - Enforced change for the Manor. Joe Dixon on for Mark Clarey, after reoccurrence of groin injury.

30 minutes - Game's first flashpoint, clear two-footed tackle from Abbey player on half-way line. Ball breaks to Sontag, another quality finish from the home striker. Manor bench further incensed as big hint of off-side rubs salt in the wound.

31 minutes - Second enforced change for the Manor, big Darren Adams off to casualty with a suspected broken collar bone, ready-made replacement as Manor goal machine, Chris 'Van' Hammond joins the fray.

34 minutes - Sontag again, this time narrowly wide of Prince's post.

The rest of the half one way traffic, a fluent Abbey side in the ascendancy, only desperate defending from Reading and Wallace keeps score down to two.

Half-time arrives, Manor need to regroup, Abbey on top and looking threatening with every attack.

Second half starts, but fortune definitely doesn't 'favour the braves', 46 minutes - penetrative cross beats Carl Prince, ball makes no less that three connections with crossbar, before Harry Elmes on hand to force the ball home. 3 -0 to the Abbey. Manor now only paying for pride.

52 minutes - Final change for the Manor, this time it's tactical, Jason Lewis on for Matty Spicer, as Whitelock goes for broke.

57 minutes - Lewis the catalyst for period of Manor pressure, goes nearest to scoring with 20 yard curler a foot wide.

63 minutes - Booking for Johnny Quinn, reason a mystery for most in the ground.

70 minutes - Manor cut the deficit, Lewis the provider, Steve Redding's looping header in off the woodwork.

71 minutes - Reading again in the thick of the action, ball breaks to Charlie Tarten, Abbey keeper equal to well struck effort.

75 minutes - Tarten again, acrobatic effort into the allotments, as the Manor step it up a gear.

last 15 minutes, action really hotting up, the braves edging an absorbing half,holding territorial advantage and looking to threaten Abbey's two goal cushion.

Dying moments - Flurry of yellow and red card activity not in keeping with the rest of the game. Lewis walks for feigning head butt, joined by Hammond as tempers boil over. Wallace bizarrely booked as Abbey player appears to fall over, but it's that sort off day for the braves.

Confusing ending to game, Ref appears to blow early, at least diffuses volatile finale. Abbey worthy winners despite much improved second half from the Manor.

The Manor taking plenty of postitives from the game. Look to get back on track next Saturday at home to London APSA

Whitelock" Commented after the game "Disappointing is the fact we only start playing when the chips are down, but again we showed we can play has we dominated most of the 2nd half".

Whitelock also commented about his new striker Darren Adams " The injury to big Darren was a massive blow and we now have 12 players who won't play again this season. Darren was superb up until he fell awkwardly. but thank god there's no broken bones"

Manor Man of the Match

Jamie Wallace - Out of position, but kept his cool as tempers boiled over.

Jamie Wallace

Manor Team:
Prince, Clary, , Canham, Reading, Quinn, Tarten, Smith, Wallace, Dixon, Adams, Defreitas, . Subs:- Day, Lewis, Hammond, Chester, Jenkins, Spicer

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