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The Manor travelled
to their old rivals Concord Rangers today. The Backdrop
of the holiday homes on the horizon gave that "trip
to the seaside feeling", combined with brilliant
Sunshine, the expectations for a good game was high.
Concord started
brightly and nearly scored in the opening minutes of
the game, a great ball down the right hand-side, as
Concord gave chase closely followed by Manor's left
back Terry Hunt, the ball played to the edge of the
area was placed dangerously across goal, Manor keeper
Prince going to ground to scoop up the ball as Concord
Striker Graig Gillham was sliding towards goal, both
Prince and Gillham mistiming the their efforts, and
watch the ball go out of play.
The Manor now
starting to turn on the style, striker Patrick Thompson,
with the ball at his feet twisting and turning the Concord
defence inside out, as he weaves closer to goal, finds
a few yards and cracks a shot that soars over the Concord
cross bar.
Robert Budd Concord
Keeper looked in superb form today, and kept the scores
level in the 8th minute when Peter Kana raced down the
left hand side and cut in a great ball into the path
of Jamie Wallace, Budd going to his right to pull off
a great save.
Kana again on
another penetrating run down the left, worked his way
to the by-line, a neat back flick leaves Concord defending
Dave Burton stranded as Kana moves in on goal, Kana
picking his spot, shots low and hard but again, Budd
proving his quality goes low to save.
Manor's best
chance of the game, the ball laid back to Danny Mercer
in the centre of the park, Mercer sending a magnificent
ball over the top of the Concord defence, Kana beating
the offside trap races on to the ball, as he heads towards
the Concord goal, with just Budd to beat lashes it wide
of the post!
The Manor now
besiege the Concord goal, chances go begging for Thompson,
Defreitas and Kana, the best chance falling for Wallace
who forced Budd to make a magnificent save, palming
the ball over the ball.
33 minutes and
Rangers now turn on the heat, Carl Prince looking confident
as her punches away a high cross into his area.
Ricky Defreitas
unlucky not to have earned a Penalty as he skillfully
managed to weave his way past a packed defence and make
an opening, but was pulled back in the area, shouts
for penalty went up around the ground but ignored by
the referee.
Prince again
called into action this time a high corner, Prince asserting
himself and punching the ball clear.
Chris Barratt
Manor defender forced to retire from the game after
a high challenge.
The second half,
and the Manor get a free kick 25 yards from goal after
Alan Griffiths was pulled down. Wallace sends a short
ball down the right out for a corner. Corner taken quickly
sees Reading nodding the ball just wide.
Ricky Defreitas
on the end of a great ball across goal from Jamie Wallace,
but Budd again collects to stop any danger.
Lee Smith on
for Danny Mercer and straight into the action, as he
gets on the end of a shot 20 yards out but skies it
over the bar.
Chris Hammond
on for the injured Coker looked to mix it up with the
Concord defence, Hammond looking strong after some recent
injuries which have forced him out of the side.
Wallace again
taking responsibility and works so hard in the centre
of the park, collecting the ball and surges on the Concord
goal, hits his shot well but Budd on hand again.
The Manor showing
real dominance today and were unlucky not to have taken
all 3 points. Concord Rangers is not the easiest place
to come and score let alone dominate and therefore the
Braves should take back with them some small consolation
if not with the score, with the way they played today.
Some special
performances today, Terry Hunt is getting better with
each game he plays, Patrick Thompson looks special,
give this boy time and games and he will shine. But
one performer sticks out, who is an inspiration to the
Squad and the heartbeat of the team, "Jamie
Wallace" involved in almost everything
today, covered the whole park and worked tirelessly
all afternoon.
Manor
Man of the Match
Jamie
Wallace
Manor Team:
Prince, Barratt, Reading Capt, Coker, Hunt, Griffiths,
Wallace, Mercer, Kana, Thompson, Defreitas. Subs: Hammand,
Richards, Jones, Chester, Baptiste, Smith, Marsh
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