Manor went into this game with their team down to the bare bones, with injuries, suspensions and work commitments cited for the loss of 12 regulars, manager Whitelock had to call upon retired ex Manor player Glen Connolly to help field a team and when keeper Stephen Richards pulled out in the warm up, stand in keeper Darren Smyth took the gloves despite being injured himself, this looked to be a tough task for the Manor starting 11.

Opening exchanges were even as the home side looked to be more comfortable in possession, but despite their fluent passing game Bowers failed to deliver in the final third as they found the Manor back line of Williams, Reading & Barratt in commanding form.

The first goal arrived early in the first half as Steve Reading sent a free kick into the path of Danny Hunt, he held the ball and then played a sweet pass into Glen Connolly whose first time cross found Alan Griffiths at the far post and he duly obliged with a powerful header into the corner of the net.

This was the cue for Peter Kana to get into the action, as he tormented the opposition with some fine running and fancy footwork, but just couldn’t find the finish that was needed. Bowers were starting to get on top and an equalizer looked on the cards as they kept the Manor penned in their own half for long periods, it arrived after a dominant spell when a corner was floated in the visitors failed to clear their lines and the ball was driven home from 6yds 1-1 and game on.

Manor were struggling in the middle of the park, with three of their players carrying knocks they had to by pass them and aim for the front men, this started to work as Hunt and Kana both had chances to restore the Manor’s lead, this finally came about when centre back Chris Barratt went on a mazy run through the middle of the park, after laying the ball out to Connolly he again found himself in possession some 20yds from goal where he struck a powerful volley into the net via the post. Back in front and back in charge Manor looked for their third, and when Peter Kana beat three players and the keeper they looked to have got it, but Kana’s shot hit the post with the goal at his mercy, so 2-1 and into the break

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Manor were forced into a half time substitution when the injured Danny Mercer was replaced by new signing Ricky Defreitas as Manor resorted to a 4-3-3.

Despite struggling in the centre of the park Manor looked to be the more composed on the ball as still more chances fell to the front two, but they were unable to convert them, new signing Defreitas was causing the home side all sorts of problems with his pace, this boy looks top draw and his football speaks volumes as time after time he opened up the home sides defence with quality passing, but still the Manor couldn’t add to their lead. Time for a change as a like for like substitution by the Manor saw Chris Hammond Replace Danny Hunt in attack, Hammond only lasted a mere 10mins himself, but in that time he managed to race onto a long defensive header by Steve Reading and slip the ball past the advancing keeper to make it 3-1 to the Manor, unfortunate for Hammond as this was his last action of the afternoon as a clash with the keeper on scoring saw him sustain a badly cut and swollen knee. Manor were now totally in command, with Docherty full of running in the middle, his never say die attitude inspired the team to give that extra bit as they took the game to the home side, such was their dominance keeper Smyth never had a save to make as the home sides attacks kept breaking down before the final blow could be delivered. However, as on so many occasions before Manor shoot themselves in the foot once again as all three central defenders go looking for a fourth from a set piece, a quick counter leaves them short at the back and a well timed header lets Bowers back into the game 3-2.

With only minutes to go and constant pressure from the home side Manor were forced into some desperate defending, as yet another corner was delivered Manors Neil Day found himself in possession on the edge of the manor area, he then played a 40yd pass to the waiting Ricky Defreitas who raced past his marker and fired a cracker of a shot past the advancing keeper to make it 4-2 to the Manor and game over.

A workman like performance today from the Manor, lots of quality displays by players carrying knocks, a well earned and deserved 3 points against a very capable side, 8 goals in two games, shows that the boys have goals in them this season and will cause quite a few upsets in the coming months.

Man of the Match went to both Steve Reading and Chris Barratt, commanding in their central defensive partnership.

Manor Man of the Match

Steve Reading -& -Chris Barratt

Manor Team: D.Smyth, Williams, Reading, Barratt, Connolly, Mercer, Griffiths, Docherty, M. Marsh, Kana, Hunt: Subs: Defreitas, Hammond, Day.

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