The Manor welcome Clapton FC their old friends and rivals to St Chad's Road, The last time these two sides met was back in September 2006 the Manor winning by a slightest of margins 2-1.

Like the Manor, Clapton themselves recently undergoing a change in player management, this new fitter and younger Clapton side looked well organised in the build-up to the game, one familiar face in the Clapton line up was Ex Manor striker "Davy Armstrong" who spent 2 seasons at the Manor between 2004 & 2005.

The Manor team instructed by Graham Chester before the kick off to come out of the blocks much faster responded within two minutes when Ricardo Amado collected the ball down the left, the ball won fairly by a Clapton defender who passed the ball back to his keeper, however, Amado pressurises the Clapton Keeper who fumbles the ball, which gives Amado enough of the ball to place it into the net. 1-0 to the Manor.

Clapton look to pull one back from a corner kick, the ball driven in high, The Manor keeper Kenny Addi pushes the ball out, only as far as Clapton's No 5 Fletcher who drives the ball towards the Manor goal, the ball taking 2 or 3 deflections as panic sets in to the Manor defence who seem desperate to hoof the ball away to safety, however, the ball bounces on to the edge of the area and Davy Armstrong smashes the ball over the bar, to the relief of the Manor defence.

Clapton again send another quality delivery from a corner this time Dickenson heads the ball just over the bar.

The Manors turn to apply some pressure, Bradley Nelson with the ball at his feet, heads off towards the Clapton goal, does well to bring the ball under control with two defenders snapping at his heels, tried a cheeky chip, however, Catallano palms the ball over the bar.

Anton Stevenson on the end of a superb pass from Ray Coker, as he heads off towards goal down the right, Stevenson being pushed wide and to the by line, looks up for a split second and releases a powerful shot form a tight angle, the ball spins off the bar and out for a goal kick, the Manor unlucky.

39 minutes gone and the Manor take a Free kick 10 yards into the Clapton half, the ball driven in towards the Clapton goal, the Manor's new central midfielder Lucien Ntolla just inside the box with his back towards goal, heads the ball into the net 2-0 to the Manor.

The Manor really looking confident as they use the strategy of swapping Ibraham Konate and Richardo Amado from left to right, come close again this time Konate using his awesome pace down the right, sending the ball across goal, just slightly too high for the incoming duo, Nelson and Stevenson.

As the clock ticks by Clapton take yet another corner the ball driven onto the back post, Skipper Steve Reading nodding the ball down to Charlie Tarten who brings the ball out to safety.

The second period and 5 minutes into the half the Manor concede a penalty, Clapton's Agard steps up, The Manor keeper using his imposing 6ft 2in frame to narrow the angle, however, a sweetly struck shot right of the keeper sees the scoreline at 2-1.

The Manor looking to breakdown the Clapton defence, do well this time Ray Coker sending the ball down the left to Amado, who squares to Miko Jacques in the centre of the box, Miko lining up his shot has two blasts at the ball, the first blocked by a defender and the second pushed out for a corner by the Clapton keeper.

Clapton continue to look for the equaliser look in determined mood, Manor's Ntolla working really hard on defence breaks up another Clapton Challenge.

Manor's first substitute, the hard working Jamie Barry off for debutant Alexander Moussego.

59 minutes gone and Clapton equalise, the Manor now looking totally disjointed fall victim to a sucker punch as Clapton deservedly get their equaliser. Dickenson the scorer 2-2.

The front Manor pair Bradley Nelson & Anton Stevenson appear to be forming a real understanding as they set off towards the Clapton goal, the ball driven in from wide right by Nelson leaving Stevenson running in on goal through the centre but blocked by the keeper as he comes out with his studs showing!

The Manor now starting to show real determination of their own, send Bradley Nelson off on a run towards goal, Nelson doing all the hard work, beats a defender, rounds the keeper and with the goal at his mercy just needed the slightest of touches to push it into the net 'but instead blasts the ball wide of the goal and out for a goal kick! Nelson having not put a foot wrong all afternoon showing his frustration by holding his head in his hands as he falls to his knees.

Manor's second substitute, Ray Coker carrying a leg injury off for Chris Barratt, who with his first touch of the game takes a free kick from just inside the Clapton half, Barratt drills the ball in, semi cleared by Matthews, but only as far as Anton Stevenson who smashes the ball towards goal, takes a slight deflection as the ball nettles into the net. 3-2 to the Manor.

Clapton throwing everyone forward come close down the right hand-side, forcing the Manor keeper to palm a fierce shot over the bar. Clapton take the corner, Matthews form the corner spot drives the ball high into the air and into the net! to everyone's surprise. 3-3.

The clock now ticking down and the Manor substitute Stephen Parker enters the game. Nelson tried his luck from long range however, the keeper deals with the danger.

The game now turning into a nail biting last few minutes as the Manor's talented Stephen Parker sends a fabulous ball down the right hand-side to Anton Stevenson using his awesome pace to get away from the defenders, lines up his shot and smashes it into the net 4-3 to the Manor.

A nail biting intense finish to the game for the Manor faithful, but non-the-less a very enjoying match to watch, both teams playing some attractive football, the Manor nicking it on the day but the result could have gone either way. Full credit to this new look Clapton side that have some talented individuals but also work well for one another as a team.

The Manor now starting to bond as a unit and the more this new look Manor side play together the better they will become, some great performances today however, one individual that stood out from the crowd was Manor's new Central Midfielder " Luchien Ntolla" not only scoring Manor's second goal but looked a pillar in the Manor defence.

Manor Man of the Match

Lucien Ntolla - Pillar in defence

Lucien Ntolla

Manor Team:

Addi, Tarten, Coker, Reading (Cpt), Ntolla, Barry, Jacques, Konate, Stevenson, Nelson, Amado.

Subs Barratt, Parker, Chamberlin, Smith, Moussego.

Att: 25