The Manor back on the road again this week, playing their 8th away game in 11 starts this season in the League! Today the Manor travel to their old friends Hullbridge Sports.

The Grounds staff having to work overtime to get the pitch ready in time after much heavy rain the night previous, the fact that the game could even take place was credit to their hard work and efforts.

The Manor straight into action and looked to start the game where their left off in last weeks 6-1 mauling of London APSA, some early chances by the lively up front pairing of Anton Stephenson and rock solid striker Chris Hammond.

After 6 minutes Hammond fires a close range shot on goal, the ball is blocked and falls to the feet of Stevenson who creates a yard and fires the ball home 1-0 to the Manor.

Chris Hammond looking trim and fit sets off down the Hullbridge right, powers himself into the box, catches the ball on the half volley and fires in on goal, the Hullbridge keeper, Richard Mann needed to be at his best as he manages to touch the ball around the post.

Hammond again on a storming run, gets upended 5 yards outside the box, the free kick taken and the Hullbridge wall just inside their own penalty area blocks a powerful delivery, valid shouts for handball by the Manor players is waved on by the ref!

Anton Stephenson trying to sniff out another as he glides down the left, gets to the byline and whips in a great ball across goal, Jamie Barry up the highest to nod the ball just past the post. Manor currently looking creative and causing Hullbridge concerns.

Stephenson again causing Hullbridge headaches down the left hand side, Hullbridge defending strongly Lee Daves having to cynically trip the tricky striker as a last resort to halt the powerful frontman, and managing to avoid a yellow card!!

Chris Hammond this time the supplier as he sends a fabulous ball from the halfway line over the top and into the path of Manor Skipper Jamie Wallace, Wallace with two defenders snapping at his heels crumbles to the floor in a heap, the referee waving play on!!

Wallace sends Barry off down the right, Barry whipping the ball in low to the feet of Hammond who lets the ball go through his legs right into the path of Stephenson who crushes the ball inches past the post. Manor by now should be at least 3 goals to the good, the pitch now breaking up and making it awkward for both teams.

The Hullbrige defence being made to work extremely hard, credit to this young Hullbridge side who look to be well orgainsed and appear to be sticking to a game plan of pushing the Manor attacks out wide, where the ground is much more softer!

The Manor on another tearing run down the Hullbridge right handisde, Barry to Hammond who once again forces his way just side the box and unleashes a powerful shot, Richard Mann low to his right pushes the ball wide of the post, great save by the Hullbridge keeper.

The Manor playing exhibition stuff now, Manor defence making room for one another and spraying the ball over the park, Carl Bailey sending a great ball into Stephenson again crashes to the floor as he hits a brick wall Hullbridge defence.

So high currently is the Manor confidence Ray Coker Manor defender trying a long range shot which fly's over the ball.

Stephenson finding himself running towards goal, the ball bouncing high just in front of the advancing keeper, but users his hand to touch the ball into net, receives a yellow card.

Almost last kick of the first half, Chris Hammond tries a long range effort from 30 yards, Richard Mann who has had an excellent first half goes low to scoop the ball up.

5 minutes into the 2nd period and Hullbridge on the attack, just on the edge of the box and an Hullbridge player over dramatising crumbles to the floor the young referee officiating his first senior game, points to the penalty spot!!!!

Gary Paterson steps up to take the penalty and plants the ball down the centre and into the net, making the score 1-1.

The Manor making their first substitute, Jason McCarthy on for Mark Clarey.

Jamie Barry working hard down the left whips in a great ball which lands to Hammond who scuffs the ball wide of the post.

Hullbridge looking more confident in the second period start to put the Manor defence under pressure, Manor Keeper Darren Smyth forces a fine effort around the post for a corner.

Carl Bailey, under pressure from two Hullbridge strikers nods the ball back to his keeper. The hard working Ray Coker looks to have taken a knock goes off and is replaced by Tony Marsh.

Jamie Barry again down the left, cutting in past two defenders and blasts the ball into the box, more valid appeals for handball as the defender clearly users his arm in the box to prevent the ball falling to the feet of Chris Hammond who was waiting to fire the ball into the net, the ref once again waving play on for accidental handball ball!!

The Manor men feeling their frustration as they clearly are not getting the rub of the green at all today. However, the Manor bench encouraging the Braves forward in the hope that they can catch Hullbrige on the counter. Manor bring on Danny Sabaroache for Anton Stephenson.

Its all Hullbridge now, the ball driven across goal, to the feet of Paterson who blasts the ball just wide of the post.

The Manor defence now having to work hard in this muddy battle, Tony Marsh, Carl Bailey, Devon Saunders, Paul Smyth and Neil Barratt all know they are now in a game as this young and lively Hullbridge team attack the Manor goal.

Darren Smyth, pulls off another fabulous save, down low to his right pushing the ball around the post, lucky escape for the Manor, this Hullbridge team now growing in confidence as they hit the Manor in waves.

Paul Smyth and Carl Bailey combining well to clear yet another attack by Hullbridge, Bailey sliding tackle to clear the danger as Paul Smyth brings the ball away to safety.

Jason McCarthy tears off down the Manor right, sends a great ball to the feet of Wallace who sees Danny Sabaroache at the back post, the ball just to high for the incoming striker, out for a goal kick.

The Manor continue to catch Hullbrige on the counter, Wallace involved in an area scramble that resulted in the Hullbridge keeper making a good save from a close range effort.

86 minutes and Paul Smyth judged to have failed an Hullbridge player just outside the area, the referee giving Hullbridge a free kick, the ball driven in and hits the head of a Manor defender, which wrong foots the Manor keeper and hits the back of the net! 2-1 to Hullbridge.

Tempers now beginning to flare as Chris Hammond is acrimoniously upended, the big striker reacts as both players set upon one another, both receiving a yellow card, however, Hammond on his second warning of the game is given his marching orders.

The game finishes with the Manor attacking the Hullbridge Goal, however, its to late for the Braves to salvage anything from the game.

Hullbridge rightly celebrating their victory, after their second half performance showed that this new Hullbridge setup if they can stay together will become an exceptional force within the ESL in future seasons to come.

The Manor failed to kill the game off in the first half and paid the price, however, this new look Manor side put together by the vastly experienced Manor Manger Kirk Whitelock, looked extremely competent at times today.

A special mention for Manor Midfielder Jamie Barry returning from a broken wrists looked spectacular today, working himself into the ground, looks more then capable and is proving to be an impressive talent .

Manor Man of the Match

Jamie Barry - Impressive Talent

Jamie Barry

Manor Team:

D.Smyth, Clarey, Saunders, Bailey, Coker, P.Smyth, N.Barratt, Wallace (Capt), Barry, Stephenson, Hammond.

Subs Parker, McCarthy, Marsh, Sabaroche.

Att: 22