The Manor welcome League Leaders Brentwood Town to St Chad's today. Brentwood having a magnificent Season, taking 62 points from 25 games. The visitor's looking odds on favourites to deservedly take the ESL title this season and get promotion to the Ryman League.

The Manor without some key players today continue to battle with injuries & name a changed squad to the one that beat Romford 1-0 in midweek. Manor Skipper Steve Reading pulled a muscle mid week and subsequently hands over the armband to competent defender Chris Barratt who leads his team out in the bright sunshine today.

Brentwood kick off and force a corner within the first minute of the game, the ball driven in high and dealt with by Manor's Neil Barratt who brings the ball away from danger.

Both teams failing to threaten in the opening 10 minutes as the players try to adjust to the scorching heat.

12 minutes gone and Anton Stevenson collecting the ball just inside the Brentwood half, Stevenson knocks the ball forward and chases off towards goal, he does well & get's within 25 yards of goal and sends a looping shot on target, Brentwood's keeper, Mark Hardingham caught off his line does well to recover to palm the ball out for a corner. Early warning signs that the league leaders weren't going to have it all their own way today.

20 minutes Brentwood take a corner, the ball driven in high, the Manor keeper does well to punch the ball clear before Brentwood's Sean Thomas gets a clear head on goal.

24 minutes gone, Brentwood Town get their first real chance of the game so far, Brentwood's Steve Jones using his pace to break down the Manor right, Jones to the edge of the Manor goal and blasts the ball just wide of the post.

Not many chances from either side so far, however, some great defending by the Manor who look rock solid today. The Manor's back four of Tarten, Chris Barratt, Neil Barratt and Lucien Ntolla looking in full control of the game. Most of the game involving some midfield tussles, Lee Smith, Stephen Parker and Miko Jacques covering some ground and working tremendously hard.

Brentwood's defender Steve King fires a fierce shot towards the Manor goal from 20 yards out, the Manor keeper ' Chamberlin goes down low to his right to palm the ball away, magnificent save by the Manor No 1 to keep the scores level at the break.

60th minute and the Manor strike first, the ball worked into the Brentwood's half by Charlie Tarten, Chris Hammond collects the ball and drives it into the Brentwood box, Lucien Ntolla at the back posts does well to control the ball before smashing it into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 to the Manor.

Two minutes later. the referee gives Brentwood a free kick on the edge of the Manor box, Brentwood's Striker and No 10 Tommy Lee steps up to stroke the ball past the Manor keeper and into the net 1-1.

The Manor starting to take more control of the game' pin Brentwood back into their own half, the Manor take a free kick from 25 yards out, & force Hardingham into a full stretch save to keep the score level.

The Manor now starting to play some great football as they spray the ball around the pitch, Stephen Parker sending Richardo Amodo down the left, Amodo to the by-line' whips in a great ball to the feet of Stevenson who smashes the ball inches past the post.

Manor make a substitute, Richardo Amodo off for Ray Coker, also Brentwood taking off Tommy Lee and Steve Jones and being replaced by, Greg Tiffin and Riki Holmes.

The Manor come close again, this time Miko bursts into the Brentwood half, meets two challenges head on and still comes away with the ball at his feet, sends Ray Coker off down the right, Coker, takes a stab from 20 yards but blocked by a now packed Brentwood defence.

Brentwood make their last substitute' John Easterford on for the hard working Danny Dafter. Brentwood's turn to attack, as the ball is driven in high, Neil Barratt heads the ball out for another Brentwood corner.

Chris Barratt staying cool under pressure as Brentwood's Michael Begg heads off towards the Manor goal, Begg does well to get into the Manor box, however, Barratt sweeps in from behind to cleanly clear the ball from Beggs feet.

The Manor now looking to nick a goal in the remaining few minutes, sees Ntolla has a crack from 30 yards as he smashes the ball in on Brentwood's goal, looking to go into the top corner by goes inches wide of the post instead.

Anton Stevenson seemingly chasing a lost cause to the by-line, steals the ball from Steve King who was guarding the ball out of play, Stevenson heads off towards the Brentwood goal, & from a tight angle shoots but the ball cleared off the line. The Manor looking in real determined mood.

Brentwood try a last minute attack down the Manor right, Michael Begg sends a great ball across goal but the Brentwood front men not up with the pace of Begg as the ball is cleared by the Manor's Midfield Dynamo Lee Smith.

As the seconds tick down it's the Manor that look the more likely to steal the game, Chris Hammond chasing down a long ball tries to set up Stevenson who manages to get just inside the box' slides the ball towards goal and Hardingham palms the ball away to safety.

The final whistle blows which holts this entertaining game. Both sides needed their defence to be on their game, not easy in the blistering heat but gave good value for money to the 35 people watching the game.

Brentwood struggled at times to handle the skill of Anton Stevenson, however, its not hard to see why Brentwood are currently cruising the ESL Championship, a lesser team today would have been overcome by a rampant Manor performance, especially in the second period of the game.

Again the Manor proving that things are happening at the Club, another great team performance today, real signs that a bond appears to be evident at the Club currently. Some superb individual performances, but none better then Manor's midfielder Lee Smith, who looked in full control of his game today, his work rate was excellent as was his determination to win every ball, whether in defence or attack Smith's energy and determination is a major factor in the recent turn around at the Manor.

Manor Man of the Match

Lee Smith - Dynamo midfield performance

Lee Smith

Manor Team:

Chamberlin, Tarten, C.Barratt (Cpt), Neil Barratt, Ntolla, Jacques, Smith, Parker, Hammond, Stevenson, Amado.

Subs Addi, Coker, Debono, Nelson, Leary.

Att: 35