The Manor needed to step it up a gear today, recent results would suggest that confidence was lacking in the Manor Camp. A good result & performance was needed to boost the Braves belief in themselves.

The game kicked off and the Manor wasted no time bombarding the Stansted defence. The Manor using a 4-4-2 system looked to control the opening minutes of the game.

Manor win a free kick 30 yards out, Jamie Wallace takes, lofts the ball into the area and Danny Sabaroche nods it just over the bar.

Wallace and Sabaroche combine again, Wallace on the edge of the area, rounds a defender, drives the ball in low to Sabaroche with his back towards goal, spins and blasts the ball over the bar. Early warning signs the Manor are up for this game.

The Manor midfield creating so much for the front two, Saunders out wide to Neil Barratt who sends a delightful ball over the top of the retreating defence, Defretias times his run well as the ball lands 5 yards in front of him as he charges off towards goal, the Stansted keeper quick off his line closes down the room and clears the danger.

20 minutes gone and its all Manor, Ricky Defreitas playing the provider goes down the left hand side, cuts the ball into the path of Wallace who immediately plants a great ball into Tashwell Thompson, Thompson tries to slide the ball into the net but on this occasion the ball just goes wide.

Thompson now really turning on the heat, Paul Smyth this time providing a great pass into the path of Thompson as he heads off towards goal into the area once again the Stansted keeper wide awake as he punts the ball off the feet of the frustrated Thompson.

Concerns as Carl Bailey goes down after a 50/50 challenge, Bailey looks in pain but after a few minutes shows grit & character as he manages to run the injury off.

This time Sabaroche & Defreitas combing well, Sabaroche on the edge of the area, looking for options, sees Defreitas find a yard of room and sends the ball in between two defenders and into the path of Defreitas who slices his shot inches from the post.

Difficult to understand how the score at this stage is still 0-0, the Manor now dominating proceedings and pinning the Stansted defence into their own half.

Ex Manor front Man Darren Adams recently signed for Stansted is being contained brilliantly by the Manors Carl Bailey. Adams playing a holding role looks isolated as he battles for possession but simply finds a brick wall in Bailey, Saunders, Neil & Chris Barratt.

Ray Coker with the ball at his feet charges down the left, working hard seems to be his trademark as he rounds a defender and sends the ball into the danger area, and into the path of Defretias who just needed a delicate chip over the keeper but decided instead to blasts the ball as it sails over the bar.

45 minutes now gone and the Manor finally find the net, the ball into the penalty area sees Tashwell Thompson stick out a foot to slice the ball home form close range 1-0 to the Manor.

Second half and Stansted win a rare corner the ball driven in and Paul Holland claiming the high ball.

Stansted now getting back into the game, come really close, beating the offside trap just Holland to beat, but the Manor keeper down low to his left makes a superb save.

Stansted picking up the pace, and managing to keep possession of the ball, try a long range effort over the bar. Tony Mercer taking a Stansted corner, well brought down by the resilient Carl Bailey as he brings the ball under control to set up another Manor attack, Drefretias down the right, sends in a high ball, Ray Coker with only the keeper to beat plants the ball well but the keeper reading the shot and makes a fabulous save to his left.

The Manor change the frontline, with Ricky Defreitas making way for last years top goal scorer Chris Hammond back form a lengthy absence.

Tashwell Thompson down the left, fires in a ball with plenty of pace on it, Chris Hammond challenges for the ball, but blasts off the head of a Stansted player and into the net 2-0.

Danny Sabaroche goes on a sole run down the left, looks to have options but decides to go it alone, looks to have mistimed his shot as the ball dribbles over the line for a goal kick.

Another superb ball from the Manor midfield allows Danny Sabaroche to run at goal, just the keeper to beat as he plants the ball well into the Stansted net 3-0.

The Manor now picking up the pace as Stansted heads are dropping all over the park. Chris Hammond looking really strong heads off towards goal, shoots just wide off the post.

Another change, Skipper Wallace who worked so hard today replaced by new signing No 16 Annis.

The Manor again pressurising the Stansted goal, the ball shot in from a crowd, the keeper blocks the ball, but only falls as far as Chris Hammond just outside the area, who crushes the ball into the back of the net making the score 4-0 to the Braves.

Devon Saunders tries his luck as he gets onto a loose ball running towards goal only the keeper to beat blasts the ball inches over the bar.

Manor with a free kick 30 yards out, Ray Coker takes quickly into the path of Sabaroche who hits his shot well and the Stansted keeper having to make a spectacular save to keep the score line sensible.

Stansted hit the Manor on the counter, shuffled themselves into the area and from close range smashed the ball into the right hand corner of the net allowing Holland no chance, 4-1.

The final score remaining at 4-1 to the Manor, some big performances today, but overall a great team result. The Manor looked up for this game, good to see Paul Smyth back from long term injury, Paul managed the full 90 minutes and looked very composed today as did Ray Coker returning from injury and looked solid all afternoon. The Barratt boys along with Devon Saunders looked solid at the back, Neil especially, stamped his mark on the game.

The combination of Thompson, Sabaroche and Defreitas looked awesome at times, Defreitas playing more the provider then scorer today limited his chances on goal. Good to see Chrissy Hammond back in the fold, took his goal really well and scored a solo effort which was cancelled out by the officials for an infringement? But the Manor Man of the match goes to Carl Bailey, who looked to be beaten with a crunching tackle, but got up and carried the fight to Stansted, always encouraging and looks back to his best.

Manor Man of the Match

Carl Bailey - Back to his Best

Carl Bailey

Manor Team:

Holland, Bailey, C.Barrat, Saunders, Coker, Smyth, Wallace (Capt), N.Barratt, Thompson, Defreitas, Sabaroche,

Subs Clarey, White, Marsh, Hammond, Annis, Leary

Att: 25