The Manor travel up the M11 to their old friends & rivals Stansted FC.
Stansted this season under the guidance and new Management of Terry Spillane and Larry Woods 'have earned positive publicity already this season, with some impressive results in both league and Cup competitions.

The Manor start the game with some key personnel missing, Lee Smith, Darren Smyth, Bradley Nelson, Junior Konadu, Chris Barratt, Jamie Barry and Courtney Mclean all missing due to injury or suspension.

The Manor welcome back for this show-down Kunle Adeyoe, Kunle back from a bad ankle injury as he takes up the front-line alongside Anton Stephenson.

The Manor kick off and open the game looking the more composed on the ball, however, is it Stansted who nearly score when Ex Manor Front man Sammy McCarthy latches on to a long ball down the right, McCarthy weaves into the box and gets a yard ahead of Jason Fox and shoots low, the Manor Keeper Chamberlain having to pull off an acrobatic save to keep the score level after 10 minutes.

The Manor attack down the Stansted left hand side, Anton Stephenson drills in a fabulous ball, Jamie Wallace not connecting in time, great opportunity goes begging.

Manor’s new Signing 'Brazilian right back Adriano bursts through the middle of the park 'gets about 30 yards from the Stansted goal & smashes the ball just wide of the post.

The Manor now looking in control of the game, spraying the ball to the left, Liam Mulcare using his pace to create something from nothing, sends the ball into the box, Adeoye turns a defender inside out as he then wraps the ball just over the Bar.

The Manor now looking really sharp on the ball. however, when Stansted counter on the break they look really dangerous, the Manor back 4 needing to stay alert as the cocktail of McCarthy and Taylor look a real handful.

Manor Captain Steve Willis back from a two week break, looking cool under pressure, the Manor skipper dealing with a long ball swung in from the left, Willis, chesting the ball down before bringing it away to setup another Manor attack.

Manor’s Ricardo Amado, using his awesome pace down the left, gets to the by-line and skips past a Stansted challenge, now just a few yards from goal, but slices the ball wide of the post.

38th minute and Stansted have possession on the sideline mid way in the Manor half, the ball driven over the top of the advancing Manor defence & onto the foot of Greg Taylor who smashes the ball on the volley ‘straight into the net, not allowing the Manor keeper’ Chamberlain any chance what so ever. Stansted 1-0 up.

A few minutes later the Manor take a free kick from 30 yards out, the Stansted Keeper calls to collect buy drops the ball in front of Manor Defender Neil Barratt, who doesn’t needs asking twice as he stabs the ball in the net 1-1.

Second period of the game and the Manor are the first to show out of the blocks, great ball down the right, Jamie Wallace sends in a looping cross into the path of Stephenson who crushes the ball just over the bar.

Kenle Adeoye, nearly on the score sheet as her weaves his way into the Stansted box, Tony Barns doing his job as he sweeps the ball away just as Adeoye was about to shot on goal.

Manor take the lead in the 50th minute, Adriano takes a long range free kick from his own half, deep into the Stansted Box, the ball sitting up nicely for
Neil Barratt who shoots towards goal, the ball rebounds off the Stansted keeper straight at Barratt's feet 'who this time places the ball into the net for his second of the game. 1-2 to the Manor.

10 minutes later and the Manor gift Stansted a free kick 25 yards out, the ball driven in high, onto the head of 6ft 4in Tony Barnes, who scores from a looping header. 2-2.

The Manor now step it up a gear and putting the Stansted defence under pressure, Kunle Adeoye on the edge of the box , finds a few yards as line-up his shot, Barnes again blocks with his body and out for a throw in.

Some desperate defending now from Stansted as they are made to work hard by a lively Manor frontline. Stephenson sending a fabulous ball to Wallace on the right, plays the ball to Adeoye who gets to the by-line, drives the ball in high to the back post, Amado having a little time to line up his header, thumps the ball straight into the arms of the keeper, a real missed opportunity there goes begging for the Manor.

Final minute of the game and the Manor take a corner, all red shirts up bar one as the Manor clearly going for the win, the ball cleared by Stansted and the Manor defence caught short as McCarthy sending the ball right into the path of Greg Taylor’ using his electric pace to out run the Manor defence as he slots the ball into the Manor net’ making the score 3-2 to the home side.

The Game have hardly any stoppage time, sees the match official Simon Leaf brings an entertaining game to a close.

Manor Man of the Match

Neil Barratt - Scored Manor's both Goals

...Neil Barratt

Manor Team:

Chamberlain, Adriano, Cummings, Willis (Capt), Barratt, Fox, Wallace, Mulcare, Stephenson, Kunle, Amado.

Subs Leary, Tartan, Deji, Cooley

Scorers:-
Barratt 41, 50
Talyor 38, 89, Barnes 60,

Att: 23