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Eton Manor face
Barking for the 6th time this season, a win today for
the Manor will seen them on 62 points and a chance to
go 4th in the Essex Senior League.
Barking Kick
off on this damp Saturday afternoon. A few regular Manor
players missing from the Start-up, Lee Smith, Steve
Reading, Kunle Adeoye, Liam Mulcare, Chris Barratt and
Danny Dobson all not available for today’s game,
Jason Fox still carrying a muscle strain makes the subs
bench. However, Anton Stephenson back after serving
a four match ban looking to further his superb goal-run
this season.
The Manor start
the more positive, Clinton Hodge swings in a corner,
the ball thumps off the front post in the first few
minutes of the game. Click
Here to view Video
Manley Brown
picks out Jamie Wallace 'who goes route one down the
right hand-side, Wallace to the edge of the box and
blasts just over the bar.
Manley Brown
once more the provider, this time picks out Anton Stephenson
who manages to shrug off a challenge, but going away
form goal blasts just wide of the post.
Barking create
a chance down the Manor left, Ray Coker making a well
timed tackle to sweep the ball away to safety.
Manley Brown
creating so much at this stage of the game, from his
own half sends over a fabulously weighted ball into
the path of Jamie Wallace who times his run perfectly,
the Barking keeper just managing to get a touch to the
ball to prevent Wallace getting a solid connection 'as
the ball scuffs out for a goal kick.
Barking open
up the Manor defence and get into the box, Manor keeper
Andy Hall blocking the shot with his legs, lucky escape
for the Manor.
Free kick to
the Braves 10 yards in the Manor half, Andy Hall sends
the ball long, Barking clear but falls to Clinton Hodge
on the edge of the box 'who blasts the ball over the
bar.
The Manor get
their first goal, Stephenson latches onto a long ball,
the Manor striker skillfully bringing the ball under
control and rounds the Barking keeper to put the Manor
in front after 36 minutes.
A few minutes
later Clinton Hodge goes one on one with the keeper,
Hodge looks to have been impeded as he goes to ground,
the ball runs loose into the path of Jordan Childs with
the goal begging blasts the ball over the bar.
42nd minute and
Anton Stephenson nets his second of the game, as he
races onto a great feed in from Hodge, Stephenson just
inside the box lifts the ball over the head of the advancing
keeper to make the score 2-0 before the break.
Second Period
and the Manor under pressure by the Blues, as the ball
smashes the underside of the bar, Barking claims that
the ball had crossed the line dismissed by the referee
who was well positioned to see the incident as he waves
play on. Click
Here to view Video Clip.
Barking reduced
to 10 men for what looked like an innocuous challenge
on a Manor player, the match official not hesitating
‘as he gives a Red Card.
63rd minute and
Anton Stephenson in blistering form scores his 3rd goal,
the Manor striker beats the advancing keeper, but still
needs to compose himself to line up his shot with a
Barking defender still on the line, Stephenson shows
his coolness ‘as he places the ball into the corner
of the net to make it 3-0 to the Braves.
80th minute and
Barking claw a goal back from close range and past the
outstretched hands of Andy Hall the Manor keeper.
Stephenson once
more sets off down the Barking right, crosses with the
outside of his boot across goal, the ball scraps off
the bar and to the feet of Bradley Nelson who guides
the ball into the net, the referees assistance flags
to indicate Stephenson ball had gone out of play!! Goal
disallowed!!
Barking having
a good spell in the last few minutes of the game, break
loose down the Manor right, swing in a great ball but
no one running into the box to collect the pass.
Last minute of
the game and Stephenson does well to control the ball
driven in from the right and sets off towards Barking's
goal, with only the keeper to beat, strikes the ball
low to the keepers left, however, Barking's No1 does
well and to get a hand to the ball to clear for a corner.
Click
here to view Video Clip.
The Match official
not allowing much injury time as he blows after playing
only 1 minute over normal time.
A solid performance
by the Manor today. Skipper Steve Willis once more marshalling
his back line, some notable performances, especially
in the first half from Manley Brown ‘who created
so much of the Manor play and showed real ability with
his pin point passing accuracy. Other notable performance,
Ray Coker who seems to be getting stronger with every
game, made a few well timed tackles today that were
crucial to the Manor keeping a clean sheet in the first
half.
The Man
of the match must go to the goal scorer of all three
Manor goal’s, Anton Stephenson now scored 51 goals
in a Manor shirt and is heading towards rewriting the
record book for the most goals scored for the Manor
in one season!
The Manor's next game is away on Tuesday evening 22nd
April against Concord Rangers in the League.
Manor
Man of the Match
Anton Stephenson
- Superb Hatrick
Anton Stephenson
Manor
Team:
Hall, Coker. Mclean, Willis (Capt), N.Barratt, Brown,
Wallace, Hodge, Stephenson, Nelson, Childs.
Subs
,Leary, Fox, Chester, Smith
Att: 55
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