A great start to the new year for Whitelock and his team, at last a long overdue 3 points and the return of some of the more influential players, missing through either injury or suspension. The main thing was a win, something the Manor had forgotten how to do over the past month, Manor started the brighter of the two and when Marks sent in an inviting cross for Forde Manor looked to be heading for an early lead, however Forde failed to connect and the chance went begging. More Manor pressure failed to come to anything and then the inevitable happened, Hullbridge on their first attack of the game won a corner and found the back of the net with a looping header after just 6 mins. Manor pushed forward and won a free kick out on the right wing some 30yds out, Johnny Quinn sent the ball straight towards the keeper, who, under pressure dropped it over the line and Manor were back on level terms. Chances were few in the remainder of the half, and both keepers made a couple of telling saves to keep the score level at the break. The home side started the quicker in the second half and Manor were forced to defend in numbers, but with new signing Jesper Nielsen making his debut at centre back they never looked liked conceding, Manor piled on the pressure and Forde, Midford, Morris and Passfield all went close to increasing the lead, then the best chance of the match fell to Forde, when a Lewis Passfield through ball fell invitingly to the Manor striker a simple header would have finished the move, but a scuffed shot seemed to have left the game heading for a draw. However more drama was to follow, when David Jenkins went on a mazey run, which ended with him chipping the keeper from some 15yds a winner looked on the cards but the ball struck the bar, a scrambled clearance was eventually put back into Forde and his trickery in the box was rewarded with a penalty when he was brought down, up stepped Johnny Quinn to smash in the winner for the Manor.
M.O.M. went to both Sammy Marks & Lewis Passfield for their tireless midfield running. A special mention for Jesper Nielsen who had a quality game on his debut.