The Braves came to top of the table Burnham knowing that this would be the 1st of 4 upcoming encounters between the sides. The home side were soon on the front foot and rattled the Manor bar early on. Despite this the visitors stuck to their game plan and gradually eased into contention.

After breaking up a Burnham attack down the flank, Joe Nightingill laid the ball up to Michael Marin and his precise pass to the lively Courtney Linton saw the striker rounding a Burnham defender with ease and slotting home the opening goal off the far post, 1-0 to the Braves. Burnham came back strongly and Manor keeper Nick Wilson returning after a long injury layoff had to be at his best to save some decent strikes at goal.

The game went from end to end and the next chance fell to the Braves and striker Lloyd Butler cooly took it, after great approach play involving Paul Marin, to fire the visitors 2 up.

The Braves almost went 3 up when a great knock back from the skillful George Durrant was driven inches wide by Courtney Linton.
The home side were still lively going forward and from a corner forced on the Manor left, the ball was swung in and the Burnham team were handed a lifeline when the referee awarded them an outrageous penalty , which they duly converted, 2-1. This awful decision seemed to affect the Braves decision making and from another Burnham corner , poor defensive play gifted the home side the equaliser, 2-2. At the interval the score remained the same.

After the break , the first 10 minutes were all Burnham as the Manor boys struggled to keep the scores level.However with no little character and determination they grafted their way back into the game and after a good spell of pressure by the Braves the ball fell to Alan Brown and his superb strike from 25 yards put the visitors back in front, 3-2.

The Manor sensed victory here and should have wrapped the game up when a penalty was awarded to them for hand ball but the Burnham keeper parried George Durrant's effort away. Immediately after this another great chance fell to the Braves when Courtney Linton was put away in a one on one but once again the home keeper kept his side in it.
The game now entered the realms of pantomine as after having played 10 minutes added on time the referee allowed the Burnham striker to kick the ball out of The Braves keepers hands to level the scores 3-3 and despite long , prolonged protests from the Braves the goal stood and an excellent game ended all square, 3-3.

Manor manager Kevin Durrant praised his teams superb spirit and character but felt that some naive forward play had led to the Burnham equaliser at the end.

On reflection it has to be said that the Manor have been on the end of some outrageous refereeing in their last 3 games and it ponders the question whether a very poor disciplinary record a few seasons back is counting against them.

Man of the Match

Alan Browne - Superb goal and all round display.

Manor Team:

1 Nick Wilson
2 Alan Browne - 1
3 Joe Nightingill
4 Carl Bailey (c)
5 Neil Barratt 
6 Michael Marin (replaced by number 12)
7 Paul Marin
8 George Durrant (replaced by number 14)
9 Lloyd Butler - 1
10 Courtney Linton - 1
11 Tom Nyama

12 Aaron May
13 Michael Wakefield
14 Chris Barratt 
15 Tony Hadley
16 Andrew Gibbons