The Manor crashed out of the London Senior Cup against Waltham Abbey, The Braves without 12 senior players, fielded a makeshift side that was also carrying injuries. The Braves fought extremely hard for the entire 90 minutes.

5 minutes and Loan defender Sammy Williams pulls off a spectacular sliding tackle. Jamie Wallace gets a foot on to a half volley on the back post over the bar. Danny Hunt holding play up in the Centre of the park allowing the Manor midfield time to push up and attack.

Ricky Defreitas Manors new signing gets his first start for the Club plays a neat ball wide to Paul Docherty who blasts his shot from 25 yards into the arms of John Hickman The Abbey Keeper.

16 minutes and Waltham Abbey slot home their first goal after some tidy play in the centre of the park, 1-0.

Defreitas equalises after he brilliantly times his run, the officials unable to keep up with play flag for offside!

Abbey punish the Manor again, this time a super ball driven in form left, and swept over the head of Carl Prince the Manor keeper. 2-0.

Waltham Abbey now playing neat football and making the Manor work hard. Manor corner, taken quickly, the ball swung into the area, some real desperate defending by the Abbey, shouts for handball from the Manor bench & players were ignored by the Referee.

The Manor spirit still in-tack as they press hard on the Abbey goal. Wallace on to a through ball passes to Defreitas, Hickman quick off his lines to stop any danger.

Defreitas continues to work hard up front, chasing every ball showing he has real heart, gathers the ball 30 yards from goal, twisting and turning the Abbey defence, but, brought to ground just outside the area from a elbow in the face, received a severe cut to the head, ref blows to play on as the bewildered striker staggers to his feet and to receive treatment off the pitch!

Danny Hunt another new signing finds himself with the ball at his feet 10 yards from goal, shoots, Hickman again gathers the ball to safety.

Plucky Defreitas back into the action as he collects the ball down the right, taken on the Abbey defence then sends a great ball into the path of Docherty who fires over the bar. Warning signs that the Manor were far from finished.

The Second half and Defreitas carrying a bad cut above is eye seems even more fired up than the first half, causing havoc in the Abbey half and was unlucky not to have scored in the opening few minutes of the restart from a great through ball from Chris Barratt, Defreitas rounds two defenders and shoots just over the bar.

The Abbey again punishing the Manor after Carl Prince hesitates to come and collect a high ball make it 3-0.

A few minutes later Abbey make it 4-0 with a fine drive into the net from close range, leaving Prince rooted to the spot, as all he could do is watch the ball fire low into the corner of the goal.

The Manor change tactics and bring on another new striker Liam Coleman who had an immediate impact by slotting home for the Braves from close range after a scramble on the goal-line.

4 minutes later the Manor look worthy of a come back, this time Danny Hunt scores from 18 yards to make it 4-2 and game on.

With 25 minute left on the clock it was all Manor, chances went begging for Defreitas and Coleman who terrorised the Abbey defence.

The Manor eventually losing the game 4-2 but can take much pride from the performance in the second half.

Take nothing away from Waltham Abbey who have been the Jewel in the Essex Senior League crown for the last two seasons. They have great team spirit and should be an example of every thing good about non league football.

The Manor desperate not to make excuses for their down turn in form must look at the amount of squad members currently not available through injuries, Manor Physio Sue Abercrombie has her work cut currently, trying to asses the amount of players receiving treatment at the moment.

The positives are Manors current new strike force, without doubt looks to be improving greatly, Ricky Defreitas is a class act and will improve for the Manor in the coming weeks. Other new strikers not available for selection presently, but has proven to have talent is Patrick Thompson, once fully fit, he will give the Manor a new edge to their game.

Manor Man of the Match

Ricky Defreitas

Manor Team: Prince, Smythe, Barratt, Williams, Mercer, Griffith's, Docherty, Wallace, M.Marsh, D.Hunt, Defretias, Subs: Elamir, Baptiste, Day, Coleman, Jenkins.

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