Match Report By Alex Lee

Manor started quite brightly with some good movement and slick passing. However a promising attack broke down and Sawbo swept forward and got behind the defence down the Manor left flank to deliver a good ball onto the edge of the six yard box and an unmarked James White swept the ball high into the net to put the visitors one up.

Manor although shocked by this early goal came back stongly and a few minutes later Joe Ellul moved forward to pick up a loose ball in the Sawbo half and drove a 30 yard screamer in off the underside of the bar to equal up the scores.

Manor went ahead a few minutes later when Scott Lovett was on hand to tuck away a good goal after decent approach play. Joe Lovett had to leave the field injured and Manor were forced into a make do reshuffle as they were without a replacement defender on the bench.

A very poor decision by the referee led to Sawbo being awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after a tackle from a Manor defender that clearly won the ball. Up stepped Sawbos Ed Bowler who is an excellent dead ball striker and he drilled the ball low through a porous Manor wall and beat the keeper as well. At this stage Manor srarted to give away needless free kicks and put themselves under extreme pressure at the back.

There was also a tendency to go long and not retain the ball, a tactic that played right into the hands of a large Sawbo defence. The times that the Manor did get the ball down and pass and move they looked capable of scoring and excellent approach play down the right culminated in Scott Lovett chipping the keeper to score a fine goal. Manor leading 3-2 at the break.

The second half consisted of the Manor now playing some good possession football and Sawbo mainly hoisting long balls forward and looking for flick on's to unerve the Manor defence.

The home team should have wrapped up the match after creating some great chances in the Sawbo box but somehow contrived to miss them. Sawbo did look threatining at times but the Manor defence held firm until an ugly miscue let in Danny Hudson to force home the equaliser from close range. Manor sent on their two remaining subs and continued to make great chances and again failed to tuck them away.

The game now became a stop start affair caused by an overzealous referee who started throwing yellow cards around like confetti mainly for petty infringements. So the half ended like it started with the Manor threatening but not making the incisive breakthrough. Final score 3-3.

Manor Team:

Steve Lambert, Jason Fox, Kieran King, Danny Dobson, Antonio Yotov,
Liam Allen, Junior Konadu, Fabio Jesus, Bradley Nelson, Darryl Wilson, Ricardo Amado,

Subs used, James Bramwell, Alan Eames, Tom Querry