The Manor started this game with five changes due to suspensions and enforced absences. However as Assistant Manager Nick Clark pointed out "these things happen during a long season and you have to make sure you have a squad to cover this ".

As the game started it appeared from early on that the visitors were more up for this game than some of the home side. Southend could easily have gone two up before the Braves came out of the traps. However it has to be said that the visitors were the better side throughout the first half even though against the run of play the home side managed to fashion a couple of decent chances .

Many of the Manor's players seemed to be running on empty and instructions given out during the pre match talk appeared to go unheeded with the side at sixes and sevens and they were indeed lucky to reach the break 0-0,

After the interval the visitors again dominated the exchanges and they competed for everything and were winning 50-50's all over the park. It came as no real surprise when the Braves went 1-0 down as the ball got away from the Manor keeper and the visitors were first to the ball and slotted home.

The opener Sporadic Eton attacks achieved little and the visitors went further ahead late in the game when the home side defence failed to clear out a bread and butter cross from the right, 2-0 to Southend.

As the clock ran down the Braves were unable to make any inroads and the visitors won 2-0. A poor, stuttering performance was how Eton Manor Manager summed up the defeat.

Man Of the Match

Danny Alleyne - Resolute Defending

The Manor's next game is Away to Sawbridgeworth Town in the Essex Senior Cup on Sat 4th April 2009, kick-off at 3pm.eam:

Steve LAMBERT: Jason FOX, Kieran KING; Jamil SYLLA, Joe ELLUL , Liam ALLEN; Junior YIADOM-KONADU, Fabio JESUS, Manley BROWN (Captain), Jakovo Odasi-Ulkueku, Liam MULCARE.

Substitutes: Tom QUERRY, Alinani MOUNTER , Alan EAMES, Beckley LOUKMAN, Antonio YOTOV, Ricardo AMADO.