What an afternoon, Manor back in their original strip from many moons ago, courtesy of John Skeat & Paul Tandy. The league leaders being the opposition, with the league Chairman & his other half in the crowd along with two sets of very enthusiastic supporters, and a great game to follow.
Romford came with revenge in mind for the defeat by Manor earlier in the season and started the brighter as Clark forced an early save from Prince, Manor then pushed forward and a succession of corners failed to produce the equaliser, with Nielsen, Fola, Midford & Passfield all going close. Manor had the visitors on the back foot and were looking the more likely to break the deadlock when a superb 4 man passing move ended with Lewis Passfield striking a great goal bound effort, but found the Romford keeper in fine form and his shot was pushed wide for a corner.
Still Manor pressed for the opener and when Forde was upended in the box, it looked as though the pressure had finally paid off, Quinny struck a superb kick, but again the keeper made an outstanding save, and both sides went in level at the break. More end-to-end stuff in the second half, with both sides creating chances, with the better of these falling to Manor, but despite this the scores still stayed level. The best move of the afternoon came when, Nielsen fed Midford, he then sent Whitelock away and when his cross found the unmarked Johnny Quinn some 6yds out a goal looked certain, as Quinn hit a cracking half volley only for the visitors keeper to make yet another quality save. Forde the had a great chance to break the deadlock when a Manor short corner was chipped into the box, the striker lost his marker, but headed straight to the keeper with goal at his mercy. A draw looked a sure bet as injury time beckoned, and with 93mins on the clock a hopeful ball into the Manor box caught the defence napping and Steve King nipped in at the far post to steal it for Romford. Manor’s M.O.M. went to Danny Midford, a rock in the Manor Midfield.