The Braves had just 4 survivors from the Essex Senior Cup defeat at Burnham Ramblers when they took the field against Bowers & Pitsea after Neil Barratt's injury in the warm up.

The first half hour saw both goalkeepers worked, but there was little quality in the game as half time approached the game seemed to be heading for 0-0 at the interval.

However, a ball hooked forward by Bowers caught the Manor flat footed at the back and Fenntiman struck home the opener for the visitors. 90 seconds later and the game was almost beyond the Manor's reach. Another lapse in concentration allowed a ball through to find its way to Paul Carr and the experienced forward slipped the ball under the advancing Michael Wakefield for 2-0.

The home side improved after the break and the introductions of Tom Nyama and Courtney Linton added some much needed pace and penetration to the attack. Joe May went close from a free kick and Linton almost found the vital way back into the game when racing onto a through ball, but he was at full stretch as he reached the ball and couldn't lift his finish enough to beat the advancing goalkeeper.

In added time as the Manor reverted to a 4-2-4 formation in desperate search of a lifeline, the visitors broke away and Paul Carr was unmarked to add salt to the Manor's wounds by tucking away a third goal.

Man of the Match

Carl Bailey - Consistent even when things were going wrong around him.

Manor Team:

1 Michael Wakefield
2 Richard Simpson
3 Chris Barratt
4 Carl Bailey 
5 Danny Alleyne (replaced by number 14)
6 Sid Nelson
7 Joe May (replaced by number 16)
8 Dean Frett (c)
9 Danny Clarke 
10 Scott Lovett (replaced by number 15)
11 Isaac Alabi

12 Joe Nightingill
14 Courtney Linton
15 Tom Nyama
16 Paul Marin