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The Braves came
to this match on Sunday with high expectations even
though their opponents were flying high in the Kent
League.
Soon after the start a slightly tentative Manor defence
allowed Erith to make inroads down the left flank and
a weak shot rebounded off the post into the grateful
keepers hands. This was, however, to be the only real
attack of any substance by the visitors in the first
half as the Manor soon exerted their superiority. A
great through ball from Joe May put in Danny Clarke
for what looked like the opener but the striker was
ajudged offside.
The Braves continued
to dominate and looked in control all over the park.
Skipper Dean Frett played in Joe May but his strike
was well saved by the Erith keeper. Shortly after this
the Manor looked odds on to score when Danny Clarke
was put into a great goal scoring position by Dean Frett
but somehow the ball was scooped over. By now it was
pretty much one way traffic and any foray that Erith
made into the Manor half was expertly snuffed out by
the calm and collected Manor midfield and defence. The
home side were going about their task with skill and
patience and Joe May was denied by an excellent save
by the visitors keeper.
Another great
Manor effort was cleared off the line and it seemed
just a matter of time before the Braves opened their
account but half time came without any score. After
the break the general consensus seemed to be that if
the the Manor were patient and solid then the game was
theirs for the taking against a surprisingly lack lustre
opposition. The second half opened with the Braves again
taking control and looking to get the opener.
Football is a
cruel game though and out of the blue a disastrous mistake
from an innocuous corner by the Manor keeper gifted
the opener to Erith after 53 minutes. Not to be outdone
the Manor went looking for the equaliser and Danny Clarke
and the impressive Carl Bailey both went close.Still
the Braves pressed on and Dean Frett had a goalbound
drive blocked and Scott Lovett may have chosen the wrong
option when trying to play in Frett instead of going
for goal himself.
It was not to
be the Manors day though as untypical slackness through
midfield and then defence allowed the visitors a 2nd
goal after 75 minutes. Manager Kevin Durrant rang the
changes but to no avail and the visitors just closed
out the game and although the Manor made sporadic attacks
on goal they were unable to fashion a credible chance.
Come full time and with the final score being a 2-0
defeat for the Braves, Manager Kevin Durrant and his
staff were at a loss to comprehend how they had lost
such a big game when seemingly in control for long spells.
Man
of the Match
Carl
Bailey - Faultless Performance at the back.
Manor
Team:
1 Nicky Mitchell
2 Richard Simpson
3 Joe Nightingill (replaced by number 14)
4 Carl Bailey
5 Chris Barratt
6 Manny Sackey
7 Joe May (replaced by number 17)
8 Dean Frett (c)
9 Danny Clarke (replaced by number 15)
10 Scott Lovett
11 Sid Nelson
12 Tony Hadley
14 Asa Pamplin
15 Danny Alleyne
16 Andrew Gibbons
17 David Bryan
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