Pre-Season Friendly
Venue: Southchurch Park
Date: Tuesday 11th July 2017 7.45pm KO
Southend Manor : Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts, Black Socks
Heybridge Swifts: Black & White Striped Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Scott W reporting (Follow me on Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a very wet evening at Southchurch Park, ESL side Southend Manor welcomed Isthmian North side Heybridge Swifts in another pre-season encounter.
The visitors started the match the brighter of the two sides and took the lead with 17 minutes on-the-clock as the impressive Ryan Henshaw getting a tap-in from close range. As the half-hour mark approached, Swifts were the better side going forward though against the run of play, Micky Hopkins slotted home past the Heybridge defence to level things up on 26’.
Heybridge didn’t rest of their laurels though as only four minutes later, new signing Harrison Chatting made a good run into the Manor box and slotted home well to restore the visitors’ lead. The visitors then extended their lead just before the break, first with a cool tap-in by fellow new signing Luke Callander and then moments later Henshaw powered in a 30-yard pile-driver as two goals in just three minutes gave Jody Brown’s side a comfortable advantage at the interval.
Half-Time: Southend Manor 1 – 4 Heybridge Swifts
The second half began with both sides making substitutions though would the changes undermine the rhythm in the second half? No chance! Heybridge continued to drive forward and create decent chances, though the Manor ‘keeper made a number of good saves during the entire match. Manor pulled another goal back ten minutes into the second half as Harry Hatt scored with a looping effort. Manor 2 – 4 Heybridge
During the next 25 minutes or so, Heybridge continued to pile forward and although the lashing rain made conditions even tougher to play on, the visitors could’ve easily got at least four more goals during this period. Though on balance, Hopkins could’ve also got a hat-trick as he missed two guilt-edged chances to reduce Manor’s deficit.
Into the last ten minutes and Heybridge finally got the reward they arguably richly deserved as Josh Fogbohun headed in from close range with six minutes remaining. Just two minutes later, fellow substitute Marley Andrews drilled an effort low into the left corner to complete an excellent showing at times from the visiting side.
Manor deserve some credit as well as they stuck to the task quite well at times though they will also know that before the season proper gets underway, they will need to improve at the back.
FT: Southend Manor 2 – 6 Heybridge Swifts
Hopkins 26’ Henshaw 17’, 44’
Hatt 55’ Chatting 30’
Callander 42’, Fogbohun 84’, Andrews 85’
In closing, I’d like to thank Southend Manor, Stuart Marshall, Peter Dudley for the earlier image & also wish both sides well for the forthcoming campaign.
survivor16b 