The FA Vase – First Qualifying Round
Venue: Southchurch Park
Attendance: 46
2020-21 Season: Match 9
Saturday 19th September 2020 – 3pm KO
S Manor: Yellow & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Cockfosters: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red & White Socks
Manor’s club logo 
Cockfosters Emblem
Cockfosters win a hard-fought contest at Southchurch to progress in the FA Vase
Southend Manor 0 – 1 Cockfosters
Report & Photos by Scott W ([Twitter: @ScottMHC14] with additional photos by Andy Wilkins (Twitter: @wilkins_media)
The Saturday game this week saw me return to Southchurch Park to see this all-Essex Senior FA Vase First Qualifying Round tie between Southend Manor and Cockfosters. Both sides were on a high after good wins in midweek league action. Manor fielded Klinton Makayabo between the sticks, with skipper Reece Latimer alongside Liam Jarrett in central defence. On the flanks were Jordan Russell and Ben Allen, with Ronnie Edwards and Luca Frankis leading the line. Among the replacements were midfielders Matthew Keiller, Gianni Frankis and Deividas Sertveitis. The ‘Fosters named a strong squad with Brad Robinson retaining the goalkeeper’s jersey, with wingers Rueben Campbell and Reece Mosanya supporting Carl Mullings and player-boss Ryan Wade in attack. On their bench was the likes of George Beattie, Harley Haag and Ned Clarke.
Onto the match itself then and given the wind-affected conditions, that only added to a cagey start to this Vase tie. To their credit, Manor started quite well with a free-kick from midfielder Darnel Bromfield just lobbing its way over the crossbar on six minutes. Home custodian Klinton Makayabo had to be alert twice in as many minutes as firstly on ten minutes, the French ‘keeper gathered Ryan Wade’s shot before a minute later being ever-watchful in tipping opposite number Brad Robinson’s wind-assisted free-kick over the goal frame. Manor responded moments later with a decent move involving Ben Allen and Ronnie Edwards before he passed on to winger Jordan Russell whose drive was saved by Robinson. Winger Allen showed he was up for the contest moments later by getting the better of powerful visiting centre-back Dan Odamo moments later.
Chances were at somewhat of a premium as the visitors were forced to alter their tactics, with Marcus Crowther having to revert to left-back after Prince Madu was forced off with a bad knock. Both defences were on top for the majority of the half, with Dan Odamo and substitute Josh Fajobi clearing their lines well and Reece Latimer, Joe Elliott and Liam Jarrett doing the same at their end of the pitch for Manor. We finished the half with two half-chances. First on 39 minutes, Wade had another sight of goal quickly snuffed out as his shot was blocked at close range. Scarcely a minute later at the other end, Allen sent a well-hit curling drive narrowly over the right-side corner of goal.
Half-Time: Southend Manor 0 – 0 Cockfosters
Thus far the game had stuttered in patches though the intrigue was still there. Cockfosters started the second half strongly, with a fine run and cross by attacking full-back Danny Haigh only just evading forward Carl Mulings’ head at the far post merely two minutes after the re-start. Tricky midfielder Kaidyn Michael also fizzed a strike off-target as assistant boss Nick Mountford was trying to get his side into the ascendancy. On the stroke of the hour mark, another good run down the Manor right by the impressive Russell ended with a wind-affected clearance by Fajobi which found its way to Manor forward Luca Frankis, with his lay-off finding strike partner Ronnie Edwards though he was unable to bypass the highly-rated glovesman Robinson.
Manor were having enough of the ball and although replacement Deividas Sertveitis had some joy down the left flank since coming on, making some good runs, Manor were unable to sorely test Robinson. As we entered the last ten minutes, the hosts were given a warning as Campbell fired another strike wide after getting past the home backline. Even so, Cockfosters were mightily relieved when they finally broke the deadlock with five minutes left. A corner from Mosanya found Fajobi and the back post and his powerful header found the net. Manor did try to force the game to spot-kicks with Robinson making a strong punched clearance in a congested 18-yard box but it would be heartbreak for Craig Waters’ side this day.
Full-Time: Southend Manor 0 – 1 Cockfosters
To summarise, it wasn’t the best of spectacles as games go, but the conditions had a part to play in that. Manor will be disappointed at the defeat, however I believe there have more positives to take from their performance today than not. If they can keep this squad together then they may be in for a better season than last term. Cockfosters will have easier matches where they are in the game a lot more than they were at times today but their back five are resolute and coped well with losing Prince Madu to injury fairly early on.
Stand-out performances for me, starting with the visitors were Danny Haigh at right-back who was a threat going forward as well. Rueben Campbell and Kaidyn Michael did well instigate moves and made good driving runs too. Finally, substitute Josh Fajobi played his part in their defensive line making good clearances well before popping up with the winner late on. For Manor, centre-back Reece Latimer had another fine afternoon, clearing crosses in effectively on a regular basis. Right-back Joe Elliott also put in a good shift, particularly in defence while Jordan Russell had a good game on the right flank, making testing runs and crosses. Also, forward Luca Frankis showed good movement and trickery to bring others into the forward moves. Credit has to go to Cockfosters for staying in the game as they did and they progress to the Second Quali Round, where they will play away at Park View in the next round.
Teams
Southend Manor | Manager: Craig Waters | Assistant: Garry Pond
1 Klinton Makayabo (GK), 2 Joe Elliott, 3 Billy Harrison (12 Matthew Keiller 75’), 5 Liam Jarrett, 6 Reece Latimer, 14 Jack Frost, 7 Jordan Russell, 8 Darnel Bromfield, 9 Ronnie Edwards (13 Gianni Frankis 70’), 10 Luca Frankis, 11 Ben Allen (15 Deividas Sertveitis 61’
Booked: Frost | Subs Not Used: Price, Rogers
Cockfosters | Player-Manager: Ryan Wade | Assistant: Nick Mountford
1 Brad Robinson (GK), 2 Danny Haigh, 3 Prince Madu (17 Josh Fajobi 19’), 4 Matt Thomson (Capt), 5 Dan Odamo, 6 Marcus Crowther, 7 Rueben Campbell, 8 Kaidyn Michael, 9 Carl Mullings (14 Harley Haag 86’), 10 Ryan Wade (15 George Beattie 88’), 11 Reece Mosanya
Goal-scorers: Josh Fajobi [85’]
Booked: None | Subs Not Used: Clarke, Seymour, Murphy
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