Essex Senior League – Premier Division
Venue: Southchurch Park
Attendance: 36
2021-22 Season: Match 14
Tuesday 24th August 2021 – 7.45pm KO
S Manor: Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Ath Newham: Blue & White Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks
Superb comeback from Newham claims the points at Manor
Southend Manor 3 – 4 Athletic Newham
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The midweek main match was another visit to Southchrch Park to see Southend Manor face Essex Senior League newcomers Athletic Newham. Both sides exited the FA Cup three days previously and have been scoring goals – but also conceding them so was we in for more of the same here? Was we ever! Manor’s squad was again affected by injuries but could still field regular stopper Jack Allen in goal with a back four of Ben Sargent, Billy Harrison with James Hegarty and Alex Jenkins as centre-backs. Luca Frankis once again led the forward line alongside Josh Devlin, with Isaac Acquah and Jordan Chambers on the flanks in support. Options from the sidelines included forwards Conor Cobb and Harry Rogers and midfielder Jordan Russell for Craig Waters’ team. Athletic Newham brought a strong attack-minded team with Richard Kone, skipper Joel Appiah and experienced forward Tony Cookey making up their forward line. Alvaro Guerrero and Anderson Baro were part of a creative midfield and Wilkinson Boateng was once again selected as goalkeeper for Chris Davis’ side.
The match started well for Southend Manor who had an early sight of goal four minutes in as a free-kick from Alex Jenkins found Isaac Acquah in space at the far post but the latter was unable to turn his strike into the net. The hosts were keen to fizz crosses into the six-yard area with visiting goalkeeper Wilkinson Boateng electing to parry the ball away from danger in the early part of the match. Newham were swift on the counter-attack as ever though and ten minutes in, a great pass by playmaker Anderson Baro found the run of rapid forward Richard Kone who hammered a good strike which came back off the left-side goalpost with some pace. That was a warning for Manor which ultimately they didn’t heed but they could count themselves a little unfortunate in how they fell behind here. On fourteen minutes, a clearance from a home defender cannoned off full-back Ben Sargent and into the path of Kone who cut inside and struck home into the net past home custodian Jack Allen.
The home side were causing some nervy moments for Newham from set-pieces and six minutes after they went behind, Manor levelled from one said set-piece. Boateng clawed a cross away but didn’t get enough on it which allowed Manor forward Luca Frankis to pounce and head into the net from close range in a congested penalty area. With the half-hour mark approaching, forward Joel Appiah’s strike was well-saved by Allen, though the assistant’s flag would have denied him anyway. By this point, Newham were really in the match though in another twist, Manor took the advantage for the first time on 32 minutes. Another Jenkins free-kick managed to catch Boateng off his goal-line and the ball was lofted over him and into the net.
However, there was another swift change of fortune barely a minute afterwards as Newham showed all of their quality & skill to level the match again. Richard Kone powered home a fine strike which flew past Allen, low into the net on the left-side. Minutes after that, the tempo was building further as Jenkins had a half-chance gathered by Boateng and visiting forward Tony Cookey also had a decent chance saved by Allen following another good move.
Half-Time: Southend Manor 2 – 2 Athletic Newham
After the interval, it was the hosts who edged the opening moments of the second half as Acquah played in winger Jordan Chambers but the Newham defence denied him a clear chance at Boateng’s goal. Frankis also had another effort sail wide but three minutes later, it was Newham’s turn to feel frustrated. Another really good long pass by Anderson Baro found Kone again and after another good run, Kone blazed his effort wide of Allen’s goal. On the hour, Manor responded with a well-taken goal to give them the lead again, as good hold-up play by Chambers occupied the Newham defence, allowing right-back Ben Sargent to advance and Chambers managed to get a pass in, which Sargent fired home a good effort into the corner again. Newham defender Perez Goumou made a number of good interceptions for his side, which would prove important in the latter stages.
Both sides traded chances as we entered the last twenty minutes of the match, with midfielder Jordan Faulkner firing wide for Manor and Cookey also off-target for the visitors. However, the game turned late on as with nine minutes remaining, another terrific run down the left channel by Kone ended up finding Baro who struck his effort wide when in a really good position to score. At this point, Newham skipper Joel Appiah had been sent into the sin-bin by referee Leigh Ballinger. Frankis had to be substituted as well at this point, with Conor Cobb replacing him. Newham went into another gear to try and grab a point with Manor defending deep and Newham got a dramatic leveller on 89 minutes with Kone again involved in the build-up but it was defender Louis Hiobi who fired a good strike past Allen, much to the delight of the visitors.
Newham sensed that the comeback was on right there and barely a minute after replacing Cookey, substitute Reon Reid was well found again by Baro and Reid made no mistake with a good finish to break the hosts’ resolve and ultimately claim all three points in what was a brilliant match for the neutral.
Full-Time: Southend Manor 3 – 4 Athletic Newham
In summary, this was a really open, entertaining match and Chris Davis’ Newham side really showed they are a strong-willed team, as well as showing the quality they have, particularly in attack. Manor put so much into the match but their decision to defend deep in the latter stages ultimately didn’t go well for them in a match that had pretty much everything – great finishing, great chances created and an enthralling high tempo for most of the match. You have to give both teams a lot of credit for the type of match we saw here.
There were a number of good performances in this encounter. For victors Newham, forward Richard Kone was again the driving force for his team, scoring two goals and creating a lot of problems down the flanks with his movement and rapid pace. Playmaker Anderson Baro also had a good game, making some astute passes and looked to build quick attacking moves, with skipper Joel Appiah playing his part in the forward line and defender Louis Hiobi also made a number of good interceptions during the game, as well as the well-taken late goal. Manor’s stand-out players were led by forward Luca Frankis who took his goal well and generally gave the visiting defence a tricky evening with his physicality and movement. Winger Jordan Chambers had another fine match too, showing a big work rate down the flanks and played his part in his side’ third goal by occupying defenders. Defenders Alex Jenkins and James Hegarty also did well to clear their lines as often as they did but ultimately the pace and creativity of Newham’s counter-attacks did prove telling.
I’d like to wish both teams a good rest of the season.
Teams
Southend Manor | Manager: Craig Waters | Assistant: Garry Pond
Starting XI: 1 Jack Allen (GK), 2 Ben Sargent, 3 Billy Harrison, 4 Kiah Froud, 5 James Hegarty, 6 Alex Jenkins, 7 Jordan Chambers, 8 Jordan Faulkner, 9 Luca Frankis (Capt) (15 Conor Cobb 82′), 10 Josh Devlin, 11 Isaac Acquah (14 Jordan Russell 66′)
Goal-scorers: Luca Frankis [20′], Alex Jenkins [32′], Ben Sargent [60′]
Booked: Sargent, Chambers, Harrison | Subs Not Used: Brocklebank, Frost, Rogers
Athletic Newham | Manager: Chris Davis | Assistant: Timothy Tejuoso
Starting XI: 1 Wilkinson Boateng (GK), 3 Louis Hiobi, 2 Perez Goumou, 7 Jeff Idemudia, 8 Alvaro Guerrero, 14 Akin Akinola, 19 Emmanuel Odunaike (6 Yousupha Gaye 68′), 15 Anderson Baro, 10 Joel Appiah (Capt), 17 Richard Kone, 9 Tony Cookey (11 Reon Reid 90′)
Goal-scorers: Richard Kone [14′ & 33′], Louis Hiobi [89′], Reon Reid [90′ +1]
Booked: Odunaike, Appiah (Sin-Bin) | Subs Not Used: Toke, Gbade, Barrow
Referee: Leigh Ballinger
Assistants: Elliott Hardcastle & Joe Lennon
survivor16b 