The Emirates FA Cup – Extra Prelim Round
Venue: Southchurch Park
Attendance: 110 (Est)
2022-23 Season: Match 5
Saturday 6 August 2022 – 3pm KO
Manor: Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts & Yellow Socks
Cockfosters: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Last-gasp winner sends Manor through to the Prelim Round of FA Cup
Southend Manor 1 – 0 Cockfosters
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The new season’s FA Cup roared back into being this weekend with former Essex Senior side Cockfosters (now part of the Spartan South Midlands Premier) travelling to face Southend Manor, who are still among the ESL ranks. This Extra Prelim Round tie had Manor field Luca Collins in goal, with a central defensive three of Montel Shonubi, skipper Daniel Okah and Ope Mosuro, with Josh Devlin and Finlay Gregory in central midfield. Ben Allen and Ayo Awosika were the chief support for forward Robbie Farrell. Cockfosters had Charlie Mann in goal, with a defence of Kenny Norbrega, Prince Madu, Nick Barrett and Aiden Read. Skipper Matt Thomson was alongside Joe Entwistle in central midfield. Recent signings Jervon Campbell and Chikosi Basden joined stalwart forward George Beattie in attack.
This match took a little while to get going, as it was quite cagey from the get-go. Manor had early chances as Robbie Farrell and Ben Allen had early glimmers at goal, while at the other end, ‘Fosters winger Jervon Campbell was a good outlet on the right flank, using his pace to get past the Manor defence. Campbell also sent in a good cross from the right channel which Manor skipper Daniel Okah did well to clear.
Both sides were competing well, although the visitors were slightly more adept at retaining possession, however they couldn’t quite create the chances they would have liked, and their threat mostly came from set-pieces throughout the first half. Midway through the half, there was a good bit of awareness by Manor centre-back Ope Mosuro who sent in a lob which only just cleared visiting custodian Charlie Mann’s crossbar.
With half-time rapidly approaching, Mann was called into action as a fierce strike by Farrell needed a superb save by the Cockfosters goalkeeper to claw the ball away from going in the top right corner of the net. The visitors responded as midfielder Joe Entwistle send in a deft lob which was narrowly off-target, with home stopper Luca Collins being watchful.
Half-Time: Manor 0 – 0 Cockfosters
The second half began with the level of tension rising, as it became increasingly likely that this was going to be one tight Cup tie. Manor had a setback just short of the hour mark, with Mosuro receiving his second booking for holding an opponent. Even though they had the numerical advantage, ‘Fosters still could not create the sheer number of chances to really put their hosts under sustained pressure.
There was a big moment for the visitors on 78 minutes. Visiting forward George Beattie did really well to get past his marker on the left side of the penalty area, but his low strike trickled agonizingly wide of Collins’ right-side post. Manor also had a chance with four minutes remaining, which saw Ben Allen send a header straight at Mann when well-placed to score.
Added time was a tale of two big chances. Firstly on 92 minutes, a fine angled corner by Thomson found the head of full-back Prince Madu but his header was centimetres over Collins’ crossbar. Barely a minute later, the hosts delivered a powerful reply on the counter-attack as after a fine surging run through the middle by Farrell, he had the presence of mind to find substitute Kai Haysman who displayed composure to get past his marker and strike the ball into the right-side corner, past Mann and before the defenders could get back to the goal-line to block. Haysman’s goal was well-taken and the jubilation of his team-mates and the home crowd was palpable.
Full-Time: Southend Manor 1 – 0 Cockfosters
In summary, this was a competitive match although the decent crowd in attendance did have to be patient for the chances to crop up, for either side. ‘Fosters will be disappointed that they couldn’t create enough chances, particularly when they had the numerical advantage for about half hour of this tie. Manor will play better than this but you also have to respect the steel & the feel-good factor they have and boss James Wakeling and his staff have to take their share of credit for that.
There were some good performances as ever. For Manor, forwards Ben Allen and Robbie Farrell were tenacious and full of running, with Allen doing well to give his team an option and also tracked back well defensively. Farrell brought a superb save out of vising stopper Charlie Mann, right on half-time before in added-time, making the fine surging run that led to Haysman’s winning goal. Centre-back Montel Shonubi had a good afternoon, making several important interceptions to stifle Cockfosters’ enterprising approach play at times while I thought Josh Devlin also put in an all-action performance to keep things tight too.
For Cockfosters, winger Jervon Campbell was their stand-out attacking threat for large parts of the game, getting space on the right flank and put in some good crosses as well. Nick Barrett did well at the centre of their defence too, making several good aerial clearances, while Joe Entwistle had another good game in central midfield. Finally, a word for Charlie Mann who made a few smart saves to deny most of the few chances that the hosts had.
Manor have won £1,125 in prize money with this win (Source: The FA website) and will entertain Shefford Town & Campton in the Prelim Round. Congrats to them and best wishes to Cockfosters for rest of their campaign.
Lastly, thanks to our sporting pal Martyn, who watched his former club prevail along with me today.
Teams
Southend Manor | Manager: James Wakeling | Assistant: Ryan Frost
Starting XI (Subs): 1 Luca Collins (GK), 2 Ben Sargent, 18 Montel Shonubi, 17 Opeoluwa Mosuro, 4 Daniel Okah (Capt), 12 Josh Devlin, 7 Jonathan Evans (5 Keanu Hill 58′), 8 Finley Gregory, 9 Ayodele Awosika (23 Kai Haysman 58′), 10 Ben Allen, 22 Robbie Farrell
Goal-scorer: Kai Haysman [90’+3]
Booked: Farrell, Okah, Shonubi | Sent Off: Mosuro (two bookings)
Subs Not Used: Ferris, Johnson
Cockfosters | Manager: Gavin Kelsey | Assistant: Glenn Draper
Starting XI (Subs): 1 Charlie Mann (GK), 2 Kenny Norbrega, 3 Prince Madu, 5 Aiden Read, 6 Nick Barrett, 4 Matthew Thomson (Capt), 7 Daniel Ferrigno (15 Craig Arnott 65′), 8 Joe Entwistle (14 Archie Jolly 85′), 10 George Beattie, 11 Chikosi Basden, 19 Jervon Campbell (18 Denzil Effah 80′)
Booked: Campbell, Barrett
Subs Not Used: Finch, Donaghue (GK), Ugbomah, Constanti
Referee: Matthew Charles
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