County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP
 
 

SOUTHEND MANOR   2 - 0   STANSTED            

After Extra Time
 
Extra time goals from substitutes Boris Butora and Wilfred Msiska guided Southend Manor into the Third Round of this season's FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup.

The match was in some doubt after heavy rainfall across Essex during the day and the kick-off was put back by fifteen minutes after a number of Stansted players were caught up in heavy traffic, meaning the referee's watch had ticked past ten o'clock by the time that Manor eventually took the lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

When the goal did arrive it was a cracking effort, Butora holding off the attentions of Rob Whitfield before smashing Matthew Crumbie's incisive through ball past Matt Cope into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Indeed, the three replacements all had a part to play as the hosts dominated the extra thirty minutes of action, and three minutes later Crumbie squared to Msiska, who was only denied by a brave block from Cope.

Greig Taylor, impressive in Stansted's victory over Hullbridge Sports in the last round, spurned an opportunity for an equaliser two minutes from the end as his acrobatic close-range effort was deflected over the crossbar and, with a mere ten seconds remaining, Manor ensured their progress. Butora passed to Crumbie, whose unselfish pass allowed Msiska to larrup the ball into an unguarded net.

The initial ninety minutes had been largely uninspiring, and the events of extra time contradicted much of what had gone before as Adam Seal in the homesters' goal continually denied Stansted.

Bobby Ellis, who had the distinction of being booked inside the first minute, chipped speculatively over the crossbar shortly afterwards for the Airportmen, whilst Essex Under 18s defender Gary Hickey was called upon to charge down Paul Seymour's swivelling shot.

In first half stoppage time the visitors twice had chances to take the lead, firstly as Casey Clarke headed Seymour's corner comfortably over the crossbar whilst unmarked and then again when Jonathan Wheatstone blocked Olley Slater's shot.

Aaron Baldwin went close for Southend just before the hour mark as he attempted to hook Andrew Lilleker's lofted pass under pressure from Cope, but normal service was resumed when Seal was forced to palm Ross Crabtree's fierce 25-yard shot around the post. Two minutes later, Seal parried away Taylor's close-range shot after confusion in the Manor penalty area and seconds afterwards he turned Butora's low effort around the right-hand post.

Extra time was the inevitable conclusion, even with Ross Webster (for the hosts) and Adam Syrett (the Stansted winger) both going close inside the last ten minutes. And so to the late show, which saw Manor take their place in the Third Round draw alongside near-neighbours Southend United, Colchester United and Dagenham & Redbridge, amongst others.

Southend Manor: Adam Seal, David Birnie, Andrew Lilleker, Craig Davies (Boris Butora, 66), Gary Hickey, Jonathan Wheatstone, David Tubbs (Matthew Crumbie, 90), Ross Webster, Aaron Baldwin, Martin Stanton-Hope (Wilfred Msiska, 56), Grant Khory-Davinson. Unused Substitutes: Jason Jay, Bobby Mason.

Stansted: Matt Cope, Bobby Ellis, Tommy Spillane (Ricardo Allured, 107), Dean Morgan, Rob Whitfield, Ross Crabtree, Paul Seymour, Olley Slater (James Webster, 56), Greig Taylor, Casey Clarke (Lee Bridges, 76), Adam Syrett. Unused Substitute: Billy Field.

Bookings: Stansted: Ellis (1, unsporting behaviour), Taylor (96, dissent), Seymour (112, dissent).

Referee: Ross Wooding (Romford).

Assistant Referees: Warren Northcott (Rayleigh) and Jonathan Smith (Wickford).

Attendance: T.B.A.

Man of the Match: Adam Seal (Southend Manor) - A string of fine saves during the second half kept his side in the game and he gained his reward when Manor netted two extra time goals.