4 November 2006

Epping 1 v 0 Manford Way

Epping were looking to bounce back from the previous weekend's narrow defeat to league leaders White Ensign, when they faced old rivals Manford Way. It was the visitors who started the game better, creating several chances in the first half hour. Epping struggled to find any rhythm and they looked nothing like the side that had competed so well with the league leaders the previous weekend. The game became a mundane affair with both sides failing to take any initiative and cancelling each other out. The game had 0-0 written all over it until the 80th minute when Ashley Conlan swept the ball out to Leon Rolle who took the ball down the right channel before crossing the ball in to the incoming Danny Hopkins who placed his shot well past the Manford Way keeper. This was a fortunate win for Epping, who appeared to be dragged down to their oppositions level after performing so well the previous two weeks. The Gaffer said "It was a very poor performance. I can't fault the fella's work rate or commitment but we had too many players playing below par today and to be honest we were lucky to come away with three points. However, we will play better and not come away with results and at the end of the day we have won the game."

Team: Thomas, Bulled, Godwin, Kelly, Costello (c), Taaffe, Godden, Hopkins, Rolle, Ellice, Conlan.

Subs: Ingall-Clark, Saunders, Wells.

Scorer: Hopkins