Manford Way welcomed Canning Town to the London Marathon Playing Fields in the Essex Olympian League.

What a surprise Manford were missing players!! With a back four containing midfielder Kevin McAnulty at centre-back, midfielder Adam Marsh at left-back and young striker Tommy Richardson at right-back Manford needed a resilient performance to gain all 3 points.

Manford started the brighter with the mid-3 of Marjason, Allie and Burton dominating possession and putting pressure on the Town back four. Chances started to arrive for Manford with St Hiliare and the returning Stadhart going close. Manford continued to pile forward and the breakthrough finally came from Manford’s enforcer Frank Allie. A superb 1–2 with Stadhart saw Allie one-on-one in the box with the keeper with Allie taking a touch before calmly side footing the ball past the Town keeper: 1 – 0.

Canning Town reacted well to going behind and began getting on top with Manford giving away needless free-kicks allowing Town to pump balls into the box. It was from one of these free-kicks that Slasher (cheers Russ) Blewitt came to punch but got bumped by a number of players with the ball pinging around the box before falling to Town forward Smith who bundled the ball home: 1 – 1.

Manford regained the lead just before half-time through striker Lovell. Some neat football around the area gave Lovell a free shot on goal and he smashed the ball in to the back of the net: 2 – 1.

The second half was a battle with the pitch beginning to cut up but it was Canning Town who were coping the better and were putting the pressure on Manford’s make-shift back four. Canning Town came close to an equalizer when the impressive Smith struck the bar with a fine shot with Richardson clearing the rebound. This was to be Town’s best effort as Manford battled it out to the final whistle to secure the 3 points.

A scrappy performance but an important victory as Manford hold on to an outside chance of the league title.