Match report by: Alex Byrne 

Team: (3-1-3-2-1) Jerry Spencer; Stu Hooker; Richard Shephard; Al Byrne; Claudio Grandi; Olly Grundy; Stu Mellon; Al Harknett; Ian Kitteringham; Nick Gage; Tim Curry. Subs Brett Cadman; Shaun McNeill; Jamie Glister.

Goals: Nick Gage, Stu Mellon

Cards: Shaun McNeill (Y)

MoM: Jerry Spencer

DoD: Nipper

Manly.. take 2. The first game against Manly this season was disappointing.. a solid first half reaped no rewards and we got caught out at the very end of the half and the opening of the second. A panicky response led to a further 3 passing us for a 5-0 win to Manly. To say the least, we had a point to prove in the follow up game. It was billed the game of the season, we needed a win and we wanted a win! From the off we put Manly under a good spell of pressure, everyone working hard off the ball to create chances. The Rich / Claud's combo continuing to work well at the back, cool and calm under a high press from Manly, still distributing the ball with confidence and measure, facilitated by the tireless midfielders running off-the-ball to create space and the occasional opportunity for the long ball up to the front line. Mid-way through the first half, a strong umpiring performance from Bradders was dented by disallowing a goal, blowing his whistle a second to early for a short just as the ball hit the back of the net. Not discouraged the team kept attacking and won another short corner. The initial shot from the right slip TC was saved by the keeper but Gagey was there to sweep the ball home, continuing his goal scoring streak.

GOALFLASH 1-0

Easts Manly rotated their subs up front, switching pace for experience and causing some concern at the back with their switching cross over runs, but the back line held it together well... until Shaun, back from injury, careered onto the pitch to charge down a player and hack the ball away with the wrong side of his stick. Gary, on-looking was delighted with his technique. Mike, umpiring down at our end wasn't so impressed and held up an invisible card (Not sure if it was meant to be green or yellow) and Shaun had a chance to rest up that dodgy calf once again. The following short was executed well and Jerry pulled off a great log-like save from a powerful strike. At the other end we persisted with some great passing, calm in possession with the ball and offering passes with confidence to players running off and towards the oncoming balls. Eventually a great show of dribbling into the D around a couple of defenders gave Stu M the opportunity to fall over... but swinging a nice tomahawk shot off on his way down.. a welcoming crash of the backboard. "Average" was shouted from the temporary morale coach on the sideline.

GOALFLASH- 2-0

Easts Manly continued with the high press putting the back line's 16s under pressure but to little avail. The final action of note from the first half was a salmon-like save from Jerry. Another well executed short from Manly, drag-flick to the top left corner only to be pushed around the post by a surprisingly acrobatic Jerry.

HALF TIME

The second half was a different story. The space in the middle of the park was bypassed and the game looked more like a mass game of tennis with end to end action. Olly supplying some great drags into the D only to be deflected anywhere but into the back of the net. Their keeper deserves some credit for his reactional saves, but TC gets the close to DoD "Must try harder". This was cemented by his shot past the far post from only yards away. The backline, noticeably under alot more pressure in the second half still kept the goals out and minimised the shorts by making challenges outside of the D (as well as resting Gary through injury). Some scary moments at the back were flipped into opportunities at the far end in just seconds, with 16s being taken quickly. An exciting half. The final play of the game was short to Manly. Despite having ten players lined up around the D the striker decided to hit the ball straight into the back of the net. Too high, disallowed, game-set and match. 11 goals from 3 games and A CLEAN SHEET (first since May). Claudio gets some fantasy points too. Yet another inspiring performance to carry over into the next game, and indeed the next season.

FULL TIME

Other note worthy points - this was the third straight win since Nipper left (and thus deserving of his DoD), and since Stu H has joined the back line (sadly his last performance for the 2s before returning to the Northern Hemisphere).