GWR Steam To Top Of Table - Great Wakering Rovers vs. Southend Manor

It's almost Spring in Essex

For the first time in a long while I was able to pick a game on the previous Sunday and not have to worry about the weather (a phenomenon which looks like it will only last for one week). The game to break the trend was Great Wakering Rovers against local rivals Southend Manor in The Essex Senior League. This was also Southend Manor's first match since before Christmas in which time thirteen games in a row had been postponed! I had previously visited Southend Manor's Southchurch Park Arena for an FA Cup qualifier in which the Essex League side dumped out Ryman League Romford. Great Wakering had moved to the top of the table following a late midweek over Hullbridge Sports while Southend Manor were in the bottom half of the league standings. 

Kick off at Burroughs Park

Southend Manor have a very early chance following a long ball forward but the attacker puts the ball well over the bar. The visitors then try to score at the other as a defenders back header almost beats his own keeper. Great Wakering then have a chance of their own making when the winger breaks down the right flank and the keeper has to tip the ball over the bar. The home side are beginning to get on top and the keeper has to be alert to claim a decent ball in to the box. They create another couple of half chances before they are awarded what looks a harsh penalty for hand ball as the ball is blasted at the defender from close range. Great Wakering show no mercy to go one up. The home side then double their lead just before half time.

Manor defend a Rovers corner in the first half.

Southend Manor begin the half brightly and cause confusion in the Great Wakering penalty area before the home side are able to scramble the ball away. They are able to get a couple of long range efforts in before the home side begin to wake up. Rovers have a great chance to seal the game but the attacker fluffs his lines in the area following a fine attacking run. The dead ball delivery from Manor is poor throughout the game and another free kick in a decent position is put out of the ground. They do however get back in to the game shortly afterwards as the ball is put home from close range following a cross in to the box. Wakering have another couple of chances to pull further ahead in the closing stages but the score remains two one as they keep top spot.

Covered terracing behind the dugouts

Great Wakering is about four miles outside of Southend and the best bus to get is the number 4 / 4A from the travel centre which is a five minute walk from Southend Central Station. The journey takes around twenty minutes and there are two buses an hour. If you get off at The Exhibition Pub, the ground is less than five minutes away. Trains to Southend Central depart from Fenchurch Street and this section of the journey takes just over an hour. Although Great Wakering isn't the biggest place there are a couple of decent pubs. The first one I visited was The White Hart which looked it hadn't changed in a long time(which is a good thing!). Closer to the ground is The Exhibition Inn which had BT Sports and both did home cooked food. The clubhouse was very friendly and had the usual selection of drinks.

A brilliant full colour programme is provided by Rovers. There were a lot of stats which included the rather worrying one that Rovers are the only side in the league with an average attendance of over 100. 

Great Wakering looking for the killer third goal