Stansted Claim First League Win - Stansted vs. Southend Manor

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This weekend I was back in the south and finally made a trip to Stansted's Hargrave Park for their Essex Senior League game against Southend Manor. I'd been planning a trip here for a long time and almost didn't go as with the previous nights rain, the game may not have gone ahead. I saw Southend Manor defeat Romford in the FA Cup last season at Southchurch Park. Both sides aren't having the best of seasons and they're both in the bottom half of the table.

Kick off at Hargrave Park

 Like last week there is a golden chance in the first minute. The Stansted winger sends over a low cross but the striker can't finish from close range. Despite the heavy pitch, both sides are trying to play football. Southend Manor then fashion a good chance but the effort is straight at the keeper. The home keeper then makes a good save from a Manor free kick. Stansted then break quickly following a mix up in the Manor midfield but they fail to punish the mistake. Stansted have another chance but the Manor keeper is equal to it and an entertaining half ends goalless.

First half action.

Stansted take the lead early in the second half. A free kick from the wing goes right across the goal and is knocked in at the far post. The game becomes very open and Stansted almost double their when a cross come shot has to be tipped over the bar. Manor then have a great chance to level but the player can't hit the target when left unmarked at the back post. They come even closer to levelling when a shot from just outside the box is tipped on to the bar. Stansted then get the vital second goal. The winger goes on a run and manages to find the striker who nods the ball home. Southend get a goal in the closing stages but it isn't enough to prevent Stansted claiming their first league of the season.

More first half action with the clubhouse behind the goal.

Hargrave Park is a short (albeit a hilly one) from Stansted Mountfitchet station. Trains here depart from Liverpool Street on a regular basis and the journey takes forty minutes. A two minute walk from the station is the Queens Head which has a real local feel to it and also has Sky Sports. There's also the Kings Arms which also does tasty looking food. The clubhouse at the ground is very friendly and you can see most of the pitch from the bar.

Dug outs side of the ground