Earlier this season we played Southend in a Friendly fixture. My Match report was "Lessons to Learn" Well, on Sunday our boys demonstrated that they had indeed learned their lessons well and scored 99% in this monumental clash.
We asked the boys to step up this week to a significantly higher level in a League fixture that we really thought we could win.From the kick off it was clear that Eton Manor were here to win and this continued for long periods of the game. Southend are a class team and it would have been foolish not to expect them to have their share of the game and it looked like it would be 0:0 at half-time but Southend pressed hard in the dying minutes of the half and, despite stroog defense, the try was scored in the last minute.
0:5 at half time then.
Southend kicked off the second half and Nye was put in the clear with one man to beat and ran half the length of the pitch to score. 5:5. the two teams then exchanged tries, Southend then Eton Manor. 10:10! Eton Manor then pressed hard and pinned Southend back and were held up and had several opportunities to score but were unable to convert the pressure. We then paid the price as Southend broke form almost their own line and the winger showed his pace and ran home another last minute try to snatch victory,
10:15.
I hope the boys know how proud of them we were on Sunday. Not least, for their behavior in defeat which was exemplary. If there is a lesson from today it is the good teams win ugly and sometimes the better team doesn't win!