STANSTED 1 (S Thomas) SOUTHEND MANOR 1 (D Kemp) STANSTED S poor form in front of goal cost them dearly as they wasted the chance to win their third Essex Senior League game of the season. The Airportmen s front two of Sean Thomas and Tony Mercer both spu

STANSTED 1

(S Thomas)

SOUTHEND MANOR 1

(D Kemp)

STANSTED'S poor form in front of goal cost them dearly as they wasted the chance to win their third Essex Senior League game of the season.

The Airportmen's front two of Sean Thomas and Tony Mercer both spurned several good chances, on Saturday, with the former somehow managing to miss two open goals.

Thomas had the only real chance of a dull opening 20 minutes, shooting straight at Manor keeper Steve Ridgley, but he did manage to open the scoring in the 21st minute with a Route One goal.

A long drop-kick from keeper Wes Jackman bounced just inside the Manor half where Thomas held off a defender before slotting it under the advancing Ridgley.

Mick Barrows went close to levelling the score with a hook just over the bar five minutes later while, at the other end, Chris Nolan saw his shot parried to safety by Ridgley.

On a sticky pitch, a slip from Tony Murphy nearly proved costly for the hosts, but Ben Barnett's weak shot was comfortably saved by Jackman.

Veteran Mel Ramsey had a justifiable shout for a penalty eight minutes before the break when he was bundled over in the box after a good run by Thomas.

Nolan went close straight after the break and Stansted were made to pay in the 53rd minute when Danny Kemp hit a half-volley past Jackman after a cross from right.

From then on, the Airportmen had the majority of the chances, with substitute AJ Adedeji blazing wide from close range, Thomas missing when it seemed easier to score, and Mercer firing wide twice.

At the other end, Alan Penfold's team did have a bit of luck when Jackman let Barnett's weak shot through his legs, only for the effort to be surprisingly ruled out for offside.

But both teams saved the best misses until injury time.

Thomas somehow managed to knock the ball over the bar from close range and he was matched 30 seconds later when Manor's James Hayden also blasted over when he seemed certain to grab all three points.

Stansted: W Jackman, Stuart Rodwell, G Bennett, Shaun Rodwell, J Wellbrook, T Murphy, C Nolan (TJ Adedeji), M Ramsey (R Sandiford), S Thomas, A Doverstone (L Baker), T Mercer. Unused subs: D Penfold, A Parkes.

n Stansted will be looking to move up a place in the Essex Senior League, on Saturday, when they travel to fellow strugglers Bowers & Pitsea, before 13th-placed Basildon United are the visitors to Hargarve Park on Tuesday evening.