Southend Manor 0, Witham Town 1 (From Echo)

Southend Manor 0, Witham Town 1

12:22pm Monday 30th January 2012

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WITHAM moved into pole position in the title race as Rob Whitnell’s first-half penalty settled a tight game at a rain-swept Southchurch Park.

Manor were on top before left-back Jamie Mathews cut down winger Sam Taylor and Whitnell fired in his 22nd goal of the season from the spot.

Witham were much better after the restart and dug in to secure three points which saw them leapfrog Manor and move top of the table with a game in hand.

It left the two teams level on 50 points — with Witham enjoying a superior goal difference — and has set up a mouth-watering return fixture in prospect next Tuesday, February 7.

Manor boss Russell Faulkner said his side are still well in the title hunt.

“The good thing is we get to play them again soon, and this game will be fresh in our boys’ minds,” he said.

“Their pitch is big and good to play football on, and that will suit us, whereas the pitch didn’t today.

“So we are looking forward to going there because we always play well there.

“And now we have just got to beat them basically, because that game is now a six-pointer.

“But there is lots of football to between now and the end of the season.

“They’ve still got to play Burnham and Bethnal Green and go to places like that, so there’s a long way to go yet.”

Witham manager Garry Kimble said: “This was a big win for us and we are delighted with it.

“But I think our next five games are going to be crucial. If we are top after those games then we can keep it in our hands, which it is now.

“We are level with Manor with a game in hand, and Enfield drew again today.

“So it is looking OK. But we have 13 games to go and I think if we win 12 of them we have won the league; it’s as simple as that.”

Manor started with their 50-goal strike pairing of Wilf Msiska and Gary Paterson on the bench as Ben Hudson lead the line in front of a five-man midfield.

And they had a great chance to take a 27th-minute lead but Hudson mis-timed his jump and just failed to get his head on Jamie Oates’ left wing cross with the goal at his mercy.

Witham’s first sight of goal was a precursor for what would later result in their penalty as Taylor got past Mathews but fired wide from a tight angle.

And four minutes before the break Witham left-back Seb Murfet set off on a terrific over-lapping run down the flank before whipping a ball into the box.

Manor failed to clear their lines and Taylor poked it past Mathews, and the on-loan Canvey defender took his legs away just inside the box.

Home keeper Adam Seal had no chance as Whitnell fired the resulting spot kick high into the top-right corner.

Manor replaced Hudson with Msiska at the start of the second half and he had an immediate impact, threading the ball through for Chris Baddeley to stab a good chance wide.

Taylor again got the better of Mathews on the hour mark and squared for John Watson to fire in a low effort which was hacked off the line.

Baddeley then drew a finger-tip save from Danny Sambridge with a 20-yard shot, before Paterson came on to further bolster the home attack.

But it was Witham who were next to go close as Watson created space in the box to turn and fire a few feet wide.

For the first time in the match the Witham defence failed to deal with a long ball forward with three minutes to go. But, with a clear sight of goal from the edge of the box, Msiska dragged his shot wide.

And there was still time for one last chance as Witham failed to deal with a Mathews cross from the left, but home skipper Terry Griffiths blazed the loose ball over the bar.

Southend Manor (4-5-1): Seal; East, Vaughan, Griffiths, Mathews; Hollingsworth (Brown 80), Britnell (Paterson 67), Baddeley, Oates, Smith; Hudson (Msiska 46).

Witham Town: (4-4-2): Sambridge; Pethers, Stopher, Harris, Murfet; Taylor, Bradley, Godbold, Lopez (Cocklin 82); Watson, Whitnell.