DARREN Manning remains undefeated after completing the first 10 matches of his first full season as a manager in senior football.

Hullbridge Sports remain clear at the top of the Essex Senior League standings after securing a 1-0 win over Redbridge.

And Manning, who took over as boss midway through last term, believes continuing to keep clean sheets could prove crucial if Sports are to win promotion come the end of the campaign.

Manning said: “It was a massive win.

“I said to the boys at half-time that it’s not going to be pretty, it’s not going to be nice to watch or nice to play in, but find a way.

“They’ve done it again. Time after time, they keep digging out results.

“A point would have possibly been a fair result but they found a way to win and the back four have kept another clean sheet.

“I always say that clean sheets get you promotions so we just need to keep doing what we’re doing.”

After a cagey first half which ended goalless, Hullbridge got the second period off to a fine start.

Home goalkeeper Lewis Greene pulled off a fine save to deny Jimmy Cox just five minutes after the break.

But the winner came with 62 minutes on the clock as Nathan Scarborough headed home a Rob Hodgson cross.