Reserves romp home 4-0 despite fancy dress prior to game-under manager Josh Mann!!

Photo - the shy and modest Josh Mann who donned the mantle of reserve team manager for their last game at home-and not a bad managerial debut as the team won 4-0
RIDGEONS RESERVES SOUTH - SATURDAY APRIL 30th
BRANTHAM RESERVES 4 LONG MELFORD RESERVES 0
Match report by "Manager of the day"- JOSH MANN
With us sealing runners-up spot the previous week the gaffers decided to make yourself available for selection then fancy dress must be worn on arrival al the club for this last game of the campaign. I arrived to find Spartacus, Batman, a Gangster, a gay ( Cookie), 118 man, Superman and many more and fair play everyone arrived in fancy dress. It was then decided by the boys to pull names out of the hat and play in those positions. Kev Mann pulled out the number 1 and there was a large sigh of relief in the dressing room. Josh Mann then made himself manager for the day (modest chap our Josh!!) and he also completed the notes so I apologise (writes Nathan Burrell) if I have not figures out your click and cross system.
The lads took to the field in their usual blue kit and in a match that saw referee Dave Duffett clock up his 375th game in the middle, what a great record and he will always be assured of a warm welcome at Brantham. It took a little while for the boys to find their feet in their new positions and Long Melford sprung the offside trap and Kev Mann made a great save one-on-one with the Melford forward. We eventually found our feet after 10 minutes and started to actaully play some decent passing football with James Long and Adam Thompson looking accomplished at full back. Ben Green and Danny Garrad (good to see height in the middle of the back four!!) were our centre back partnership and to be honest they had the Melford forwards in their pockets. We started to play from the back and opened the scoring after 15 minutes when James Long played a great ball through to Shaun Webb who carried it into the box and finished well to give us the lead. It was all Brantham and we quickly made it 2-0 when Ben Spencer scored a fine individual goal, in fact reading Josh Mann's notes, he described it as the best goal he has ever seen? when Ben found himself beating two defenders before dropping the shoulder to put the keeper on the floor and walking the ball into the net for a fine individual goal. Scott Cooke, who was playing up front with Alex Street,then had a florious chance to open his account when from another James Long cross Scott chested it down perfectly only to hit the corner flag with his effort! Scott did get then get onto the score sheet with a classy finish and ,again. described by Josh Mann as the second best goal he has ever seen on the notes, when Scott slotted home from a good 20 yards out to give us a 3-0 half time lead.
I cannot comment on what was said at half time as I was completing my warm up (writes Nathan again) expecting to enter the fray shortly.James Turned replaced Shaun "Danger mouse" Webb and soon got into action with his non-stop running and commitment. Ben Spencer then had a glorious chance to grab his second when James"The Monkey" Long cut the ball back from the by-line only for Ben to hit home a glorious air shot and the ball was duly cleared.
The large crowd then got what they had been waiting for all afternoon with Nathan Burrell and Allan Merchant replacing Ross Welton and Scott Cooke. the formation was changed and the new strike force of Burrell and Merch was formed, to be honest Ollie Mann and Lee Grimwood have been warned, the pace and power was outrageous from the two big fellas and personally Mr.Hall should have a look!! We were creating chances at will and Kev Mann broke through but put the ball just past the post. Then the veterans hit-man was put through by a lovely dinked pass from James Long and with the old legs not moving to fast he unleashed a rocket from 25 yards only to see the ball cannon off the bar ( tears have been shed!). We then scored our fourth and last goal of the game when Danny Garrad walzted past a couple of defenders ( a natural for Come Dancing!!) and calmly slotted past the keeper for a great finish. Ben Spencer still had time to miss another couple of chances but in the end we ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.
So second place acheived and we finished 3 points behind league winners Braintree, with the real damage being done when we had to replay the Witham game. We originally won that 5-0 only to lose the replayed match 3-0. But all in all a fantastic season and full credit to all the players that have played for Merch and myself this season. One interesting fact is that this season we had 21 different goal scorers, so as you cvan see it has been a great squad effort, and that includes people whio have dropped down from the 1st team and the Dev.A team players who have made the step up, MANY THANKS.
Brantham - 1.Kev Mann. 2. James Long. 3. Adam Thompson. 4.Ross Welton. 5.Danny Garrad ( 1 goal). 6.Ben Green. 7.Shaun Webb ( 1 goal). 8. Alex Drouet. 9.Alex Street. 10.Scott Cook ( 1 goal). 11. Ben Spencer (1 goal) . subs - James Turner and the "Caped crusadors" themselves, Nathan Burrell and Allan Merchant.
Many thanks to Josh Mann/Nathan Burrell for the match report. I know that both Merch and Nathan and everybody who has turned out for the reserve team have done not only the club, but also themselves proud, well done to each and every person.---barry felgate--