Eton Manor 3-2 Waltham Forest

Forest look destined to finish in the bottom three of the Essex Senior League as they went down 3-2 to a hard-working Eton Manor side who made the most of Forest’s defensive frailties.

Forest started far the brighter side as Jose Agua scuffed an early chance to volley in at the back post, while Alan Callaghan had a chested effort cleared off the line moments after.

Agua was then put through by Prince Madu but he shot high and wide.

At the other end Kazim Bishop should have done better with two of his team-mates waiting for a tap-in, but the winger could only square the ball to Alex Catana.

Bishop made no mistake with 35 minutes played though, rolling the ball calmly past Catana after Forest had failed to clear.

On the stroke of half time, Agua made up for his earlier misses, slicing a shot into the top corner after being put through by Madu.

But four minutes into the second half Forest were behind again. A low shot across the box was deflected off the line by Sakhie Hlatshwako but only into Dan Crowie’s knees – the deflection somehow hitting the crossbar, then the far post before eventually nestling in the net.

Forest responded again on 56, George Falana deflecting a Miguel Lopes de Matos corner into his own neck.

But Bishop and Manor had the last laugh. A long-range effort could only be parried by Catana, and Bishop bundled the loose ball in.

Forest tried for a third equaliser, with Mekki Moussa going closest, but Sam Hayward was barely troubled in the Manor goal.

Forest now take on Hullbridge Sports at Wadham Lodge on Saturday.