Written by Scott W [@ScottMHC14] – Non-League & EOFL Writer
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Essex Olympian League action, covering the league & several Cup games on Saturday 20 April and the last five weeks or so of the season.
EOFL Premier Division, Division One & Two
In the Premier Division this week, we begin with the six-pointer at the bottom which saw Canning Town edge to a 3 – 2 victory over Harold Wood Athletic at Little Heath. Lewis Gardener’s superb treble for Town was enough to claim the points his side simply had to get. Wood’s scorers were Ryan Dear and Brandon Wood. These two sides will do battle again in Canning’s last game at Harold Wood Rec, set for May 1st. Wood still have seven matches to get themselves out of relegation danger. The promotion-chasers both got maximum points – leaders Rayleigh Town won 3 – 1 at Toby. Substitute Rhys Willson scored for the Brewers but another brace by Adam Wright & another goal for Alfie Larkin meant Town go back to the summit, a point clear of Old Southendian with one match in hand. Sungate got the vital win they needed, defeating Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 4 – 0 at the Jack Carter Centre 3G. Owen Knapman, Solomon Asomah, Robbie Farrell & substitute Elton Tettey all got goals as Ricky Defreitas’ side remain six points adrift of Rayleigh, although the two sides will face each other at Thames Road next month.
The other match in the top-tier saw 5th face 4th as Old Chelmsfordians drew 3 – 3 with Catholic Utd. Jonny Waskett, Shane Pritchard and Bradley Hibbitt all scored for the OC’s but forwards James Warder, Franklin Craik and Aaron Baldwin all struck to claim a draw for Utd – two wins from their last four matches will be enough to seal fourth spot for Simon Thomas’ side.
Into the five matches in Division One, we start at the bottom with Beacon Hill Rovers‘ fine 3 – 2 win at May & Baker A. Jack Walker’s brace & Bertie Whymark’s strike outdid goals for Kane Messenger and Chris Roberts and took Rovers out of the bottom two and they have two more matches to play than rivals Epping Town. The Stonards Hill-based side fell to second bottom as they lost 0 – 3 to Hashtag Utd Development. Kai Warren’s 15th league goal this term plus goals for Tommy Green & Tony Stevens kept Utd in a good position in the promotion race. Wakering Sports extended their lead at the summit to nine points after a hard-fought 2 – 1 win at Manford Way. Connor Fardyga continues to have a fine season and his 25th league goal and another from David Watson confirmed the victory for Gary Hanger’s side. Kenneth Amaning got Manford’s goal but they remain sixth.
Meanwhile, Galleywood got another three points with a good 2 – 1 home win over Harold Hill in the early game. Josh Lapidus and Leonard Green both netted to see ‘Wood rise to eighth now. Finally, Harold Wood Athletic Res powered to a 5 – 0 win over bottom side Shoebury Town at Harold Wood Rec. Kieran Moynihan led the way with a hat-trick, added to by Matthew Harris’ double and seal the win that pretty much will keep Ath out of the bottom two.
Moving into the five matches in Division Two now and Catholic Utd Res got another hard-fought win at the Len Forge, defeating Old Southendian Res 2 – 1. Joseph Buck scored for OS but two goals from Michael Clark took his tally to 27 league goals now this term & took his side twelve points clear at the summit. Rivals Basildon Town Res do have five games in hand on them but have an unenviable seven matches remaining to squeeze in the last few weeks of the campaign. Leigh Town maintained their superb recent form with a 3 – 1 triumph over Hutton Res at John Burrows Rec. Chris Pope grabbed two goals, along with player-boss Tommy Clayton’s strike. Jude Keeling got the Reds’ goal but it’s Leigh who move up to seventh. Hutton dropped to fourth due to Pitsea Athletic’s 3 – 1 win at home to strugglers AS Rawreth. Super-sub Kwadwo Asante bagged a fine treble to overwhelm Lewis Dines’ goal for Rawreth, who need at least five points to escape the bottom two from their last five games. Ath are up to on goal difference after their tenth win this term.
Elsewhere, BKS Sports got back to winning ways with a 2 – 0 success at Rayleigh Town Res. Sujat Miah grabbed both goals to see Ian Jeffery’s team go seven points clear in ninth. Lastly, Roydon held Burnham Ramblers Res 2 – 2 at home, with Ross Bourke and substitute Cameron Barker netting for them and they stay sixth.
Cup Action
There were four cup games this week, in the second Reserve League Cup semi-final, Toby Res went through 3 – 0 on spot-kicks after a 1 – 1 draw at Springfield Res. Harrison Perrin scored for ‘Field in that game. Toby Res will face Catholic Utd Res in the Final on May 7th at Heybridge Swifts FC. Next, in the Denny King Cup Quarter-Final, ACD Utd made the last four with a 3 – 1 win at Basildon Town Res. The trio of Samuel Payne, Ronnie Hobbrough & Matthew Taylor all scored for Utd. Keith King’s strike was a consolation for Bas who have a busy end to the league season to focus on now. Into the Shepherd Neame Trophy now and in the last eight, Takeley Development got past Manford Way Res 3 – 0 at Marks Hall. Ross Pike got two goals here, along with Abdul Kazeem’s opener. In Round Two, Shoebury Town Res went through after a fine 3 – 2 win at home to Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res. Arry Hardy, Luke Abbott and Bailey Diamond all scored for Shoebury in that one to progress. Aaron Bonney & Aaron Cameron-Prior scored in reply for the Swifts side but they went out.
EOFL Divisions Three & Four
We go into Division Three next and start with a fine 3 – 1 victory for Emerson & Upminster over Basildon Town A. Tom Daniels, Charlie Massey-Reed and replacement Michael Effa all got the goals for Emerson who will finish above the bottom two. Hullbridge Sports Res and Runwell Sports Res drew 2 – 2 which means Runwell will have to win two and draw one of the three matches they have in hand on Takeley Development to leapfrog them for the title.
Onto Division Four now, and in the late game, Galleywood Res defeated Leytonstone Utd 3 – 1 to go five points in clear in second. Ben Smith, Diogo Viveiros and Lee Judd all scored to take their side level on points with leaders Toby Res although they have four matches in hand (and six matches in all) on them. James Medlock again replied for Utd who stay seventh. Sungate Res fortified their position in sixth with a 5 – 2 over Harold Hill Res. Leo Milazzo kept up his run of scoring with goals for Hill but a double from Jalil Taiwo and strikes by Brandon Richmond, Bade Alaketu and Patrick Okoji sealed the win for the hosts. Also, Canning Town Res got a 4 – 2 success at home to Wakering Sports A, with the team of Marcel Byfield, Chris Olayiwola, Todd Wyatt and substitute Muhammed Singhateh grabbing the goals for them. Charlie Peel and Andrew Stavrinou replied for Sports but Canning’s win sees them go four points clear in ninth.
That ends the week’s column, thank you for reading.
survivor16b 