Written by Peter D & Scott W
Hello & welcome to our next round of predictions, as the Essex Senior League returns this weekend following the FA Cup Extra Prelim Round action last weekend. Once again, I’ll be (jokingly) pitting my wits against my good friend & Grassroot Football Show colleague Peter Dudley in predicting the results in the ESL this season on both our blogs. Do you agree with our thoughts of this weekends’ round of matches?
Saturday 12th August (all 3pm KO’s)
Barkingside v Stansted Venue: Cricklefield
Scott: Barkingside welcome Paul Pittuck’s side to Cricklefield. Both sides lost out in FA Cup action last week and both will be looking for a better result here. The fact that both sides also have virtually new squads this term makes this tricky to predict, though I’m going for a narrow home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Peter: Side will be looking to bounce back from a heavy home defeat at home to Stowmarket Town in their FA Cup tie last weekend whilst the visitors’ also exited the cup at Redbridge so both will have to put those disappointments behind them. Both sides have played Great Wakering Rovers away and had differing fortunes, Side winning whilst Stansted were beaten, and looking at this one I feel the hosts may grab the points.
Pete’s Prediction: 2-1
Basildon Utd v Wadham Lodge Venue: The Hive
Scott: Wadham are the next visitors to The Hive Stadium. Basildon are unbeaten in league & cup so far, whilst Wadham are winless in the league. This will be a tough test for James Falaise & Kevin Lucas’ side and I reckon the Bees will have ‘enough in the locker’ in this one to claim the points.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 0
Peter: The Bees have played two, won two in all competitions at home this season, a 2-0 win over Clapton in the League followed up by a 3-0 win over Walsham le Willows in the cup in midweek, whilst Wadham Lodge have lost both league games this season and exited the cup in midweek against Step Six side Framlingham Town so will be desperate for a win here. Can’t see it though and expect the hosts to prevail.
Pete’s Prediction: 3-0
Clapton v Woodford Town (2017) Venue: Old Spotted Dog
Scott: Clapton welcome Tony Ievoli’s Woodford to the Old Spotted Dog Stadium. Even though it’s very early on in the season, there’s been a degree of contradictions for both sides in terms of results. Clapton will undoubtedly be looking to triumph in what is their first home match of the campaign, while Woodford will seek to take advantage of their week off having not been in FA Cup action last weekend. I think this one could be an entertaining goal-fest, though it’s hard to look past the Tons, despite Woodford’s ability to score goals of late.
Scott’s Prediction: 4 – 2
Peter: The Tons come into this one off the back of two wins, one in the league against Ilford and one in the FA Cup at FC Clacton last weekend. Woodford themselves didn’t play last weekend as they did not enter the FA Cup this season but their league form so far is a 0-5 home defeat to Ilford and then a 5-2 win at Wadham Lodge, so a mixed start it has to be said. Feel the Tons may be too strong here and will take the win.
Pete’s Prediction: 2-0
Enfield 1893 v Ilford Venue: The Harlow Arena
Scott: Enfield welcome Allan Fenn’s Foxes to the Harlow Arena. Both sides were involved in tight FA Cup matches last weekend, Enfield narrowly losing out to Haverhill Borough and Ilford pulling through against Woodbridge Town. It’s arguable that both sides haven’t quite settled and found their rhythm yet following quite large squad overhauls in the summer, albeit for differing reasons. It’s hard to separate these two, so I’m plumping for a draw.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Peter: Enfield have lost both their competitive games this season although have probably been unlucky in both, whilst Ilford kept free-scoring Woodbridge Town at bay last weekend in the cup so will take some heart from that. Think this one could end all square.
Pete’s Prediction: 2-2
FC Romania v Burnham Ramblers Venue: Theobalds Lane
Scott: FC Romania, unbeaten in league and cup thus far, welcome winless Burnham to Theobalds Lane. The visitors have a daunting task here to get past an FCR defence that hasn’t yet conceded a goal in two league matches. If anything, the pressure is off Burnham and there were ‘shoots of recovery’ last weekend in the FA Cup as they battled hard in a narrow loss. I reckon it’ll be a home win though not a massive one.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 0
Peter: FCR have won both league games without conceding but will admit they haven’t been at their best so far, which is a worry for everyone else. They were held to a 2-2 draw in the Cup by Waltham Forest last time out whilst for Burnham it’s been a difficult start to the season as many had predicted it would be. However, despite losing all three competitive games so far they have showed battling qualities in all three which should be an encouragement for the club. However I can’t see anything other than a home win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 3-0
Great Wakering Rovers v Southend Manor Venue: Burroughs Park
Scott: Wakering welcome neighbours Manor to Burroughs Park. The ‘form book’ sometimes ‘goes out the window’ in derby matches and this could be the case here. Manor’s defence does look stronger than last term; though I can’t help thinking Wakering will want to roar back from a disappointing loss last weekend at Newmarket in the FA Cup, buoyed on by the home crowd in this one. With that in mind I’m going to ‘make hay’ and go for a score draw.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Peter: The eagerly awaited derby between GWR and Manor comes only three weeks into the season and with the sides only four miles apart, local pride is always at stake here. Rovers were thrashed at Newmarket Town last weekend in the Cup whilst Manor recorded a very impressive win over Wroxham at Southchurch Park, also in the cup, last weekend. Tough one to call this one so I reckon it will end all square.
Pete’s Prediction: 1-1
Sawbridgeworth Town v Hackney Wick Venue: Crofters End
Scott: Sawbridgeworth welcome the Wickers to Crofters End. This could be a compelling match with the home side announcing a slight alteration to their management team on Thursday. Although Wick are unbeaten in the league thus far, I reckon the home side’s fortunes will change and they could do so here. I reckon we’ll see a narrow home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Peter: The Robins have endured a difficult start to the season, suffering two home defeats to West Essex, one in the league and one in the Cup, although they did grab an encouraging draw at Redbridge in their other league outing so far. Wick are unbeaten in two league games after beginning their first senior season impressively, although they suffered a disappointing home defeat to Long Melford at the weekend in what was a frustrating afternoon for them. I have a feeling the Robins may sneak this one though and grab their first win of the campaign.
Pete’s Prediction: 3-1
Sporting Bengal Utd v Hullbridge Sports Venue: Mile End Stadium
Scott: Bengal welcome Hullbridge to Mile End with both clubs looking for their first league win of the campaign. Last time out in the league, Bengal held West Essex at Mayesbrook Park so for them it could be about maintaining level of performance, whilst in FA Cup action last week, Hullbridge picked up a morale-boosting home win against Ipswich Wanderers. This is Bengal’s first home match and Hullbridge’s first match away from Lower Road, though I still think Bengal may edge a hard-fought contest.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Peter: Both sides have drawn one and lost one in the league so far although they had differing fortunes in the FA Cup, with Sporting going down 3-2 at Hadleigh United whilst Hullbridge recorded their biggest victory in the competition with a 5-1 drubbing of Ipswich Wanderers, which was mightily impressive indeed. I feel the confidence this has almost certainly given the visitors will take them to victory here.
Pete’s Prediction: 0-2
Takeley v Redbridge Venue: Station Road
Scott: Takeley, among the early ESL pace-setters, welcome Redbridge to Station Road. The home side are unbeaten in league & cup so far this term, whilst the Motormen perhaps haven’t quite found their best form as of yet, though they did pick up an important win in the FA Cup last weekend. The visitors will still have to have a good day in defence though as Takeley have been scoring well in the opening weeks of the campaign. If the visitors rise to the occasion, then we could see a heck of an encounter here.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Peter: A potentially huge clash already this season takes place at Station Road as two of the pre-season favourites clash and Takeley have certainly had a fine start to the campaign with three straight wins, all at home, in all competitions whilst Redbridge have also played three home games and won two of them which included an FA Cup victory over Stansted last time out. Almost impossible to call this one however gonna go for a narrow home win.
Pete’s Prediction: 1-0
Waltham Forest v West Essex Venue: Kitchener Road
Scott: Waltham Forest welcome West Essex to Kitchener Road. Forest are searching for their first league win, though have started the season OK. West Essex have started well, and are unbeaten in the league thus far and picked up a memorable away-day win in the FA Cup last weekend. The visitors will have to be on their guard here though as Forest can move the ball well going forward.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Peter: Forest are yet to win in two league outings so far however they did hold FC Romania to a draw last weekend in the FA Cup. Both of West Essex’s wins have come at Crofters against Sawbridgeworth Town, one in the league and one in the cup, and they look more than useful this term. Got a feeling the visitors may grab another impressive victory in Walthamstow as well.
Pete’s Prediction: 1-3
You can follow Scott W on Twitter: @ScottMHC14
You can follow Peter on Twitter: @ped1980 and on his website at http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/unofficialesl/LeagueNews
Also, you can follow the ‘umbrella’ that is the Grassroot Football Show on Twitter at @ELRFootball & also online at elrgfs.blogspot.co.uk
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