Written by Peter D & Scott W
Intro by Scott W
This weekend, the Buildbase FA Vase reaches the Second Qualifying Round some ESL sides are in action. Which teams will triumph and bag £725 in prize money? There are also a limited number of Essex Senior League fixtures this weekend. Here are Peter’s and my thoughts on this weekend’s ties…
FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 23th September
Basildon Utd v Walsham-le-Willows | Venue: The Hive
Peter: The Bees welcome Walsham-le-Willows to The Hive for the second time this season after the teams met in the FA Cup earlier in the season. Basildon won that one after a draw in Suffolk and so will be confident of another victory no doubt. The visitors have won five league games this season though and will pose a threat so it won’t be straight forward, but I feel the hosts will win though.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 0
Scott: It’s a case of ‘déjà vu’ as Basildon welcome Walsham-le-Willows to the Hive, the very venue where the ESL side knocked out the same opposition in the FA Cup Extra Prelim Round replay just last month. Basildon’s unbeaten start in the ESL was ended last weekend by Enfield 1893 while Walsham are in the top ten of the Thurlow Nunn Premier at present, having only lost three of 11 matches thus far. The hosts will want to respond following’s last weekend’s defeat though I suspect this will be a tight match. Narrow home win for me.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Hadleigh Utd v Sawbridgeworth Town | Venue: The Millfield
Peter: Sawbridgeworth travel to Suffolk to take on Hadleigh United and will be looking for another superb away performance in the Vase like the one against Saffron Walden Town in the previous round and put their difficult start in the league to one side. Hadleigh have beaten ESL opponents in the shape of Sporting Bengal United already this season so would love another, and I feel they may just do this too.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: Hadleigh welcome ESL side Sawbridgeworth to the Millfield. The hosts have won three of their eight league matches in ECL Premier thus far, whilst Sawbridgeworth have won two of their eight thus far. John Watters’ side did knock out Hadleigh’s fellow ECL Prem side Saffron Walden in the last round of the Vase so they may fancy this encounter. I have a feeling they may just get the job done in another tough match
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Ilford v Hullbridge Sports | Venue: Cricklefield
Peter: An all-ESL match up at Cricklefield sees Ilford host Hullbridge Sports with both sides confident of victory. Both sides have tasted success and failure already this season but a good run in the Vase could certainly help them kick-start their seasons for sure. I feel home advantage may swing this one Ilford’s way though.
Pete’s Prediction: 1 – 0
Scott: Ilford welcome Hullbridge to Cricklefield in the first of two all-ESL ties in the FA Vase this weekend. The hosts have not enjoyed their last two league matches, conceding seven goals in the process. Hullbridge haven’t been in the best of form recently either and have had a week off from ESL duty so that makes this tie very difficult to call. What is true of both sides is they need to stop conceding goals. My belief is that if the hosts start this match well, they will get a positive result. As I said, tough to call though I think narrow home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Kirkley & Pakefield v Burnham Ramblers | Venue: The Lauren Lou 3G Arena
Peter: Ramblers travel to the outskirts of Lowestoft to take on Kirkley & Pakefield knowing the hosts haven’t had the best of seasons having only won one of their ten league games so far this campaign although Burnham themselves have lost seven of their nine league games themselves but certainly have been competing well recently. I fell that the Suffolk side may grab a win here though.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Scott: Burnham travel to Thurlow Nunn Premier side Kirkley & Pakefield. Both sides have struggled to put wins together thus far in their respective divisions. The hosts are in the bottom four of the ECL Prem, whilst Burnham are also in a similar position in the ESL though they have shown spirit this season. Again, this is a very hard one to call though this tie might require a replay.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Redbridge v Coggeshall Town | Venue: Oakside
Peter: The Motormen welcome another Thurlow Nunn side in the shape of Coggeshall Town to Oakside and will be hoping for a similar outcome to the one last round when they put a decent Brantham Athletic side to the sword, but the visitors are probably a step up having won eight out of ten in the league and will pose plenty of problems to the ESL side. I do feel however that Redbridge will edge this one.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Scott: ECL Premier high-flyers Coggeshall Town visit Oakside in this intriguing contest. Redbridge are on an excellent run as they proved in the last round of the FA Vase by defeating Brantham 6-1. Coggeshall are 2nd in the ECL Prem and also won at Hullbridge in the Essex Senior Cup this week. That said, if the Motormen can continue their recent performances, they will take some stopping here.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Stowmarket Town v Enfield 1893 | Venue: Greens Meadow
Peter: This proves one hell of a challenge for Enfield as they take on big-spenders Stowmarket Town. Things haven’t gone well for the hosts in the league though having lost four of their seven outings but in the cups they thrashed Barkingside at Cricklefield in the FA Cup and even held Bostik North side Romford at home before losing the replay. And they hit seven in the last round of this competition too so Enfield need to be on their mettle here, and with their win at Basildon United last time out proved they are capable. Sadly, I can only see a home win here though.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 0
Scott: Enfield make the long trip to Greens Meadow to take on the Thurlow Nunn Premier side. Last weekend’s triumph at Basildon may be a glimpse of what’s to come after a slow start in the league for Matt Hanning’s side. They did however defeat Haverhill Borough in the last round of the FA Vase. Stowmarket have had an indifferent start to the league though did win at Histon last weekend and thumped Team Bury 7-0 last time out in the Vase. Hard to see anything but a Stowmarket win here, especially as I saw them in the FA Cup earlier this term.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Tower Hamlets v Little Oakley | Venue: Mile End Stadium
Peter: Hamlets are flying right now after six wins in row in all competitions and they welcome Thurlow Nunn One side Little Oakley the Mile End looking to make it seven-in-a -row and earn a place in the First Round Proper. The visitors league form isn’t great but they did defeat Thurlow Nunn Premier side Haverhill Rovers away last time out so this will give them confidence. Oakley also pushed West Essex hard in the County Cup so Hamlets shouldn’t take this one for granted. However I feel the hosts are feeling unbeatable right now so will take victory here.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 0
Scott: Hamlets welcome Step 6 side Little Oakley to Mile End. Hamlets are in-form at present, having won at Woodford Town 6-1 in midweek. Little Oakley did triumph at Hadleigh Utd though in the ECL League Challenge Cup in midweek. Though the visitors are really going have to be at their best to stop a Hamlets side that’s scored 22 goals in seven ESL matches. Home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 0
West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers | Venue: Mayesbrook Park
Peter: ESL leaders West Essex host sixth-placed Rovers in what should be a corker of a cup-tie at Mayesbrook Park. Both have began the season very well indeed so this one is a hard one to call, but I have a sneaky feeling Rovers may grab a win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 3
Scott: For me, this is one of the ties of the round as Wakering travel to Mayesbrook Park. Kwame Kwateng’s side are joint-top of the ESL pile at present after enthralling wins at Southend Manor and Clapton in the last week. Wakering are on a good run themselves having won their last three in all competitions, with one of those being a thumping win over Sporting Bengal in the last round. I think they’ll be goals in this one too and will be a good indication of whether the league is the main focus for both sides this season. Wakering may edge it.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 3
Sunday 24th September
Barkingside v Whitton Utd | Venue: Cricklefield
Peter: Side welcome Thurlow Nunn One side Whitton United to Cricklefield and will hope their home advantage and higher step give them the edge here. But the visitors, who sit second in the league with seven wins from nine outings so know how to win games for sure. Side have had a mixed campaign but I feel will grab a narrow win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: Barkingside welcome Step 6 side Whitton to Cricklefield on Sunday. Barkingside are in the top ten in the ESL table though have won four of their last eight matches in all competitions. To be fair, the visitors are second in the ECL First Division at present having won seven of their nine matches so far so Michael Walther’s side will need to put in a performance here. Buoyed on by a possible decent crowd here, I reckon ‘Side will prevail.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Essex Senior League
Friday 22nd September
Woodford Town (2017) v Hackney Wick | Venue: Goffs Lane
Peter: Two sides who could do with a win meet on Friday evening at Goffs Lane as Woodford Town host Hackney Wick. Both teams come into this one off the back of defeats so both will be looking for an important three points however I reckon this will end a draw.
Pete’s Prediction: 2-2
Scott: Woodford welcome Wick to Goffs Lane on Friday night with both sides looking to push on following midweek defeats. Woodford were heavily beaten by Tower Hamlets and will be on their guard here. Hackney Wick lost out at Waltham Forest on Wednesday night though will believe they can put in another decent showing here. New Woodford manager Dee Safer will want a reaction from his players and if Wick have a good night defensively, then this could be a hard-fought contest. I reckon Woodford may sneak it though.
Scott’s Prediction: 2- 1
Saturday 23rd September
Clapton v FC Romania | Venue: Old Spotted Dog
Peter: The Tons have struggled to really get going this season and their league position of 13th suggests that, whilst the visitors have enjoyed a largely good start and have won four out of six in the league although their extra time loss in midweek in the FA Cup might affect them. However I think that despite this the visitors will grab a win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 0 – 2
Scott: Clapton welcome the Wolves to the OSD. The Tons’ indeterminate start to the season was highlighted in midweek in a narrow loss at home to West Essex. FCR narrowly lost out in their FA Cup 2nd Quali Round replay at Hayes & Yeading in midweek. Manager Ion Vintila will no doubt want to see his side move on from that disappointment as they turn their attention back to the league. This match will be a good test of both sides’ character though I think we’ll see a score draw.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 2
Stansted v Wadham Lodge | Venue: Hargrave Park
Peter: Lodge will be desperate for points here after an awful start to this season, summed up by Wednesday evening’s loss at Mile End when leading 2-0 with around half an hour left. Stansted haven’t had the greatest of starts but did hold FC Romania to a goalless draw recently so can certainly battle. I do reckon that this one could end all square though.
Pete’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Scott: Stansted welcome Wadham to Hargrave Park. Paul Pittuck’s side have only won one of their last five matches in all competitions, though that win did come in the Essex Senior Cup in midweek. Bottom side Wadham have only won one of nine league matches thus far and manager James Falaise left the club this week. Ironically, Stansted have beaten Lodge already this season, in the Essex Senior Cup though Lodge were only beaten by a late Sporting Bengal comeback in midweek. This one will be a close-fought encounter though Stansted may edge it.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 2
You can follow Peter on Twitter: @ped1980 & on his website at http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/unofficialesl
You can follow Scott W on Twitter: @ScottMHC14
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