Written by Peter D & Scott W
Essex Senior League action returns this weekend and there are some cracking matches in store. Here are Peter’s and my thoughts on the matches that start on Friday night:-
Friday 17th November
Redbridge v West Essex | Venue: Oakside
Peter: The Motormen are well motoring along right now and have reached the summit after ending Clapton’s long winning run in midweek. They welcome West Essex to Oakside on Friday night and the visitors have had a mixed few weeks although they did edge past Ilford last weekend so will of no doubt gained some good morale from that. However I reckon the hosts will come out on top in a thriller at Oakside.
Peter’s Prediction: 4 – 2
Scott: Redbridge take on the Stags at Oakside. The hosts are on red-hot form at present and will fancy their chances here against a West Essex side having a ‘bit of a blip’ though they did trimuph over ten-man Ilford last weekend. It’s hard to go against the Motormen as they can win matches in different ways plus the Stags do concede a few goals at times. Home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Saturday 18th November
Barkingside v Waltham Forest | Venue: Cricklefield
Peter: These two are pretty much the worst performers in terms of results in the last six games, the hosts have lost five of those whilst Forest are on an eight game losing run. Side will take some heart from their last two games, narrowly loosing to Clapton before taking Takeley to penalties in midweek after trailing by two goals in that one, and I feel they will cause Forest problems and will sneak a win here.
Peter’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Scott: Cricklefield hosts a match that represents an oppurtunity for both sides to pick up a much-needed three points. ‘Side did well to recover from a two-goal deficit in the Gordon Brasted Trophy before exiting on spot-kicks on Monday night. Forest were defeated by Woodford Town last weekend in Match #2 of the ESL Ground-Hop last weekend and they know wins are urgent as they sit bottom of the pile at present. Both if these sides are inconsistent though I think Michael Walther’s side will pinch it.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Basildon Utd v Ilford | Venue: The Hive
Peter: The Bees are in a good place right now although they lost top spot to Redbridge in midweek and their 2-1 home loss to local rivals Southend Manor last weekend was certainly not in the script. Ilford have been solid if not spectacular recently and bounced back from last weekend’s disappointment at West Essex to defeat Hullbridge Sports in midweek and they have caused Basildon issues in the past, but I feel the Bees may win this one.
Peter’s Prediction: 2 – 0
Scott: The Bees welcome the Foxes to the Hive. Basildon lost out to Southend Manor last weekend while Ilford recovered from last weekend’s loss to record a home midweek win over Hullbridge. The hosts will want to banish the memories of that home loss last weekend and they will be revved up for this encounter. Ilford have made signings this week though they know that they have ground to make up to be in the promotion shake-up. I doubt that Marc Harrison’s men will lose two at home on-the-bounce though it will be a very tight match.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Burnham Ramblers v Enfield 1893 | Venue: Leslie Field
Peter: Ramblers are in a poor run of form right now, four losses in-a-row with only two goals scored, although they aren’t short of bottle and fight and showed that last weekend at Redbridge despite defeat. Enfield have been very ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ recently but on their day can give anyone problems in this division and I feel they may take a win here.
Peter’s Prediction: 0 – 2
Scott: Burnham welcome Enfield to Leslie Field. Burnham haven’t had the best week with losses to Redbridge and Southend Manor in that time. They welcome an Enfield side that prevailed in the FA Vase last Saturday over Tower Hamlets then lost a rapid re-match at home in the league to the same opponents on Monday night. Matt Hanning’s side will no doubt be going for the three points though the hosts have showed endeavour so far this season though they know they must start getting results. This one could go either way though Enfield may get the win here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 3
FC Romania v Clapton | Venue: Theobalds Lane
Peter: The Tons saw their eight-match winning run come to an end at Redbridge in midweek and they face another tough away assignment at Theobalds Lane against an in-form FCR side who have won five of their last six in the league, although they did fall to a home defeat against Great Wakering Rovers in an ill-tempered affair in their midweek Vase replay. Both come into this off the back of defeats so both will want to make amends, but I feel a draw is the likely outcome here.
Peter’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Scott: Two of the ESL’s big-hitters meet at Theobalds Lane. FCR narrowly lost out to Wakering in their FA Vase replay in midweek so the question is ‘Will they have a hangover?’ from that match. Clapton got a good win over Barkingside last weekend though their good run was ended by Redbridge on Tuesday night.The Tons have signed two ‘keepers this week so the need for a stand-in will hopefully be gone as although they have dealt with that sutuation quite well, it did need sorting, with all respect to club legend Jerry Jairette. I have a gut feeling the visitors will edge this one.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Great Wakering Rovers v Hullbridge Sports | Venue: Burroughs Park
Peter: Rovers welcome Sports to Burroughs Park only around two weeks after they went to Lower Road and took a 3-2 win, although they made hard work of it after cruising for two thirds of the contest. They will fancy a quick double over their local rivals too, the Lower Road outfit have now lost five in a row in the league, but under new manager Darren Manning and some recent new additions to the squad they will surely be more competitive. Going for a home win but it will be a close one I feel.
Peter’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: New Hullbridge boss Darren Manning’s introduction to management hardly gets any easier as his new side visit Burroughs Park. Sports did start well in the eventual midweek loss at Ilford in midweek though their defence has really got to be on its ‘A-game’ against a Wakering side that are getting wins in the league and they will be on a high following their progress in the FA Vase in midweek. Wakering currently sit 6th in the table (prior to the weekend’s action) though they are only four points behind Basildon in second. Iain O’Connell’s side will fancy this one and it’s hard to see anything other than a home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Hackney Wick v Woodford Town (2017) | Venue: Old Spotted Dog
Peter: Wick are finding Senior League football tough right now and five defeats in their last six suggests this, and after last weekend’s loss at home to a revitalised Lodge find themselves in the bottom four. Woodford on the other hand are having a solid season to date and after last weekend’s victory at Forest ended a run of three successive defeats, they will be confident of recording back to back wins. And I feel they may just do this too.
Peter’s Prediction: 0 – 2
Scott: Woodford have another away-day, this time at the Spotted Dog to take on Hackney Wick. The hosts were defeated in the evening KO of the Ground-Hop day last weekend and are only two points above Waltham Forest at the foot of the table. The visitors sit 11th at present after a good win at Forest last weekend. My belief is that the visitors will get the job done here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Sawbridgeworth Town v Takeley | Venue: Crofters End
Peter: A nice tasty local derby awaits us at Crofters as The Robins and Takeley lock horns, and with the hosts unbeaten in their last three league outings and only one defeat in their last six, they will no doubt prove a stern test for the Station Road outfit although they themselves are in great league form, five wins from six and twenty two goals scored, so they will be confident of victory. Something tells me this will end a draw though.
Peter’s Prediction: 2 – 2
Scott: Sawbo seek to continue their revival at home to in-form Takeley at Crofters End. The hosts picked up a good win at Stansted last weekend though this will be a good test of their new-look side. Takeley were not in league action last weekend so the rest may help them though they will be aware that a win could return them to top spot if other results go their way this weekend. Marc Das’ side are another team that can grind out results when they bave to and I’ll go for a narrow away win in an entertaining match.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 3
Southend Manor v Tower Hamlets | Venue: Southchurch Park
Peter: These two are in decent form coming into this one, Manor have won their last two whilst Hamlets have won four of their last six. The hosts stunned Basildon at the Hive last weekend before putting four past Burnham at Leslie Field in midweek whilst Hamlets bounced back from that Vase embarassment last weekend to defeat the same side on Monday. Hard to pick a winner here so draw for me.
Peter’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Scott: Speaking of revivals, Manor are another side who have had a good week with wins over Basildon and Burnham, both away from home. They welcome a Hamlets side who recovered from a ‘bad day at the office’ last weekend to win at Enfield on Monday night. Both these sides are not particularly known for their discipline and consequently have players banned from this encounter. The hosts could go level on points with their opponents should they win and they may get a narrow trimuph here, as the visitors might have one eye on Monday’s home match with Redbridge.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Wadham Lodge v Stansted | Venue: Kitchener Road
Peter: The transformation of Lodge under Marc Farrell has been very noticable, and with the side now out of the bottom four and in the top ten in the form table, he has certainly made his side a much better outfit. They welcome a Stansted side to Kitchener Road who have lost their last four games in the league and probably don’t have the best of confidence right now, and I can see the hosts picking up another win here.
Peter’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: Finally on Saturday, Wadham welcome Stansted to Kitchener Road. The hosts are another side who have picked up of late though the legacy of their tough start still means they narrowly have the worst goal difference in the division. They also might have the heavy loss to the Airportmen earlier in the season on their minds as well. Stansted are in 12th spot and although inconsistent, they are a gutsy side and the hosts will need to play well to get tge points. I reckon a narrow win for the hosts here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 0
If you’d like to follow Scott, you can do so on Twitter – @ScottMHC14 and on his blog at http://www.survivor16b.wordpress.com
You can also follow Peter on Twitter – @ped1980 and on his website – http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/unofficialesl
Also, Scott joined the Grassroot Football Show team this week with guest John Watters of Sawbridgeworth Town: https://m.mixcloud.com/EastLondonRadio/grassroots-football-show-16th-november-2017/
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