Written by Peter D & Scott W
Hello & welcome to another preview piece of the action in the ESL which is the last of 2017, here is Peter & Scott’s thoughts for this weekend’s matches:-
Sat 23rd December (3pm KO unless stated)
FC Romania v Barkingside | Venue: Theobalds Lane
Peter: Second-placed FCR welcome a Barkingside outfit to Theobalds Lane who have lost their last seven in the league which has seen them drop to third-bottom, and with the hosts in fine form for me their is only one winner here.
Peter’s Prediction: 4 – 0
Scott: The Wolves welcome ‘Side to Theobalds Lane. Both sides have been beset by fixture postponements of late though 2nd-placed FCR will be hoping to end 2017 on a good note, while the out-of-form visitors need a “platform to build on” to avoid the relegation battle they’re now in. Home win for me though.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Great Wakering Rovers v Basildon Utd | Venue: Burroughs Park
Peter: It’s fourth against fifth in the ESL as Rovers welcome The Bees to Burroughs Park and it’s such a tough one to call. The visitors won the corresponding fixture at The Hive in dramatic fashion so expect another tight & tasty affair here. Hard to pick a winner so going for a draw.
Peter’s Prediction: 2-2
Scott: Two of the top-five sides meet at Burroughs Park. Both are in good league form though the hosts did FA Vase exit at home recently. Marc Harrison’s side will be in for a battle though may feel that a tad more pressure is on the hosts to win this one. That said, both defences are in for a tough afternoon in my view.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Hackney Wick v Waltham Forest | Venue: Old Spotted Dog
Peter: This could prove to be a fairly well-contested London Derby at the Old Spotted Dog with both sides needing the points to try and get away from the bottom four. You’d say Wick probably need the points more though and I feel this may see it tilted in their favour slightly.
Peter’s Prediction: 2-0
Scott: Forest travel to the OSD, having won three of their last six in the league. Wick are still in a ‘transition phase’ though they they will need points to avoid losing ground to their rivals. Tough one to call this, going for a draw.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Hullbridge Sports v Sawbridgeworth Town | Venue: Lower Road
Peter: Sports may be bottom of the division but they are by no means ‘push-overs’ these days as Redbridge found out last weekend. The Robins also find themselves in the bottom half after an indifferent season so far, but last weekends’ win against Barkingside certainly gave them a boost. Expecting a draw in this one.
Peter’s Prediction: 1-1
Scott: Hullbridge welcome Sawbridgeworth to Lower Road. The hosts will looking to maintain the intensity they showed during their narrow loss to Redbridge last weekend. Though John Watters’ side will be another firm test, following their win last weekend. I have a feeling the hosts will prevail here though.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Ilford v Redbridge | Venue: Cricklefield (1pm KO)
Peter: A rather feisty local derby awaits us at Cricklefield as Ilford host Redbridge with ‘no love lost’ between these two. Previous meetings have seen a 5-1 thrashing by the Motormen although The Foxes did then net a 3-1 over their rivals in the cup, so it’s one win all this season. Redbridge are on a pretty amazing run right now but will find Ilford hard to beat, so I reckon a draw could be the outcome.
Peter’s Prediction: 1-1
Scott: The Motormen pitch up at Cricklefield for the early kick-off. Ilford will be keen to ‘re-dress the balance’ league-wise after their heavy loss at Oakside earlier this campaign. Things didn’t go their way in a mid-season friendly either earlier this week and I don’t doubt Redbridge will be fired-up for this one. Ilford will test them hard though the “Redbridge juggernaut” may well continue here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Southend Manor v Burnham Ramblers | Venue: Southchurch Park
Peter: This local derby went the way of the hosts not so long ago, however Ramblers are now in the midst of a decent vein of form once again and a win would take them above Manor and possibly into the top ten. However, Manor themselves are capable of a win too so it’s another hard one to call but can see the hosts just winning this one.
Peter’s Prediction: 2-1
Scott: Burnham travel to Southchurch Park to take on Adam Peek’s side. The hosts may be in tenth spot though with the bottom half of the table so ‘bunched up’ points are needed to avert being pulled into that scrap. Burnham did overcome Wadham late on last weekend and certainly have goals in them. I’m going for a battling draw here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Takeley v Stansted | Venue: Station Road
Peter: These two met at Hargrave Park recently and Takeley ran out 3-0 winners. Its hard to see this not happening again, the hosts are on a terrible run of eight straight defeats in the league whilst Takeley are in third spot in the division and having another solid season. Expecting an easy home win to be honest.
Peter’s Prediction: 3-0
Scott: Takeley welcome out-of-form Stansted to Station Road. Marc Das’ side are having another good season though you feel they need a long run of wins to really be in the promotion shake-up come April and this tie is exactly the type of match they need to build such a run. Paul Pittuck’s side are having a tough season thus far and will have better openings than this to put points on the board.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Tower Hamlets v Woodford Town | Venue: Mile End Stadium
Peter: This encounter could well be a pretty entertaining battle between two good attack-minded sides and although Woodford’s form on paper shows a run of defeats, they have been very competitive in those games. Hamlets are looking to end the year on a high at their home ground and after a terrific first half of the season this will be what they want. Gonna go for a narrow home win here.
Peter’s Prediction: 3-2
Scott: Hamlets welcome Woodford to Mile End in a match the hosts will want to win to reach the “mid-season break” on a high. To be fair, both sides can score goals so the defences might be in for a tough afternoon here. It has to be said that league-wise Hamlets are on the way to banishing the (at times, torrid) memories of last season. Think the hosts will edge it.
Scott’s Prediction: 2-1
Wadham Lodge v Sporting Bengal Utd
| Venue: Kitchener Road
Peter: Lodge seem to have ‘hit a wall’ after a fine run which saw them go from bottom to mid-table in a matter of weeks, but the departure of Marc Farrell could of affected matters perhaps? Sporting themselves were on a good run until this was ended by rivals Tower Hamlets, and this game certainly proves to be a tough one to call. Fancy Sporting to edge it.
Peter’s Prediction: 1-2
Scott: Wadham welcome Bengal to Kitchener Road. The hosts sit 14th though they are only six points off the bottom of the table. Sporting are five points ahead of their opponents here in 11th so it may be a closely-fought encounter. I suspect we’re going to see in the next month which direction in the table Wadham will go. Draw here for me.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 2
West Essex v Clapton | Venue: Mayesbrook Park
Peter: This proves to be a decent game at Mayesbrook Park as a rejuvenated West Essex take on a Tons side who are in the top-six after another solid year so far. A win for the hosts takes them above Clapton and I feel they will do just that.
Peter’s Prediction: 2-1
Scott: Clapton travel to Mayesbrook Park to take on another goal-hungry side in West Essex. The hosts are in ‘good touch’ just now following wins at Burnham and most recently, Enfield 1893. Results-wise, the Tons have yet to shake off that degree of inconsistency of late. Home win for me.
Scott’s Prediction: 2-1
If you’d like to follow Peter’s myriad of sporting articles, his Twitter is @ped1980
You can also follow Scott on Twitter at @ScottMHC14
All that’s left to say is that we wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year in 2018.
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