Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to my round-up of this weekend’s Essex Senior League action, which included some crucial matches at the top and the bottom of the table.
Friday 6th April
Barkingside 3 – 1 Tower Hamlets
| Venue: Cricklefield | Att: 109
‘Side fought from behind to grab a important victory in a match that was brought to a sudden end due to injury. Jerry Jairette netted on 24 minutes to give the impetus to the visitors, though Roddy Lemba struck twice [29′ & 35′] to swing the balance back in the hosts’ favour. Michael Ogboin got a late third before a nasty facial injury to Hamlets’ Ndure caused a slightly premature end to the match though the result stood. ‘Side’s 2nd win on-the-trot sees them up to 15th (after Saturday’s action) while Hamlets’ fifth straight defeat leaves them 10th, ahead of Woodford Town on goal difference alone.
Saturday 7th April
Basildon Utd 2 – 0 FC Romania
| Venue: The Hive | Att: 99
The Bees battled to a good victory over FCR at The Hive. Despite missing key forward Marcus Bowers, a brace from Jack Adlington [57′ & 60′] was enough to secure third first win in three matches. FC Romania have now only won one of their last four league matches. Marc Harrison’s men are now three points behind the Wolves with seven matches left. FCR have 5 matches remaining though are five points adrift of Redbridge in 2nd.
Burnham Ramblers 0 – 4 Great Wakering Rovers
| Venue: Leslie Field | Att: 70
Great Wakering raised the game after half-time to secure an important win and go three points clear at the Essex Senior League summit. An own-goal midway through the second-half broke the deadlock before Nathan Dewberry [79′], Chris Bryan [83′] and Neil Richmond [90’+3] sealed their fourth win in their last five matches. Burnham’s 3rd defeat in their last five leaves them third-bottom, two points from safety.
Enfield 1893 4 – 0 Hullbridge Sports
| Venue: The Harlow Arena | Att: 62
Enfield continued their fantastic form by defeating Hullbridge in a one-sided contest in Harlow. Ayo Odukoya’s brace [12′ & 46′] gave Matt Hanning’s men the advantage before further strikes from Ben Bradbury [67′] and Aundre Spencer [82′] meant that the E’s have now won 7 league matches in-a-row and as a result stay 12th though they have gained ground on the teams above them.
Hackney Wick 2 – 1 Ilford
| Venue: Old Spotted Dog | Att: 23
The Wickers took advantage of another ‘poor day at the office’ for Ilford to obtain their 3rd win in their last five matches. Albie Keith put Ilford ahead before ex-Ilford player Tony Cookey levelled. Hassan Nalbant then got the winner to keep Wick’s slim chances of averting the drop alive. They remain bottom, 12 points from safety. Ilford’s third successive defeat leaves them still in 9th though with other teams having matches in hand, their aim of a top-ten finish may be in doubt.
Redbridge 4 – 4 Waltham Forest
| Venue: Oakside | Att: 65
The points were shared in this absolute hum-dinger of a contest at Oakside. It looked at though the Motormen were breezing yowards another win as Reside Coxi-Sebastfao’s double [20′ & 34′] and a Calvin Poku strike [42′] put them three ahead at the break. Forest roared back into the match though as Christian Owusu’s quick-fire brace [57′ & (pen) 60′] reduced the deficit though Phillip Browne-Bampfoe extended the hosts’ lead midway through the second half. The old defensive frailties came back to bite Redbridge though as first Tony Da Silva [82′] struck to make it 3 – 4 and in stoppage-time, Owusu struck again to secure his gat-trick and dampen Redbridge’s title quest.
The Motormen’s second match without a win sees them three points behind leaders Wakering in 2nd spot, while Forest are remain out of the bottom four in 17th, two points clear of danger but with only three matches left.
Update: Waltham Forest have also announced over the weekend that they are ‘over the worst’ of their financial problems which left them in peril earlier in the season.
Full statement here: http://www.walthamforest-fc.co.uk/2018/04/08/club-statement-our-future/
Southend Manor 3 – 3 Woodford Town (2017)
| Venue: Southchurch Park | Att: 53
Another cracker of a match saw these two sides unable to be seperated at Southchurch Park. Scorer-wise, Manor struck through Ethan Evison, Alfie Lindfield and Ibrahim Kagbanda while target-man Temi Babalola, De’Juane Taylor-Crossdale and Ola Ogunwamide replied for an improving Woodford side that have lost only two of their last six matches which leaves them 11th, outside the top ten on goal difference. Manor are six points further back in 13th after a run of one win in their last seven games.
Sporting Bengal Utd 2 – 1 Stansted
| Venue: Mile End Stadium | Att: 35
Bengal recorded a huge win in this six-pointer at Mile End. Codey Cameron struck early on to open the scoring though Oliver Fortune levelled soon after for the Airportmen. Late on, creative midfielder Ashaan Siddik grabbed the winner to send Sporting 14th, seven points clear of the bottom four while Sransted’s winless run extends to six matches now and are 18th, two points from safety with four matches left.
Video highlights from this encounter & post-match Interviews can be found here: https://youtu.be/KnNsMFL_xpg
(Courtesy of @WDSprtz)
Wadham Lodge 1 – 1 Clapton
| Venue: Kitchener Road | Att: 248
Wadham battled to grab a point at Kitchener Road against a Clapton side that were heavily backed by the Ultras. Danny Francis got Wadham’s goal while Yusuf Bello netted for the Tons. Wadham have got one win in their last five outings now and remain 20th, four points from safety with 7 matches left. Clapton remain 6th, eight points clear of nearest rivals West Essex, with 3 matches remaining.
West Essex 2 – 0 Takeley
| Venue: Mayesbrook Park | Att: 18
I attended this match and you can find my match report here: http://www.survivor16b.wordpress.com/2018/04/07/match-report-west-essex-2-0-takeley-esl-7-4-18/
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
survivor16b 