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 both ends of the table on “Kick It Out” Day.
Saturday 21st April
Basildon Utd 3 – 0 Woodford Town (2017)
| Venue: The Hive | Att: 76
The Bees rounded off an excellent week with victory over Woodford at The Hive. George Whitby gave the hosts the lead on 11 minutes before a brace from influential winger Jack Adlington [14′ & 45′ +1] sealed the success for Marc Harrison’s side – their 5th straight win and sit 3rd, outside the second promotion place on goal difference alone, with a game in hand on 2nd-placed FC Romania. Woodford drop to 13th and end their season next weekend with a home tie with Enfield 1893.
Enfield 1893 0 – 2 Takeley
| Venue: The Harlow Arena | Att: 69
Takeley once again showed their gritty determination to get the points at the Harlow Arena. Recently-returned forward Stuart Zanone put Marc Das’ side ahead a minute into the second half before a late OG sealed Takeley’s fourth win in their last six which keeps them 5th, still eight points adrift of Redbridge above them. Enfield’s fine nine-match unbeaten run is over though they are in 9th place and four points from their last two matches should secure a top-ten finish.
FC Romania 3 – 1 Tower Hamlets
| Venue: Theobalds Lane | Att: 34 | “Kick It Out” Day Designated Match
FCR continued their decent form in recent weeks with a battling win over ten-man Tower Hamlets at Theobalds Lane. Gabriel Ghinea put the hosts ahead eight minutes before the break. Goals from Andrei Baciu [56′] and Sergiu Pitaru [82′] made sure of the points while Montel Williams got Hamlets’ consolation. FCR sit 2nd, above Basildon on goal difference, having played a game more than the Bees. Hamlets eighth-straight defeat drops them to 12th with their chances of a top-ten finish fading.
Great Wakering Rovers 3 – 2 Clapton
| Venue: Burroughs Park | Att: 81
Wakering had to fight hard to claim another three points over inconsistent Clapton at Burroughs Park. Steven Sardinha struck to give the Tons a surprise lead on 22 minutes though scarcely a minute later, influential winger Billy Johnson brought GWR back on level terms. Neil Richmond put Rovers ahead three minutes before the break. Johnson grabbed his second on the hour to give the hosts daylight though Nathan Cook halved the lead for the visitors with 12 minutes remaining. Wakering’s 6th win in their last seven means they are five points clear at the summit, needing five points to secure the title. Clapton’s poor end to the season goes on with one win in their last eight games & they reside in 6th, only a point clear of West Essex, having played three games more than the Stags.
Hackney Wick 3 – 1 Hullbridge Sports
| Venue: Old Spotted Dog | Att: 48
The Wickers dispatched Hullbridge in their first match since relegation was confirmed in midweek. A brace from Tony Cookey and one from Joel Appiah were enough to grab a morale-boosting three points for Chris Davis’ side. Luke Hornsley got a late goal for Sports who could still do with another victory to avoid any last-day drama – they are in 16th, four points clear of the bottom four.
Click this link for Video Highlights & post-match Interviews (courtesy of WD Sportz): https://youtu.be/BGn68ux-rcA
Ilford 1 – 3 Barkingside
| Venue: Cricklefield | Att: 49
Barkingside came from behind to grab a major win in the “Cricklefield derby”. Ilford led through Jake McWee’s opener on 16 minutes though couldn’t see the match out as three goals in the last 22 minutes turned it around. Roddy Lemba [69′] brought things level before strikes from James Briggs [76′] and Michael Ogboin’s spot-kick four minutes from time saw ‘Side to their 3rd win in their last seven to rise to 15th. Ilford’s sixth defeat on-the-reel sees them stay 11th.
Southend Manor 4 – 3 Sawbridgeworth Town
| Venue: Southchurch Park | Att: 49
Manor edged another brillantly entertaining encounter at Southchurch Park. Sawbridgeworth’s goal-scorers were Matt Frew, Daryl Doolan and Jack Cousins while second-half goals from Lewis Sparrow [50′], Alfie Lindfield [62′], Brennon Nolan [73’] and the eventual winner from skipper Lee Delf eight minutes from time ended Manor’s five-match winless run to see Adam Peek’s side move eight points clear of the danger-zone in 14th. Sawbridgeworth’s third defeat in their last seven means they cannot improve on 8th place now this term.
Sporting Bengal Utd 2 – 1 Redbridge
| Venue: Oakside (12pm KO) | Att: 70 | “Kick It Out” Designated Match
Sporting Bengal surprised the Motormen in this match ‘reversed’ to Oakside and was also the early kick-off. Bobby Redwood [16′] broke the deadlock before returning talisman Brian Moses levelled things three minutes before half-time. Bengal skipper Freddy Tandon fired home the winner 16 minutes from time to give Imrul Gazi’s men the double-whammy of a club-record fourth-straight victory and also break the club’s ESL points record and they also rise to 10th spot. Redbridge’s stutter continues as their winless stretch extended to four matches and are now three points adrift of the top three and arguably their fate is ‘no longer in their own hands’ with regards to promotion.
Waltham Forest 2 – 1 Stansted
| Venue: Kitchener Road | Att: 61
Waltham Forest edged ten-man Stansted to record a priceless victory in their bid to avoid the drop. Stansted led thanks to Ryan Ramsey’s penalty on 19 minutes. Though much to the delight of the Waltham Rabble, Elias Siligato erased that lead nine minutes before the break. Recent signing Shomari Barnwell’s spot-kick on the stroke of half-time ended up sealing the points. Forest are now unbeaten in four and they go above Stansted into 17th, two points clear of them though Forest only have one match to play, compared to Stansted’s two. The Airportmen are 18th and face Enfield and Basildon during the week.
West Essex 5 – 1 Wadham Lodge
| Venue: Mayesbrook Park | Att: 84 | “Kick It Out” Designated Match
I attended this match and you can find my match report here:
https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2018/04/21/match-report-west-essex-5-1-wadham-lodge-esl-21-4-18/
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
survivor16b 