Written by Scott W
Hello & welcome to my round-up of Essex Senior League action this weekend as ten matches took place, two of which took place on Friday night.
Friday 18th January 2019
Leyton Athletic 0 – 4 Hullbridge Sports | Wadham Lodge Stadium |Att: 43
The action started on Friday night with Hullbridge overwhelming Leyton in the second half in a 4 – 0 victory. Ath player-boss Eli Benoit put through his own net on 49 minutes to open the opposition’s account. ‘Bridge quickly seized on that opening as talisman Luke Hornsley got in on the action with his first on 55 minutes. Emmanuel Okunja made it three [70’] before Hornsley struck again five minutes later to seal a vital win for Darren Manning’s side and stay third. Leyton long hunt for a win goes on as they stay second-bottom.
Woodford Town 2 – 2 West Essex | the Harlow Arena | Att: 67
Woodford left it late though managed to grab a point against a spirited West Essex at the Harlow Arena. Andrea Montavani put the hosts ahead on 24 minutes though the Stags are known for playing good attacking football and could have levelled before half-time. They soon corrected that, as two minutes after the interval, Hakim Medfai continued his streak of scoring with the equaliser. Kwame Kwateng’s side went ahead on 62 minutes through Michael Mignot’s strike and it looked as if they would get the points. Not to be. Jayden Thompson-Brissett’s injury-time leveller saved the hosts’ blushes a tad as they stayed 5th, despite a fifth game on-the-bounce without a win. West have also drawn their last three and sit 14th after the weekend’s action.
Saturday 19th January
Clapton 1 – 1 Southend Manor | Old Spotted Dog |Att: 40
The Tons had to settle for a point against Manor at ‘the Dog’. Ryan Reed’s penalty had put the hosts ahead though midway through the second period, Jayke Welch levelled for Adam Peek’s side. Manor are four games without a win now and stay fourth-bottom, nine points clear of basement side Barkingside.
Enfield 0 – 4 Walthamstow | the Harlow Arena | Att: 59
‘Stow put the E’s to the sword after their frustrating defeat last weekend. Loan signing Correy Davidson put them ahead on 12 minutes. That lead held until half-time before a brace from Gebrai Samrai [47’ & 48’] sealed the win. Dwade James added a late fourth and in doing so went joint-top of the ESL Top Goalscorers list though his side stay 6th, eight points off the top four.
Hoddesdon Town 2 – 0 Sporting Bengal Utd | Lowfield | Att: 81
Hoddy won this one late on at Lowfield. Jack Riddle struck with only three minutes remaining before Cyrus Babaie’s stoppage-time spot-kick ensured the hosts’ third win in their last seven to pull four points clear in ninth spot. Bengal are winless in three and stay 7th on goal difference.
Ilford 2 – 3 Redbridge | Cricklefield |Att: 47
The Motormen got the better of the Foxes in a pulsating start to this derby at Cricklefield. Loanee Deji Adeniran broke the deadlock a mere two minutes in, though Dan Gilchrist endorsed his reputation as the new ‘go to’ man for goals for his side with the equaliser on 19 minutes. Fellow new recruit Jay Knight struck twice [45’] and in first-half stoppage-time to swing the pendulum the way of the visitors. Adeniran got his third goal in two ESL matches for the Foxes on 68 minutes but Micky Wetherall’s side held on to extend their mini-revival to three matches and opened up a five point lead in 16th over Manor in 17th. Ilford’s sixth defeat in their last eight sees them fall to 13th.
St Margaretsbury 0 – 4 Saffron Walden Town | The Recreation Ground | Att: 54
Walden got another priceless three points at the Rec to keep the heat on the top three. Charlie Portway put the Bloods after ten minutes and after the prolific Lewis Francis converted a spot-kick two minutes after the break, the visitors were in a commanding position. Two more goals rounded out the scoring with Anthony Da Silva notching on 72 minutes, before Francis got his second four minutes later. Walden got their third straight win while St Margs’ four-match winning run is over.
Stansted 2 – 2 Barkingside | Hargrave Park | Att: 56
‘Side so nearly broke the metranomic run of the Airportmen though the hosts got a late, late equaliser. Joe Oates got another important goal for his side on the half-hour, and after David Hornsby doubled that advantage with 12 minutes left, the visitors were dreaming of victory. Fortune didn’t go their way though as first Ollie Bell struck with four minutes of normal time to play. And then deep into stoppage-time, the Blue Brazil rescued a point from a far from outstanding display as Paul Clayton netted [90’ +7] to leave the ‘Side bench fuming. ‘Side are unbeaten in four matches now, two points shy of Leyton above them. Stansted remain top and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
Takeley 1 – 1 Sawbridgeworth Town | Station Road | Att: 104
Takeley were denied a win by rivals Sawbo late on at Station Road. Joe Pullen broke the stalemate with 15 minutes left though improving Sawbo restored parity as Julien Lloyd got the leveller four minutes from time to give Sawbo a point.
Tower Hamlets 2 – 3 Stanway Rovers | Mile End | Att: 18
Finally, Hamlets lost again at Mile End and saw player-boss AJ Ashinike taken off with injury. Ezekiel Kamara and Luke With hit the goals for the home side though strikes by Tyler Kemp, Dion O’Reilly and an injury-time winner by Scott Kemp saw Rovers to an important and much-welcomed away win.
Hamlets suffered their fourth straight loss as they are mired in the relegation scrap you feel.
Thank you for reading, we’ll be back next week.
survivor16b 