Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello and welcome to my regular round-up of Essex Senior League (ESL) action. This week we saw a mixture of League & Cup action though we did see plenty of goals.
Friday 15th February
ESL
Tower Hamlets 2 – 1 Ilford | Mile End Stadium | Att: 29
The League action got underway on Friday night with Hamlets coming from behind to beat unpredictable Ilford at Mile End. Callum Maltese had put the Foxes ahead, though strikes from Flavio Jumo and Wale Odedoyin turned the game around and sent Hamlets to consecutive league wins to pull further away from the bottom three. Ilf’s third loss in their last seven sees them remain in 11th on goal difference as one of four sides on 35 points after the Saturday action.
Errington Challenge Cup – Quarter-Final
Barkingside 0 – 4 Saffron Walden Town | Cricklefield | Att: 115
I attended this match, here is my report: survivor16b.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/match-report-barkingside-0-4-saffron-walden-town-fri-15-feb-ecc/
Saturday 16th February
ESL
Enfield 3 – 1 Southend Manor | Harlow Arena | Att: 58
An extraordinary game ended up with compounding both the E’s good week and Manor’s current predicament. The E’s took the lead after six minutes through skipper Ben Bradbury. Ernold Haxhiu [49’] made it 2 – 0 to Matt Hanning’s men. The hosts would have feared the worst after being reduced to nine men as Luke Thomas and centre-back Jacob Dixon were both dismissed. Manor couldn’t take full advantage of the situation despite Grant Francis pulling one back for Adam Peek’s side on 69 minutes. Jimmy Cox restored the E’s two-goal cushion though five minutes later and they held firm to extend their unbeaten run to three matches and rise to 13th. Manor’s winless stretch continues as they remain in 18th, six points clear of Barkingside.
Leyton Athletic 2 – 6 Sporting Bengal Utd | Wadham Lodge Stadium |
Sporting laid siege to the Leyton goal with this big win at Wadham Lodge. Curtley MacIntosh became the first Bengal player to score four goals in a ESL match, backed up by a brace by Reside Coxi-Sebastfao to send Sporting back up to 7th spot. Stanley Green and Okwute Izuchukwu got the Ath strikes though it was fairly scant consolation. Leyton remain in prime danger at the foot of the table though what could also be important is they now have the worst goal difference in the division with -40.
Errington Challenge Cup – Quarter-Final
Hoddesdon Town 2 – 4 Clapton | Lowfield | Att: 84
The Tons came back from an early setback to record a fine win at Lowfield. Connor Bolton opened the hosts’ account after two minutes and that lead did hold until the break. After the interval was an entirely different story as three goals in 15 minutes changed the course of the tie. Jacob Kromann’s brace [pen 46’ & 49’] and Bryan Kyungu’s strike on the hour brought that about before Oliver Gnandi brought the home side back into contention at 3 – 2 with 18 minutes left. Clapton roared back and rounded out the scoring through Giovanni Palmer on 75 minutes. Jon Fowell’s side take their place in the last four of the Errington Cup.
Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy: Semi-Finals
Stansted 1 – 0 Walthamstow | Hargrave Park | Att: 88
The Airportmen got some measure of payback for their league loss last weekend by edging to the win over Walthamstow to make the Final of the Gordon Brasted Trophy. Callum Ibe got the only goal on 32 minutes and that ended up being enough to defeat a stubborn yet depleted ‘Stow side who could only name a solitary substitute on the bench.
Stanway Rovers 0 – 4 St Margaretsbury | Hawthorns |
St Margs stormed to a memorable victory to also take their place in the Gordon Brasted Trophy Final on Easter Monday when they face Stansted. Charncey Dash’s double further endorsed his stand-out campaign to keep tabs on the leading goal-scorers in all competitions. Phil Lowen and the in-form Connor Scully added further gloss to the score-line. Stanway fell to only their second loss in their last five in all competitions.
survivor16b 