Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to another of my round-up pieces, this time looking at the Essex Olympian League action on Saturday 16th February, from the top tier to the results from Division Four plus one match in the Senior League Cup.
EOFL Premier Dvivision
Starting off as ever in the Premier Division, Bishop’s Stortford Swifts fell to a home loss to improving Sungate. Ciaran Kelly’s double outweighed Josh Osunde’s strike for Swifts as the visitors got their third win in their last four to rise to 11th spot. Swifts dropped to fourth because Kelvedon Hatch won their match, 2 – 1 at Springfield. Substitute Anthony Aylett got both of the Kelvedon goals, though fellow substitute Ryan Batchford struck for the hosts, who ended the match with ten men.
Leaders Buckhurst Hill showed no signs of relenting in their titled quest, as they secured a 5 – 1 home win over Rayleigh Town. Suley Zuhdu grabbed a double with Steve Townsend, Sam Sollosi and Nathan Sollosi also finding the ‘onion bag’. Harold Wood Athletic also failed to get a win as they were held 3 – 3 by out-of-form Hutton. Michael Burton, Reiss Kingsley and Robert Whitnell all found the net for Ath, though the visitors secured a point through strikes by Brad Freeman, Keelan O’Donovan and substitute George Nash. Ath remain second though their title chances are slim given they have played more games than either Buckhurst Hill or Hatch.
Meanwhile, Old Southendian won 3 – 1 at home to Canning Town to stay 10th. A brace from Ryan Stillwell and one from substitute Ed Gould outdone a consolation from Abdul Shobawale for the visitors, who stay 8th.
Senior League Cup
In the one SLC quarter-final played this weekend, Catholic Utd won 3 – 0 at Great Baddow. Simon Thomas nabbed a double with Aaron Baldwin getting the other goal.
EOFL Senior One
Moving into Senior One, Basildon Town roared into the top three with a 10 – 1 demolition at strugglers Rayleigh Town Res. Sener Suavi struck four goals himself, Alfie Phillips secured another hat-trick plus Brodie Horne’s double and one from substitute Levi Harbour sealed a big win to leave Town five points off the top spot with games in hand on all the sides around them. Rayleigh have games in hand on rivals Frenford Res, Old Chelmsfordians and Ongar Town though have points to make up as well.
Also in a crucial relegation six-pointer, Old Chelmsfordians narrowly won 1 – 0 at home to Frenford Res, who ended their season here. Substitute Paul Tiffen got the decisive goal to send OCs five points clear of the bottom two. May & Baker Ressies will also finish in the bottom two this term.
At the other end of the table, Shenfield AFC opened up a three-point lead at the summit, following a 2 – 1 triumph at fellow high-flyers FC Hamlets. Ashley King struck for the hosts though Jordan Elliott and Ronnie Hobbrough scored for AFC here to give them the win. Finally in this division, Galleywood defeated Ramsden Scotia 2 – 1, thanks to Matthew Buckingham and Luke Osborne strikes while Ryan Scott got one back for faltering Scotia, who dropped to fourth. ‘Wood sit seventh after their fourth win in their last nine.
EOFL Senior Two
In Senior Two, the top two sides furthered their promotion credentials with away wins. Toby won 6 – 0 at May & Baker ‘A’ with Des Gallen getting a brace plus Dan Mackin, Dan Cunningham, Paul Carr and Ross Dipple all also on the score-sheet to keep their three-point lead at the top. Runwell Sports won 3 – 0 at mid-table at Beacon Hill Rovers thanks to goals from Joe Young, James Lakey & substitute John Smithwick to go back into second spot.
Two other promotion-chasers went toe-to-toe at Town Mead’s 3G surface where Chingford Athletic drew 1 – 1 with Shoebury Town. Jack Yates got the goal for Ath though Dominic Binns levelled things for Town who had Lee Turner sent off.
EOFL Senior Three
In Senior Three, Academy Soccer got the eye-catching result of the day, with a 9 – 1 home success over bottom side Old Chelmsfordians Res. Luis Ruiz and substitute Alfie Sayers both grabbed trebles, with Jake Jones nabbing a brace and Luke Jones got the other strike as Academy remain third, four points off the summit.
Hutton Res defeated Westhamians 1 – 0 to go six points clear of the bottom two and end the visitors’ unbeaten league season. Jack Shaw got the only goal of the game there. Wakering Sports had a fine day with a 3 – 0 success at Roydon, with Harry Groves grabbing a double and Jamie Brown getting the other goal. Roydon are slipping into relegation contention as they are only two points clear of the bottom two after a fourth straight defeat.
Meanwhile, White Ensign Res had a setback as they lost 3 – 2 at home to promotion-chasing Leigh Town. A brace of spot-kicks from Zach Somerset-Butler was outdone by strikes by George Darby, Zac Mashford and Rhys Mosedale for Town, who rise to fourth.
EOFL Senior Four
And now into Senior Four, which saw the two of the front-runners have fine away wins. Corinthians had another good win, 4 – 2 at Buckhurst Hill Res. Theo Cannon led the way with a brace with Leo Clarke and Bill Wilton also notching. The Stambridge-based side lead the division by four points from Epping Town, who won 5 – 2 at Canning Town Res. Daniel Garfinkle shone with four goals, while Jack Leachman got the other goal as Billy Cove’s side rise to second.
Meanwhile, Leigh Ramblers Res won the battlers of the strugglers with a 4 – 0 home win over Old Barkabbeyans. Andrew Webster grabbed two goals plus Seb Allen and Pat Cannon also netted. Lakeside Res defeated Toby Res 1 – 0 thanks to Ben Christie’s strike. Catholic Utd Res rose to mid-table with a fine 6 – 2 victory at Shenfield AFC Res.
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