Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello and welcome to this week’s Essex Senior League round-up, as we hit the last month or so of the league season. Thanks for reading.
Fri 29 Mar
Woodford Town 3 – 1 Sawbridgeworth Town | Harlow Arena | Att: 118
The weekend’s ties started with this success for Woodford in a hard-fought encounter with Sawbridgeworth. Sawbo took the lead on 17 minutes through Aaron Thomas though couldn’t maintain that lead until the interval as Asher Modeste levelled for the Towners on 34 minutes. Modeste got his second on 63 minutes before Samir Ali rounded out the scoring ten minutes from time. Sawbo ‘keeper James Askew did save a Town penalty though Sawbo’s winless run extends to ten matches, the worst in the division. Dee Safer’s side rounded out their stay at Harlow with their fifth win in their last ten matches overall.
Sat 23 Mar
Clapton 2 – 2 Stanway Rovers | Old Spotted Dog | Att: 87
The Tons were held by Rovers in the mid-table clash at the Old Spotted Dog. Giovanni Palmer and Ali Al-Nashi struck for Jon Fowell’s side though Stanway showed their knack of scoring late goals again as Tyrone Scarlett got their first on 56 minutes before Scott Kemp got their second in added time. Boss Terry Spillane surprisingly departed Rovers this week and Rovers have announced Danny Slatter will see out the season as interim manager.
Enfield 1 – 3 Barkingside | Harlow Arena | Att: 51
‘Side got a huge result with a this win at Enfield. Edward Lang broke the deadlock on 29 minutes though the bulk of the twists came after the break. Powerful centre-back Derek O’Halem doubled the visitors’ lead on the hour though Jimmy Cox kept up his recent goal-scoring run with the E’s goal seven minutes later. Isaac Marfo had the last word though as his strike 14 minutes from time sealed the win for Alex Goldstone’s side which lifts them off the bottom.
Hoddesdon Town 1 – 2 Southend Manor | Lowfield | Att: 79
Manor got another fine win, this time over Hoddy at Lowfield. Kye Jude put Adam Peek’s side ahead five minutes into the second half. Connor Bolton restored parity for the Lilywhites midway through the half though Manorgot their fourth win in their last five thanks to another important goal by recent signing Michael Ogboin on 72 minutes. Hoddy lost ground on a number of sides chasing them for a top-ten berth here.
Ilford 2 – 0 Leyton Athletic | Cricklefield | Att: 30
The Foxes did co-tenants Barkingside a favour by beating Leyton at Cricklefield. The hosts had a youthful side out though they certainly had an impact on proceedings, with Alejandro Seoane-Barber breaking the stalemate only ten minutes in. Ryan O’Connell made the points safe with a second on 62 minutes as Ilf’s unbeaten run extends to four matches. Leyton fell back to the foot of the standings after their third straight loss.
Redbridge 1 – 4 Tower Hamlets | Oakside | Att: 39
Redbridge had another disappointing day as they succumbed to defeat to Hamlets at Oakside. A three-goal blitz from the visitors either side of the half-hour did the bulk of the damage. First, Luka O’Neil opened his account 25 minutes in, before Ryan Atkinson made it two from the spot on the half-hour. O’Neil secured his brace on 35 minutes to give the Motormen a ‘mountain to climb’. Dan Gilchrist set about redicing the deficit with the hosts’ consolation a minute later though Yoan Edoukou made it a great day for AJ Ashinike’s side with the fourth on 64 minutes to complete only their second win in their last seven.
St Margaretsbury 2 – 6 West Essex | The Rec | Att: 22
The Stags ran riot over a weakened St Margs side at the Rec. The hosts had to sign at least ten players this week following a mass squad turnover following their recent managerial change. Enzo Periera was the home bright spark’ with a brace here though West are known for ‘making the net bulge’ when their forwards are on-song and that was certainly the case here. Symeon Taylor opened the scoring after only three minutes, with Samraj Gill adding a second five minutes later. Taylor got his second five minutes before the break before Michael Mignot took centre-stage again with a treble [41’, 87’ & 89’] as Kwame Kwateng’s side roared to a big win which sent them up to 11th, four points adrift of a top-ten spot.
Sporting Bengal Utd 3 – 4 Saffron Walden Town | Mile End | Att: 30
Saffron Walden produced a stirring comeback to defeat Bengal at Mile End. Talisman Steven Carvell put the hosts in a good position with a brace [17’ & 37’]. Matt Frew pulled one back six minutes before the break for the Bloods though Jason Maher’s team may have feared the worst when Curtley McIntosh restored Sporting’s two-goal lead a minute into the second half. The drama still to come though as first, Lewis Francis [ 78’] reduced the arrears for the visitors before Connor Molloy’s brace [83’ & 87’] turned the tide and gave Walden all three points as they chase a top-three finish.
Stansted 0 – 0 Hullbridge Sports | Hargrave Park | Att: 183
The big top-two clash saw no goals but plenty of guts and work-rate by both sides as the visitors perhaps were the happier to claim the point as both sides finished with ten men. For more on this match, my report is here:
survivor16b.wordpress.com/2019/03/31/match-report-stansted-0-0-hullbridge-sports-sat-30-mar-esl/
Walthamstow 2 – 0 Takeley | Wadham Lodge | Att: 56
‘Stow know they have to keep winning and they were arguably the ‘winners’ of the day given the above result and their hard-fought win over Takeley. Dwade James strengthened his chances of finishing the season as the ESL’s top goal-scorer with the opener on 17 minutes. Kieran Bishop made it two ust seven minutes later and although Ronnie Yates saved a penalty, they fell to a fourth defeat in their last seven matches.
survivor16b 