Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello and welcome to this week’s Essex Olympian League round-up, tracking the action on Saturday 1st February in League & Cups. Thanks for reading.
Saturday 1 February
Premier Division
Starting off as we do with the top-tier, leaders Sungate retained their eight-point cushion with a battling 1 – 0 home win over Canning Town in what was their sixth win in their last seven games. Catholic Utd edged their local derby with Leigh Ramblers 2 – 1 with Harley Kee getting both goals, the second from the penalty spot. Ryan Lowe struck for Ramblers as they drop to third, with Catholic overhauling them into second spot after a morale-boosting win. Kelvedon Hatch got a fine 4 – 3 success at Basildon Town with the returning Theo Ola getting a brace for Hatch, along with Calvin Poku and replacement Joe Gregory also netting. Jamie Bradbourn got a double of his own for Town, with James O’Brien also chipping in. Kelvedon rise to sixth while Basildon drop to 11th.
In the battle of two of the sides battling to avoid the drop, Old Southendian were held 1 – 1 by Harold Wood Athletic in the day’s late kick-off at Garon Park 3G. Brad Foley struck for Ath as they limped off the bottom to 12th spot, although they are unbeaten in their last three matches. OS levelled through Ryan Stillwell’s goal and rise up to eighth though are still only three points above the bottom two. Finally, Springfield got a narrow 3 – 2 win at home to Bishop’s Stortford Swifts. Recent signing Bryn Thorpe got both goals for Swifts after coming off the bench though this result means they drop to the foot of the table. Springfield go up to fourth after this win.
Match OFF: Rayleigh Town P – P Shenfield AFC (Due to Waterlogged pitch)
Cups
There were also four Cup ties across two Cup competitions this weekend. Firstly, Olympian Premier side Hutton defeated Senior One side FC Hamlets 2 – 1 in a match moved to Woodlands School 3G in Basildon. George Nash and Lewis Scott strikes sent the hosts through, and although John Gilroy netted for hard-working FCH, they went out.
In the three Essex Premier Cup Quarter-Finals that took place, Chingford Athletic went through after defeating Essex & Suffolk Border League (or ESBL) Premier side West Bergholt on penalties, following a 2 – 2 draw at Town Mead. Gary Murray and Luke Dimond struck for Dave Richbell’s side in normal play and they won the shoot-out 7 – 6 to make the Semi-Finals. Leigh Town won their all-Olympian League Div Two battle with Corinthians 2 – 0 in the match I attended at a muddy John Burrows Rec. Substitutes Sam Gillmore and Shane Cooper got the decisive goals to win a highly-charged contest. If you’d like more of this match, my report is here: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2020/02/01/match-report-leigh-town-2-0-corinthians-sat-1st-feb-epc/
Lastly, Buckhurst Hill powered to a 6 – 1 triumph over ESBL Premier side Gas Recreation at Roding Lane. The games are mounting up in League & Cups for the defending Premier Cup champions as they are seeking to win this title for a third consecutive season.
Senior ONE
In Senior One, Ramsden Scotia won 4 – 1 at fellow mid-table side Manford Way. Jamie Auvache stroke twice for Scotia, plus Antony Driscoll and Kurt King also on target as they went up to ninth spot. Lakeside also got the three points, as they won 4 – 1 at home to Galleywood. Drew Klessa-Smith nabbed another treble in this one with Luke Quinton also scoring, ‘Side are unbeaten in five matches now as they also are five points adrift of Old Chelmsfordians who remain second after a thumping 7 – 0 win over Toby at Lawford Lane. Toby were further blighted by player availability problems, and apparently could only field nine players to start though respect to those who all took the field.
Meanwhile, Ongar Town retained their unbeaten run this term, with a 4 – 1 win over Herongate Athletic in a match moved to St John’s 3G in Epping. Town remain handily-placed in third spot, 12 points behind leaders Chingford Athletic with six matches in hand on them. Rayleigh Town Res won 4 – 1 at Shoebury Town to go back up to fifth place with Shoebury remaining in seventh.
Match OFF: Runwell Sports P – P Snaresbrook | (Due to a waterlogged pitch)
Senior TWO
In a depleted Senior Two programme, Laindon Orient won 2 – 0 at in-form May & Baker Res with Ashley Blackburn and Carlos Dias netting in first-half for Neil Blackburn’s team, who made it five wins in succession here to remain in 5th, with matches in hand on all but one of the sides above them. M & B’s second side had their own six-match winning run ended here though remain fourth in the standings, although they are vulnerable to being caught up as they have played a few more matches. Also, Rochford Town got a crucial win away from home as they won 3 – 2 at fellow strugglers Ryan and in the process, brought a seven-match losing run to a close.
Matches OFF:
Beacon Hill Rovers P – P Wakering Sports (Due to a waterlogged pitch)
Epping Town P – P AS Rawreth | (Due to issues at Epping)
Harold Wood Athletic Res P – P Old Southendian Res |(Due to a waterlogged pitch)
Senior Division Three
In another weather-affected match list in Senior Three, Wakebury had to overcome a bout of illness among the squad and got a very late leveller as they drew 2 – 2 at fellow promotion challengers ACD Utd. Player-boss Michael Wade and Frankie Markham netted for the Romford-based side, while Harry Kateley and Chris Gore’s late free-kick salvaged a point for the South Essex side, who had to field boss Matt Cardy in defence and assistant boss Dan Blewett also came off the bench to play as a forward. Well, never dull in Non-League….
Seriously though, ACD remain second, three points off their opposition here with three matches in hand. Wakebury remain top though with just four matches remaining this term, they will have to aim to get as close to the 50-point mark as possible to win the division, you feel. You must credit both sides for how they’ve done in their first season in the Olympian League, so well done all.
Meanwhile, Toby Res got a much-needed win, 5 – 2 over mid-table side Buckhurst Hill Res in Newbury Park. Marc Porter-Brown was among the goals again with a treble here, with Chris Cox and birthday boy Luis Ruiz also netted as their side into fourth spot and end a four-match losing trough. Tim Strike and Rhys Davies got Hill’s goals as they remain 7th. Also, Basildon Town Res won 2 – 0 at fellow strugglers White Ensign Res to overhaul them in the table. Jake Bridgeman and Shaun Watkins were the goal-getters here to grab Town’s third win this season.
Matches OFF (Due to Waterlogged pitches):
Collier Row P – P Lakeside Res |
Corinthians Res P – P Hutton Res |
Senior Division Four Results
Forest Glade 1 – 5 Roydon
Galleywood Res 1 – 3 Canning Town Res
Laindon Orient Res P – P Shenfield AFC Res
Leytonstone Utd P – P Old Chelmsfordians Res |
Ongar Town Res 2 – 1 Chingford Athletic Development
Wakering Sports Res 3 – 3 Catholic Utd Res
Senior Division Five Results
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res 1 – 0 Newbury Forest Res
Herongate Athletic Res 3 – 0 Leigh Ramblers Res
Old Barkabbeyans 3 – 2 Runwell Sports Res
Roydon Res 0 – 2 Collier Row Res
Shoebury Town Res P – P Springfield Res
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