Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello and welcome to this week’s review of Essex Olympian League action on Saturday 7 March. The weather continued to blight fixtures though there were still a lot of big matches in League & Cups that took place. Thanks for reading.
Essex Olympian League – Saturday 7 March
Premier Division
In the Premier Division, Sungate picked up a narrow 1 – 0 win at Rayleigh Town to extend their lead at the summit to six points. Buckhurst Hill can still catch them if they win five of the eight matches they have in hand on the ‘Gate. Rayleigh remain in seventh spot. Meanwhile, Kelvedon Hatch rose to fifth place after a 3 – 2 win over Harold Wood Athletic in a match moved to Frances Bardsley Academy 3G in Romford. Calvin Poku, Theo Ola and Joe Gregory all netted for Hatch, with Rob Whitnell and Jack Brown-Sykes scoring for Ath, who remain bottom, five points adrift of the top ten.
Shenfield AFC also secured a much-needed three points with a fine 5 – 2 win at mid-table Springfield. Ben Carroll grabbed a treble here, with Samuel Lock and Alex Tredgett also notching for AFC to send them up to 11th spot, four points clear of the bottom two.
Match OFF: Basildon Town P – P Leigh Ramblers |
Senior Division One
In Senior One, FC Hamlets won 2 – 0 at bottom side Toby through goals from Charlie Heatley and Jack Patten to secure their fifth league win this term, having played only 11 matches, due to postponements & Cup ties. Ashley King’s side rise to seventh spot and still have an outside chance of securing a top-four finish.
Lakeside edged to a 1 – 0 success over Runwell Sports with Jody Reynolds getting the only goal to go five points clear in fourth. Runwell remain in the bottom three. Also, Galleywood also won away from home, 2 – 0 at Ramsden Scotia thanks to strikes by Matthew Buckingham and replacement Jamie Rick, which sent ‘Wood up to fifth. Ramsden have lost three on-the-spin and remain in tenth.
Matches OFF:
Manford Way P – P Rayleigh Town Res |
Shoebury Town P – P Herongate Athletic |
Snaresbrook P – P Old Chelmsfordians |
Senior League Cup
In the one EOFL Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie, Catholic Utd edged to a 1 – 0 win over fellow Premier side Hutton at the Len Salmon Stadium. Jay Nash got the only goal to see the Super Hoops through to the last four.
Essex Premier Cup: Semi-Finals
In the one Essex Premier up Semi-Final that did take place at Roding Valley Sch 3G, Premier side Buckhurst Hill edged past impressive Senior One side Chingford Athletic on penalties after a pulsating 3 – 3 score-line after extra-time. Sam Sollosi netted twice for Mark Williams’ side in normal time, before Fenti Falola netted in extra time though Chingford showed their warrior spirit with Alex Gordon netting a double of his own which was added to by Gary Murray. Hill won the ensuing shoot-out 5 – 4 though this battle adds fuel to the thought that Dave Richbell’s side will be a Premier Division side next term. Congrats to both teams though it is Hill who make it through to the Final to defend their title at Billericay Town’s New Lodge on Wednesday April 11th.
Match OFF: Leigh Town P – P Ongar Town | New Date: Sat March 14th
Senior Division Two
Two matches survived in Senior Two, as Beacon Hill Rovers went back up to second spot with a 3 – 1 home win over Wakering Sports in the early kick-off, moved to Plume Sch in Maldon. Nathan Ruggles, Ade Adeyemi and a late Stephen Bennett spot-kick saw Rovers to a fifth straight win and are seven points off leaders Leigh Town. Corinthians also endorsed their promotion chances with a 4 – 2 win at May & Baker Res. Alfie Knight, Ollie Brickwood, John Bolton-Smith and Dan Cooksley all netted for Chris Stoneham’s side who went above their opponents into fourth place. Ryan Leavens and Ricardo Teixeira struck for Jimmy Donald’s team though their own aspirations of elevation took a dent here as they have five matches left to play.
Match OFF: Laindon Orient P – P Epping Town
Senior Division Three
Finally for the round-up section in Senior Three, Wakebury failed to gain ground on leaders ACD Utd as they were held 0 – 0 by Toby Res at Shoebury Park. It looks increasingly likely that Corinthians Res are the biggest threat for the title though the Berries will still want to secure a top-two finish for the best chance of promotion. Elsewhere, Lakeside Res got their third win in their last five with an important 3 – 1 win at Collier Row. This win sent ‘Side up to ninth, four points clear of the bottom two and handed Row a setback in their focus for a top-three finish.
Also, Corinthians Res handed White Ensign Res another heavy loss as Terry Rose’s side won 6 – 0 at Stambridge Memorial Ground. It was an ensemble cast of scorers with Steve Solarin, Max Hall, Ashley Webb, Ryan Woodley, George Penfold and Taner Dagyaran all on target as the hosts remain third and cut the deficit to leaders ACD to six points with three matches in hand on them. Ensign’s second side have three matches left to get out of the bottom two, they sit second-bottom and are three points away from Basildon Town Ressies.
Matches OFF:
Buckhurst Hill Res P – P Hutton Res |
Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ P – P Basildon Town Res |
Senior Division Four results
Canning Town Res 1 – 1 Roydon
Forest Glade P – P Catholic Utd Res
Galleywood Res P – P Wakering Sports Res
Old Chelmsfordians Res 2 – 4 Chingford Athletic Development
Ongar Town Res P – P Laindon Orient Res
Shenfield AFC Res 0 – 2 Leytonstone Utd
Senior Division Five results
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res 4 – 0 Shoebury Town Res
Herongate Athletic Res P – P Collier Row Res
Roydon Res 2 – 2 Springfield Res
Runwell Sports Res 1 – 0 Newbury Forest Res
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