Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League Writer
Hello and welcome back to the the second of my round-up blogs looking at the Essex Olympian League divisions for the Season 2020-21. In this piece, we look at the League, Reserve Cup & Senior Cup action, focusing on the Top four divisions and the Cups this weekend. How did your side get on? Thank you for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
In this week’s action in the Premier Division, Basildon Town made it two wins from two games with a 4 – 0 home win over Kelvedon Hatch. Antony Aylett, Keith King, Benjamin Smith and substitute Jamie Simpkins all netted for Marcus Bowers’ side. Hatch have conceded seven goals now in their opening two games, without scoring. Buckhurst Hill also made continued their good start to the season with a hard-fought 2 – 1 win over Bishop’s Stortford Swifts at Roding Lane. Suleyman Zuhdu and Nathan Sollosi goals before the interval secured the points for Mark Williams’ side.
Elsewhere, Springfield had an own goal to thank for a 1 – 0 triumph in a tight contest with Rayleigh Town at Arun Close. Catholic Utd returned to winning ways with a 2 – 0 success at Shenfield AFC. Ronnie Hobbrough’s first-half penalty put Stuart Marshall’s side ahead before Ellis Sands sealed the win on his 100th appearance for the club. Sungate also kept their 100% record with a 3 – 2 win over Harold Wood Athletic, although Tom Ward and an OG accounted for Ath’s goals In that contest. Finally in this division, Canning Town remain unbeaten after defeating Leigh Ramblers 1 – 0 in Beckton.
EOFL Division One
Now moving into Division One, and Ongar Town maintained their fine start in all competitions with a thumping 7 – 0 over Toby at the Lakeside Sports Ground. Aaron Blair scored four goals on his own, with Ayo Awosinka notching a brace and Harry Rawlins also chipping in. Snaresbrook also won, 3 – 0 at Rayleigh Town Res with Ife Ogunbayo grabbing two goals and an OG also appearing on the score-sheet.
Meanwhile, Runwell Sports roared to a 5 – 0 success over Herongate Athletic at St Luke’s Park. Jon Atmore and Ashley Burgess both struck twice for Jason Plom’s side, with Ben Austin also on target. Also, Ramsden Scotia drew 2 – 2 at home with Shoebury Town.
EOFL Division Two
In Division Two, Beacon Hill Rovers made it two wins from two with a 2 – 0 win over AS Rawreth. Also, Ryan made it two wins from two in League & Cup as they defeated Wakering Sports 2 – 0 at Cupid’s. Lewis Watson and Tayyab Mahmoud were the scorers for the new-look Walthamstow-based outfit.
Corinthians also returned to league action with a 5 – 2 away triumph at Laindon Orient. Nathan Dewberry returned with a brace, with John Bolton-Smith also grabbing two goals plus Connor Summerhill also netted in this fine win for Chris Stoneham’s side. In the other match in the division, Rochford Town held visitors Epping Town to a 1 – 1 draw, with Charlie Pollard getting Epping’s goal there..
EOFL Reserve League Cup
This week, the Reserve League Cup took centre stage with fourteen ties taking place. In the first of our nine featured matches, Division Five side Shoebury Town Res got a fine win at Division Two side Harold Wood Athletic Res, winning 4 – 3 at Harold Wood Park. Replacement Connor Payne scored twice for Shoebury, with Kirk Hudson and Garry Johnson also netting for the visitors. James Pottle’s brace and one from Joe McBurney in response for Ath’s second-side was not enough to prevent them heading out of the competition.
Collier Row Res also progressed with a 2 – 0 home win over Shenfield AFC Res at the Forest Row Centre. Nicky George and Johnson Lawrence were the goal-scoring heroes for the Division Five side. Galleywood Res also went through, beating fellow Division Four side Canning Town Res 3 – 1 away from home. Jack Chatterway’s double and one from Zak Robinson meant the Chelmsford-based side went through.
Hutton Ressies also progressed as they achieved a 3 – 1 home win over Basildon Town Res at Polo Fields. Stewart Biggie, Brad Freeman and substitute Benjamin Rose all found the net for Hutton, with Jamie Miller getting the consolation for Town here. Runwell Sports Res also went through, as they won 3 – 1 at Epping Town Res, with James Driver notching a brace and Alex Marsh getting the other goal for Runwell. Andrew Smith got the goal for the hosts but they unfortunately headed out of the Cup. Ongar Town Ressies made it a good day for the club as they won 3 – 2 at Leigh Ramblers Res. Frankie Goodall struck twice for the visitors, with Jack Zielinski’s goal also proving important.
Next, in the match I attended at Garon Park, Old Southendian Reserves were made to work hard before they grabbed a 3 – 0 win over Leigh Town Res. A fine strike by Jack Cripps and two from substitute Nico Debouchet sealed the win. If you’d like more on this match, the link to my report is here: survivor16b.wordpress.com/2020/09/12/match-report-os-res-3-0-leigh-town-res-eofl-rc-12-9-20/
Manford Way Ressies also had a great day, winning 5 – 1 at Toby Res, with Shaun Goddard leading the goal-scorers with a double. David Hornsby, Jack Barraclough and Jake Muller all also netted as they took their place in Round Two. Chingford Athletic Res also advanced to the next round as they triumphed 4 – 1 at Old Chelmsfordians Res. Callum Godfrey, Leighton Hughes-Franklin and Conor Medhurst were among their Ath’s scorers here.
Other EOFL Reserve Cup Results:
AS Rawreth Res 0 – 6 Wakering Sports Res
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res 0 – 2 Springfield Res
Corinthians Res 2 – 6 Catholic Utd Res
Herongate Athletic Res 1 – 1 Laindon Orient Res (Laindon won 4 – 3 on pens)
Wakering Sports Dev. 4 – 0 Buckhurst Hill Res
EOFL Senior League Cup
In the two remaining Senior Cup ties, the South Essex sides competing both prevailed. First, Division Three side Wakebury went through on spot-kicks, after a 3 – 3 draw with Division One side Chingford Athletic at Town Mead. Two goals from Harry Kateley and one from Billy Bonham-Dare for Matt Cardy’s side forced the penalty shoot-out, which they won 4 – 1 to claim a scalp and go through.
Also, Division One side Leigh Town went through after a comfortable 3 – 0 win at Division Four side Leytonstone Utd. Dan Steerwood, Mark Frostick and James Roberts were all on target to seal progression for Jack Pearman’s side.
EOFL Division Three
Finally for the round-up section this week, in the one Division Three match this week, Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ got a good 3 – 1 win over Lakeside Utd at Lower Road. Harry Boswell, William Bray and Joseph Bray were the scorers for the ‘Bridge side.
EOFL Division Four Result
Hashtag Utd Dev. 1 – 2 Sungate Res
EOFL Senior Five Result
Old Barkabbeyans 0 – 4 Roydon
That’s all from the Essex Olympian League round-up this week. Check back next week for the next edition, and thank to those clubs who passed on the info of goal-scorers this week.
survivor16b 