Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello and welcome to another edition of the Essex Olympian League round-up, here on my blog, looking at the action from Saturday 26 September from the Premier Division all the way to Division Three, plus Results from Divisions Four & Five. Thanks for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
In the Premier Division, Basildon Town lead the table on goal difference after a 2 – 1 success at Canning Town in Beckton. Anthony Aylett and Grant Cumming got the goals for Marcus Bowers’ side who are only one of two sides with a 100% record thus far. Dominic Lewis responded for Canning here.
The other side is Buckhurst Hill who had to fight hard to defeat Rayleigh Town 2 – 1 at Roding Lane. Suleyman Zuhdu gave the hosts the advantage a minute before half-time. However, Paul Higgins’ half-time team-talk must have stirred the visitors as Jack Long struck a minute after the restart to level the game. And with a draw coming ever-closer to fruition, Nathan Sollosi netted three minutes from time to give Mark Williams’ side an important victory. Catholic Utd also won this week, with an impressive 3 – 0 triumph at Springfield. Second-half strikes by Aaron Baldwin, Luke Trice and Simon Thomas were enough to maintain the unbeaten start for Stuart Marshall’s side.
Two sides who got their first wins this season both won 1 – 0 away from home. Leigh Ramblers won by that score-line at winless Kelvedon Hatch, with substitute Billy Carter getting his first goal for the Rams in this win. Shenfield AFC also won 1 – 0 at Bishop’s Stortford Swifts, with Liam Snellin the goal-scoring hero for the visitors. Hutton did enough to hold Sungate to a goal-less stalemate at Polo Fields to end the visitors winning start to the season.
Finally, Old Southendian powered to a fine 5 – 1 win over Harold Wood Athletic at Garon Park. Manager Connor Lane had to play at centre-back though would have been delighted to witness the game first-hand as a brace from Mitchell Ali and strikes by Craig Paton, Sam Adcock and James Oates pushed OS to their first league win this term in some style. Dan Johnson got Harold Wood’s consolation here but their tough start to the league season continues.
EOFL Division One
In Division One, Ongar Town maintained their terrific start with a 6 – 0 win at home to Snaresbrook. Aaron Blair got another treble here, with Joshua Boxall getting two and Joe Lilly also chipped in. This result means they have three wins from three and the only other side to achieve that thus far is Runwell Sports who edged an incredible game at Lawford Lane, where they defeated Old Chelmsfordians 6 – 5, with Martin Llewellyn & ex-Hullbridge player Daniel Okah both getting doubles. Ryan Scougall and replacement Ben Christie also netted for Jason Plom’s side.
Elsewhere, Manford Way are in third after winning 4 – 3 at Ramsden Scotia. Substitute Ryan McDonach struck twice for Ramsden, with Alex Bessant also netting but Trevor Grace’s side kept their winning start going as a brace from Kieran Smith and goals by James Odhiamba and Harry Main sent them to the three points. Toby got another good win, defeating Chingford Athletic 3 – 2 in Newbury Park. Dean Maguchu, Luis Ruiz and Chris Rowland all scored for the hosts as Chingford’s tough start to the campaign continued.
Also, Galleywood got their first win this season as they won 2 – 0 at Rayleigh Town Res. Sam Donn and replacement Lewis Rose got the goals for the Chelmsford-based side to send them up to mid-table. Finally for this division, Herongate Athletic got their second league win with a 4 – 2 success at Shoebury Town. Jack Sparrow, Ben Warren, Jonathan Packer and an OG accounted for the visitors’ goals.
EOFL Division Two
Now we move into Division Two, and Leigh Town lost their 100% record as they drew 2 – 2 at local rivals Rochford Town. Jack Pearman’s side struck through James Roberts and Tom Byford but Rochford got another point here to remain unbeaten. Beacon Hill Rovers won 2 – 0 at Wakering Sports to leap up to top spot. Also, Laindon Orient got their first league win as they won 3 – 0 away to bottom side Harold Wood Athletic Res. Oliver Dingli, Ashley Blackburn and replacement Carlos Dias got the goals for Neil Blackburn’s side as they went into sixth place.
May & Baker Res also got a first league won as they won 3 – 1 at AS Rawreth. And in the game I was at this weekend, Corinthians drew 2 – 2 with Epping Town at Stambridge in a game both sides could have won. Leo Clarke and Nathan Dewberry goals put Chris Stoneham’s side two-up at the break but Town responded quickly through a penalty from Joe Rickett and a well-taken strike by player-assistant boss Dave Limber. If you’d like more on this match, my report is here: survivor16b.wordpress.com/2020/09/26/s20-21-match-report-corinthians-2-2-epping-t-sat-26-sept-eofl/
EOFL Division Three
In Division Three, ACD Utd are heading the standings after a comprehensive 7 – 0 triumph at Basildon Town Reserves. Player-boss Michael Wade helped himself to five of the goals himself, with Brad Falco and Connor Lambert joining him on the score-sheet. Town’s second-side lost their 100% start and drop to fourth after this result. Collier Row are the nearest rivals after a 4 – 2 win over Corinthians Res at the Forest Row Centre. Braces for Michael Coughlan and Daniel Reeve assisted the Romford-based side to a fine victory. Buckhurst Hill Ressies are third after a 4 – 1 success over Toby Res with Casey Lockhart, Jake Law and Jehmal Taylor among their goal-getters.
Elsewhere, Wakebury won 2 – 0 against Lakeside Utd at Shoebury Park. Goals from Billy Bonham-Dare and Daniel Buglione saw Matt Cardy’s side into mid-table while Utd are without a point from their three league games thus far. Also, Manford Way Res won 2 – 0 over Hutton Res and had a David Hornsby double to thank for their opening win of the league season.
EOFL Division Four Results
Canning Town Res 1 – 8 Wakering Sports Res
Catholic Utd Res 5 – 0 Ongar Town Res
Chingford Athletic Res 3 – 1 Leytonstone Utd
Hashtag Utd Dev. 3 – 2 Shenfield AFC Res
Laindon Orient Res 3 – 2 Old Chelmsfordians Res
Sungate Res 2 – 2 Galleywood Res
EOFL Division Five Results
Collier Row Res 2 – 0 Springfield Res
Epping Town Res 1 – 0 Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res
Leigh Ramblers Res 1 – 4 Wakering Sports Dev.
Roydon 0 – 4 Newbury Forest Res
Runwell Sports Res 4 – 2 AS Rawreth Res
Shoebury Town Res 5 – 1 Old Barkabbeyans
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