Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League Writer
Hello and welcome to the return of the Essex Olympian League round-up, here on my blog, looking at the action from Saturday 5th December from the Premier Division all the way to Division Three this week, also including results from Senior Four & Five. My thanks to Andy Wilkins [@wilkins_media] for the match photos used in this article. Thanks for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
We start our round-up in the Premier Division as ever, and in-form Hutton got their fourth straight win with a 2 – 0 win at joint-leaders Basildon Town. Matt Singh’s side had Will Marlowe and replacement Sean O’Callaghan to thank for the goals which sent player-boss Marcus Bowers’ team to their first loss of the league campaign. With Buckhurst Hill’s game at Rayleigh Town postponed due to standing water on the London Road surface, Catholic Utd lead the chasing pack in third spot after a superb 6 – 0 drubbing of Springfield at the Len Forge. Brad Rowland struck two goals to take his tally to five in the league this term. Rhys Fatt also struck before the interval and the points for Stuart Marshall’s side were confirmed thanks to Aaron Baldwin’s spot-kick plus goals for Thomas Kearney and Simon Thomas. Springfield drop to ninth place as there two big wins for sides previously below them in the table.
Harold Wood Athletic were one of those sides, and went up to seventh after a good 2 – 1 triumph at Canning Town. Chris Denham and Robert Whitnell strikes saw Alex Goldstone’s side to their third win this term. Bishop’s Stortford Swifts also got a vital win, defeating Old Southendian 3 – 0 at Silver Leys. Recent signing Wale Odedoyin grabbed two goals in this game, with Carlos Flood securing the win for Billy Cove’s side who rise to eighth spot.
There was a sobering end to the match at New Hall, as Kelvedon Hatch’s match with Sungate was abandoned after twenty minutes due to serious injury. I’d like to send best wishes to the player concerned. Finally in this division, Leigh Ramblers made it five wins in their last six matches with a comfortable 2 – 0 win over Shenfield AFC, with centre-back Harry Haysom notching another two goals to take his tally to five goals this season.
EOFL Division One
In Division One, the runaway juggernaut that is Ongar Town were held for only the second time this term, as they drew 1 – 1 at Old Chelmsfordians. Richard Ponsford’s side are still three points clear at the summit though and their unbeaten run remains intact. The OC’s remain in fourth spot. Runwell Sports, buoyed by being awarded three points during the enforced break after Snaresbrook were deemed to have fielded an ineligible player in the latter side’s win in October, could not take further strikes towards the top as Runwell lost 3 – 0 at new-look Manford Way. Tyrone Scarlett got a pair of goals here, with David Leech also on the score-sheet for Trevor Grace’s side who go up to fifth spot, three points adrift of the top three.
In third place now is Galleywood, after their fine 3 – 1 win at Chingford Athletic. Thomas Watling, Jamie Ricks and replacement Luke Osborne all netted to render Lee Lashley’s goal for Chingford a consolation. The Town Mead side are five matches without a win now and fell to second-bottom after Rayleigh Town Res won 2 – 1 at basement side Shoebury Town. Kalvin Armstrong and George Vile goals assisted Dave Gipp’s side to only their second league win this term. Finally, Ramsden Scotia won 2 – 0 at Toby in the early kick-off of the day to make their way up to sixth in the latest table.
Match Postponed in Div One: Snaresbrook P – P Herongate Athletic
EOFL Division Two
Moving into Division Two now, and there were big moves in the table from this weekend’s four matches. First up, table-toppers Beacon Hill Rovers grabbed a superb 4 – 1 away win over Old Southendian Res at Garon Park. Henry Ballard struck twice here for the mid-Essex side, with Lewis Sherwood and Ben Jackman also on the score-sheet for a Rovers side that remain four points clear at the summit. Leigh Town also got back to winning ways with a 3 – 0 success at Wakering Sports in Shoebury. Lewis Lawrence, Max Jones and Jack Bruce all struck to put Jack Pearman’s side back up to second place, four points shy of the leaders but with two games in hand for Leigh, the only unbeaten side left in the division.
Elsewhere, Laindon Orient got a huge 1 – 0 win away at previously unbeaten Corinthians, with Matthew Gibson getting the only goal before half-time. Neil Blackburn & Rob Neville’s side went above their opponents here into third spot, though the Stambridge side (like Leigh Town) do have two games extra to play in comparison to Laindon & Beacon Hill. Epping Town moved up to fifth with a comprehensive 6 – 1 triumph at home to Rochford Town with Joe Rickett notching two goals here. The supporting cast of Spike Bell, Callum Turner, David Limber and Graeme Turner added to a great afternoon for Stuart Hoskins’ side.
Matches Postponed in Div Two:
Harold Wood Ath Res P – P Ryan
May & Baker ‘A’ P – P AS Rawreth
EOFL Division Three
In Division Three, the weather restricted the action but there were still big results for the top-of-the-table sides. First up, leaders ACD Utd maintained their 100% start with a impressive 3 – 0 win over previously unbeaten Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ at Westlands. Michael Wade resumed his imperious goal-scoring touch this term with another brace here for the hosts, with George Munns also adding a goal to make it thirty goals scored for the team in just six matches. Elsewhere, Manford Way Res won 2 – 1 at fellow high-flyers Wakebury. Charlie Little’s free-kick notched for Matt Cardy’s side but strikes by Jack Barraclough and Fuad Ibrahim made the win possible for the East London-based side and they rose to third, level on points with the Berries.
Also, Lakeside Utd got their third win in their last four games, winning 2 – 1 at home to Collier Row. Harry Davison and Daniel Stokes got the goals to give new player-boss Ben Crouch a win in his first match in charge. Utd move up to sixth spot, while Row fell to fifth in the standings after this result, and they are one of four sides all on 13 points (alongside Wakebury, Manford Way Ressies & Hullbridge ‘A’).
Matches Postponed in Div Three:
Buckhurst Hill Res P – P Corinthians Res
Hutton Res P – P Basildon Town Res
Leigh Town Res P – P Toby Res
EOFL Division Four Results
Catholic Utd Res 4 – 2 Shenfield AFC Res
Laindon Orient Res 3 – 3 Wakering Sports Res
Leytonstone Utd 1 – 0 Canning Town Res
Ongar Town Res 1 – 2 Old Chelmsfordians Res
Sungate Res 3 – 4 Chingford Athletic Res
EOFL Division Five Results
AS Rawreth Res 4 – 3 Collier Row Res
Herongate Athletic Res 4 – 2 Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res
Leigh Ramblers Res 1 – 2 Roydon
Runwell Sports Res 3 – 0 Epping Town Res
Shoebury Town Res 4 – 1 Wakering Sports ‘A’
Springfield Res 1 – 0 Newbury Forest Res
End
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