Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League & EOFL Writer
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of my round-up articles, looking back on the action in the Essex Olympian League divisions on Saturday 10th April, with some super score-lines occurring & a tale of sportsmanship as well. As ever, our focus here is on the top four divisions, though there is a mention of the game covered by a Non-League colleague in Division Five this week. Thank you for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
In this week’s top-tier action, Basildon Town were held 1 – 1 at Sungate, with replacement Jimmy Markham getting the important goal for player-boss Marcus Bowers’ team. Sungate levelled thanks to Lee Samways’ strike but drop to eighth after this result, while Town also lost ground by virtue of Buckhurst Hill’s comfortable 4 – 0 success over Hutton at Roding Lane. Captain Suleyman Zuhdu grabbed another double here to take his goal tally to 17 for the season. Nathan Sollosi and Tyler Dolan also netted to give Mark Williams’ side a two-point lead at the summit. Hutton’s fine form comes to a halt and they dropped one place to fourth. That was because Catholic Utd stunned Rayleigh Town 7 – 0 at London Road with Brad Rowland netting a treble, Aaron Baldwin a brace plus Tom Kearney and replacement Rhys Fatt notching in completing a big win for Stuart Marshall’s side to go into third spot on goal difference. Rayleigh’s tricky season continues and they are looking over their shoulder in second-bottom.
Elsewhere, Old Southendian grabbed a super 5 – 3 away win at Canning Town, thanks to a treble from midfielder Mitchell Ali and strikes from Craig Paton and Sam Adcock. OS’ first away win in five games his term sees them gain big ground on the five sides immediately above them. Canning fall to eleventh place, due to Kelvedon Hatch rising up to ninth spot thanks to a 2 – 1 victory over Springfield at New Hall. Kyle Asante and Lewis Young were the goal-scoring heroes for Steve Mann’s side. Springfield responded through substitute Jake Clarke but still drop below their opponents here to tenth spot.
Also in this division, Bishop’s Stortford Swifts maintained their good start to this ‘mini-season’ with a 3 – 1 triumph at Shenfield AFC. A brace from Kurt Smith and one for Kieran Southgate was enough to send Billy Cove’s side hurtling up to seventh in the table, five points adrift of the top four. And Harold Wood Athletic also continued their good form with a narrow 1 – 0 win over Leigh Ramblers at Harold Wood Park. Club stalwart John Bradley got the only goal of the game here for Alex Goldstone’s team.
EOFL Division One
This week in Division One, Toby rose to seventh spot, thanks to a 4 – 3 win over Galleywood in Newbury Park. Rhys Willson netted twice for the East Londoners, with Luis Ruiz and Louis Hill also on target on his debut. Galleywood fell to fourth spot as Old Chelmsfordians leapfrogged them into third place, as they won 4 – 0 at Ramsden Scotia. Martin Mixture, Joe Kemp, Samuel Adams and Paul Tiffen all netted for the OC’s. Ramsden sit in eighth spot, three points clear of the bottom three.
Also, Chingford Athletic got another positive result with a 1 – 1 draw at fellow strugglers Herongate Athletic. Michael Mignot got his second goal in as many weeks here as Lee Bowers’ side continue to look upwards. Runwell Sports got a comfortable 3 – 0 win over Rayleigh Town Res at St Luke’s Park which keeps the gap to leaders Ongar to three points.
Ongar Town themselves were involved in a game with a story this weekend, with Richard Ponsford’s side recording a big 15 – 0 triumph over Shoebury Town. The mass array of scorers were led by substitute Jack Zielinski’s treble, doubles for leading scorer Aaron Blair, Mitchell McCabe, Oswald Nyahunda and replacement Conner Jones plus one each for Joe Lilly, Eamon Payne, Harry Rawlins and Billy Reed. However, that wasn’t the aforementioned story. The story was that strugglers Shoebury did not concede the game before kick-off after several departures in the week and the South Essex side stood up for themselves & the league, which earned the leaders’ respect & acclaim on the final whistle. Something which I believe deserves noting here also, so credit to Shoebury.
In other action, Snaresbrook also pulled off a huge win, defeating Manford Way 3 – 1 at the London Marathon Sports Ground. Daniel Tesfay’s brace along with Ife Ogunbayo’s strike was enough to Rob Caine’s side further impetus as they are in sixth place in the standings, only four points away from the top four. Connor Hammond’s goal wasn’t enough for Manford in this game and they are only above their opponents here on goal difference now in fifth.
EOFL Division Two
In the third-tier, we have new leaders as Leigh Town are once again the team to catch, as they won 5 – 2 over Ryan at the John Burrows Recreation Ground. Brodie Horne notched twice in this match, along with further strikes by Daniel Driscoll, Rhys Mosedale and Lewis Lawrence. Jack Pearman’s side are two points clear at the top with games in hand on their nearest rivals. Corinthians celebrated a welcome return to form, defeating previous leaders Beacon Hill Rovers 2 – 0 at the Stambridge Memorial Ground to gain ground on the top three.
Meanwhile, Wakering Sports were back on winning form as they won 3 – 2 at home to Laindon Orient. Goals from Aaron Clark, Meschack Kisoka and Mo Sesay saw Mitchell Gleeson’s side to the points & cement their position in sixth. Laindon got on the scorer’s sheet thanks to a brace from James Shadwell but they ended the game with ten men and are now three points off the leaders & are vulnerable to being caught by Corinthians & Epping Town. Epping remain fifth after a important 5 – 0 win at strugglers May & Baker ‘A’. Callum Turner’s double got Stuart Hoskins’ side well on the way to victory, with goals from Graeme Turner, Joe Rickett and Charlie Pollard adding further gloss to the score-line.
Elsewhere, Rochford Town got a surprise 3 – 2 victory at Old Southendian Res as Harry Ford, Matt Welsh and Alex Gray all scored for James Cooper’s side. Dave Stubbs and Tom Judge responded for Oliver Tatton-Bennett’s side but it was Rochford who got the points which sent them rising up the standings to eighth spot. Also, Harold Wood Athletic Res grabbed a narrow 1 – 0 win at AS Rawreth, thanks to Ola James’ goal.
EOFL Division Three
In Division Three, ACD Utd recovered from defeat last week to remain two points clear at the summit, thanks to a 3 – 1 win over Lakeside Utd in the early game of the day at Westlands. Player-boss Michael Wade scored yet another double here to take his goal tally to 19 in the league this term, with Ollie Williams also on the score-sheet for ACD. Also, skipper Mason Oakley made his 100th appearance for the club in this match so congrats to him. Lakeside drop to seventh in the table after this result.
Buckhurst Hill Res got the points by virtue of a home Walkover against Corinthians Res, who are yet to win away from Stambridge this term. Hill’s second-side reside in ninth spot, one place above their opposition. Basildon Town Res had to grind out a
1 – 0 win at home to Toby Res, with Scott Cooper grabbing the decisive goal to send them up to sixth spot. Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ got a good three points in defeating winless Leigh Town Res 3 – 0 at the side pitch at Lower Road. Joseph Darby opened the scoring with substitutes Josh Boswell and Bryce Odea also notching as they fortified fifth spot with this result.
Elsewhere, Manford Way Res kept the pressure on leaders ACD with a 4 – 1 win at Hutton Res. Josh Duah struck twice for the Manford second-side, with top scorer David Hornsby and Fuad Ibrahim also netting. They sit second, three points clear of Wakebury, who scored six goals for the second successive week, emerging with a
6 – 3 win over fellow high-flyers Collier Row at Shoebury Park. Daniel Buglione struck a hat-trick, with Adam Topley netting twice and Billy Bonham-Dare adding another for Matt Cardy’s side. The ‘fly in the ointment’ for the Berries is that their five remaining games are all away from home.
EOFL Division Four Results
Chingford Athletic Res 2 – 3 Sungate Res | Town Mead [3G]
Galleywood Res 0 – 2 Shenfield AFC Res | Clarkes Field
Hashtag Utd Dev. 4 – 1 Canning Town Res | Barleylands Road
Laindon Orient Res 3 – 3 Ongar Town Res | Markhams Chase
Old Chelmsfordians Res 2 – 3 Wakering Sports Res | Lawford Lane
EOFL Senior Five Results
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res 1 – 2 Shoebury Town Res | Silver Leys
Epping Town Res 5 – 3 Old Barkabbeyans | Epping UC Rugby Club
Leigh Ramblers Res 2 – 3 Newbury Forest Res | Belfairs Park
Roydon 1 – 0 Collier Row Res | Roydon Playing Fields
Springfield Res 13 – 0 AS Rawreth Res | Arun Park (Close)
Wakering Sports ‘A’ 3 – 2 Herongate Athletic Res | Cupid’s CC (pitch 2)
Fellow Non-League writer Aaron Moore [@aaron_moore25] was at Silver Leys to report on Shoebury Town Reserves’ win, here’s his report: https://footballreview.net/match-report-bishops-stortford-swifts-reserves-1-2-shoebury-town-reserves/
That’s all for this week’s EOFL round-up, we’ll be back next week.
survivor16b 