Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League & EOFL Writer
Hello all and welcome to another edition of my round-up articles, looking the action in week six of the ‘mini-season’ in the Essex Olympian League divisions on Saturday 1st May. As ever, our focus here is on the top four tiers, with results from Divisions Four & Five. My apologies for the delay this week in this week’s edition being published. Thank you for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
In the top-tier, Buckhurst Hill extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points now after a 4 – 0 home win over Shenfield AFC. Tyler Dolan netted a treble, two of which were from the penalty spot and substitute Callum Ibe also netted again to leave Mark Williams’ needing two more wins to secure the title again this term. Shenfield remain second-bottom. Fellow Non-League writer Aaron Moore was there and here’s his match summary: https://footballreview.net/match-report-buckhurst-hill-4-0-shenfield-afc/
Basildon Town were held 0 – 0 by a gallant Harold Wood Athletic at Basildon Sports Club. Two more victories should be enough to secure second spot for Marcus Bowers’ side, given that their nearest rivals have too much to do to overhaul them. Leigh Ramblers got a comfortable 2 – 0 win at Rayleigh Town with Daniel Williams and Sam Mountstephens getting the goals to take player-manager Ronnie Bridges’ side up to third in the table. I was at this match and my report is available here: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2021/05/04/s20-21-match-report-rayleigh-town-0-2-leigh-ramblers-sat-1st-may/
In other action this weekend, Bishop’s Stortford Swifts continued their superb recent run with a 2 – 1 victory at Catholic Utd. Gabriel Odili and Darren Phillips both struck to send Billy Cove’s side up to fifth spot. Dan Trenkel netted for the ‘Super Hoops’ but they drop to fourth as the race for a top four spot intensifies. Hutton drop to sixth despite a 2 – 2 draw at home to Canning Town. Will Marlowe and replacement Alfie Curelli both scored for Matt Singh’s side but one point out of six from their two recent matches with Canning has hit them hard. Town drop to 11th due to Kelvedon Hatch grabbing another three points, defeating bottom side Old Southendian 2 – 1 at New Hall. Lewis Caplin netted for OS but Kyle Asante and Ryan Scott scored here to see Hatch rise up to tenth. And finally for this division, Sungate grabbed a 2 – 1 win at Springfield, despite Jake Clarke netting for Dan Williams’ team. ‘Gate remain seventh and are looking up at the top five while the Arun Park side remain in 12th.
EOFL Division One
Moving into Division One, and runaway leaders Ongar Town really had to battle hard to win 2 – 1 at Shoebury Town. Jack Zielinski and substitute Aaron Blair got the goals for Richard Ponsford’s side while Dominic Binns responded for Town who showed that they were more than able to compete here with arguably the best team in the division. Galleywood remain second after a tight 1 – 0 win over Toby at Moulsham Sch 3G. Thomas Watling got the only goal of the game to keep ‘Wood eight points a point clear of Runwell Sports who move up to third, after battling to a superb 5 – 2 win over Manford Way at St Luke’s Park. Daniel Okah grabbed a treble here, with Martin Llewellyn notching a brace for Jason Plom’s side. This result leaves Manford down in fourth and work still to do to finish in the top two places. Snaresbrook held Old Chelmsfordians 1 – 1 at Nutters Field, with Ryan Barker-Francis the hero for Rob Caine’s side and they drop to seventh.
Elsewhere, Chingford Athletic continued their rise up the standings with a 3 – 0 win over second-bottom Herongate Athletic at Town Mead. Michael Mignot, Sam Coe and Olu Oyewobi all struck to secure the win which takes them up to sixth spot – only five points adrift of second spot. Ramsden Scotia also won this weekend, 4 – 0 against Rayleigh Town Res which sent them up to eighth place.
EOFL Division Two
There were changes in Division Two this weekend as Leigh Town managed to avert disaster and make a fine comeback to draw 2 – 2 at nearest rivals Beacon Hill Rovers. The result keeps Town a point clear of Rovers at the summit. Wakering Sports went back up to fifth spot after a fine 3 – 0 win at Corinthians, with Aaron Clark, Ben Burrows and Takundwa Maosa getting the goals for Mitchell Gleeson’s side. The Stambridge-based side remain third, but are only a solitary point clear of fourth-placed Epping Town who emerged with a big 5 – 0 win at Harold Wood Athletic Res. Peter Paoletti struck twice here for Town, with George Spillane, Joe Rickett and Connor Corrigan also netting for Stuart Hoskins’ side.
Meanwhile, Laindon Orient were held 0 – 0 by Ryan at Wadham Lodge, though it is a testament to how tight the top six is that Orient are still only two points off second-placed Beacon Hill. Old Southendian Ressies are the ‘best of the rest’ in seventh as they comprehensively won 7 – 0 at May & Baker A. George Burley netted twice for player-boss Josh Bambury’s team, plus a hefty supporting cast of Nico Dubouchet, Jack Pagett, Ryan Kelly, Nathan Dauncey and replacement Lewis Bickford all also netted. Also, Rochford Town held improving AS Rawreth to a 2 – 2 draw at the Rochford Rec. Club stalwart Freddie Pettitt got both goals for the hosts as they went back up to ninth place.
EOFL Division Three
In Division Three, the top four sides all won. Wakebury remain in third place after a superb 5 – 2 win at Lakeside Utd. Billy Bonham-Dare’s brace, along with strikes from Will Wheeler, Adam Topley and club stalwart Chris Gore’s strike from twelve yards were enough to give Matt Cardy’s side the win and have now scored 45 goals this term, the most in the division at this point. ACD Utd also won, albeit narrowly winning 1 – 0 at Buckhurst Hill Res thanks to Paul Mangan’s strike to retain their four point cushion at the summit. Hill’s second side remain ninth. Manford Way Res had to battle hard for a 3 – 2 win at Toby Res, thanks largely to scorers David Hornsby, Charlie Parish and replacement Dominic Esty-Wilkinson to keep their four point lead over their nearest rivals Wakebury & Hutton Ressies.
Elsewhere, Hutton Res made it five straight wins with a 3 – 1 triumph over Hullbridge Sports A at Hannakins Farm Centre. Joseph Darby struck again for the visitors, but two goals for Matthew Price and Jack Shaw’s 11th league goal of the campaign meant that Bill Stratford’s side stay in fourth. The youthful Hullbridge side stay in seventh spot. Also, Collier Row got back to winning ways with a 2 – 1 success over Leigh Town Res at the Forest Row Centre. Tehm Vapiwala got the solitary goal for the visitors who remain without a point in eleven games now.
Finally, Corinthians Reserves were unable to contest their match with Basildon Town Res set for Basildon Sports Club which means Town get the points and remain fifth in the table.
EOFL Division Four Results
Catholic Utd Res H- W Sungate Res | Home Walkover
Hashtag Utd Dev H – W Old Chelmsfordians Res | Home Walkover
Laindon Orient Res 2 – 2 Chingford Athletic Res | Markhams Chase
Ongar Town Res 2 – 1 Canning Town Res | Lakeside Spts Grd (Grass Pitch)
Shenfield AFC Res 0 – 3 Galleywood Res | The Drive, Warley
Wakering Sports Res 5 – 2 Leytonstone Utd | Cupid’s CC Pitch 1
EOFL Senior Five Results
AS Rawreth Res 1 – 1 Roydon | The Warren
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res 4 – 1 Leigh Ramblers Res | Silver Leys
Collier Row Res 2 – 1 Newbury Forest Res | Forest Row Centre p2
Herongate Athletic Res 1 – 6 Wakering Sports ‘A’ | Billericay Rd
Old Barkabbeyans H – W Shoebury Town Res | Home Walkover
Springfield Res 4 – 2 Epping Town Res | Arun Park
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