Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League & EOFL Writer
Hello all and welcome to my round-up of the action in the Essex Olympian League, on Saturday 5 February. This week, the league action takes the central focus, with a few matches also in several Cup competitions. This week’s round-up includes a section looking at EOFL Division Four & Five, with results from the Cup competitions.
Essex Olympian League Round-up – Saturday 5 February
EOFL Premier Division & Division One
In the Premier Division, with Basildon Town in Cup action, the focus turned to the chasing pack. Hutton went to the summit after a comprehensive 5 – 1 win over Harold Wood Athletic at Polo Fields. Luke Ricketts got a double, with Brad Freeman, Stephen Judge and substitute Jack Shaw all joined him on the score0-sheet as Matt Singh’s team made it five straight wins in the league. Rayleigh Town are two points behind them as they got a decisive 4 – 0 success at Sungate. Liam Oliver, Harry Talbot, Charlie Seaden and replacement Ben Baxter all scored for Paul Higgins’ side.
Meanwhile, Shenfield AFC got a fine 3 – 1 victory at Catholic Utd to move up to eighth in the table. A double from Luke Williamson and one from Ben Carroll overhauled Michael Sammut’s reply for Utd and give the visitors another good three points. Also, Canning Town leapt off the bottom of the standings with a 2 – 1 win over Leigh Ramblers in Beckton and Ongar Town were again held at home to a goalless draw by Old Southendian.
In Division One, leaders Runwell Sports were not in action but would have been reasonably happy with their rivals’ results. Toby were held to a 3 – 3 draw by fellow top six side Chingford Athletic, Albert Perry notched two goals for Mark Jones’ side, with Dean Maguchu getting the other goal but a brace of his own from Eren Muti and a goal from Airon Paul was enough to claim a point for Declan Murphy’s side. Wakering Sports were held 1 – 1 at Cupid’s by Epping Town, with Alfie Fossett scoring for Mitchell Gleeson’s side there and Old Chelmsfordians slipped up, as they were beaten 2 – 1 by improving Beacon Hill Rovers, with Charles Brewer and Jack Walker on target for Hill there.
Also, Corinthians got a vital win as they triumphed 6 – 2 at Herongate Athletic to go back up to fourth, just a point adrift of Toby in second.
EOFL Senior League Cup
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 9 – 0 Snaresbrook | Silver Leys
Springfield 2 – 3 Basildon Town | Arun Park
EOFL Reserve Lge Cup
Epping Town Res 0 – 7 Wakering Sports Res | Epping UC Rugby Club
Galleywood Res 1 – 1 Leigh Ramblers Res (Galleywood won 5 – 4 on pens) | Slades Lane
EOFL Divisions Two & Three
Into the League action with the three games played in Division Two. With leaders ACD Utd not in action, Harold Hill got a fine 5 – 0 win over Rochford Town, with Peter Tyler and George Shelvey both scoring twice there. Manford Way also won 3 – 0 at home to Harold Wood Athletic Res, with David Alele, Dominic Esty-Wilkinson and substitute Samuel Oramadike all netted for Manford to take them up to fourth, above Old Southendian Res. Also, Shoebury Town won 2 – 1 at Rayleigh Town Res, with Tyler Boosey and Steven Valente scoring for Town. William Vile got Rayleigh’s reply but they are six points behind Shoebury in seventh.
In Division Three, Basildon Town Res extended their lead in fourth spot to ten points after a 3 – 0 victory over leaders Catholic Utd Res. Keith King scored twice for Town, with Sam Marsh also on target here. Utd lost their unbeaten league record which had held since August. Pitsea Athletic remain in fifth place after a 3 – 2 victory at Leigh Town Res. Sean Devlin, Jason Stanhope and Reece Stone were the goalscorers there for Pitsea. Lastly, Buckhurst Hill U23 also won 3 – 1 against Collier Row at Roding Lane.
EOFL Divisions Four & Five
In Division Four, Roydon once again got a good three points to remain second in the table, after a 3 – 0 victory against Canning Town Res. Nader Benzid, Connor Presland and Ross Bourke all netted for the hosts here. Old Chelmsfordians Res are still third after winning 2 – 0 at Leytonstone Utd, with Martin Mixture on target for the visitors at the Forest Row Centre. Southend Manor Development are now up to fourth spot after a fine 3 – 1 triumph at local rivals Wakering Sports A. Max Franzosi netted twice for the visitors, with Marly Gunn also scoring for Carlos Codinha’s team.
Elsewhere, Sungate Development got their first league win in several weeks with a 4 – 3 success at mid-table Ongar Town Res. Finally, leaders Chingford Athletic Res are four points clear at the top after a 3 – 1 win at Shenfield AFC Res at Warley Playing Fields. Luke Dimond got another two goals here to reach 33 league goals this term, which is some achievement. Billy Calder’s eighth goal of the campaign for Shenfield wasn’t enough to prevent defeat for them.
In Division Five, AS Rawreth Res got another important victory with a 2 – 1 success over Wakebury Res at the Warren. Substitute Justin Burrell got both goals for the hosts, with Ben Morley getting the reply for the Berries’ second-side. In the other game in the division, Old Barkabbeyans went up to seventh spot following a 2 – 1 win at top four side Pitsea Athletic Res. Jay Elliott and Tyler Turner both got on the scoresheet for the East London side. Replacement Vishnu Panikkar responded for Ath at the Basildon Sports Village.
End
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