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 March. This weekend saw a large number of postponements, unsurpriningly down to the miserable weather Essex has had this week. As ever, there was a number of competitions being played (the EOFL Senior Cup, Reserve League Cup, Ressie Trophy, Denny King Memorial Cup & Essex Premier Cup), our focus remains on the League action. This week, EOFL clubs were grateful for the virtue of artificial pitches with several matches moved, We have action from the top three tiers, plus we have sections on Essex Premier Cup & Division Five.
Main Image is from my featured match this week: Rochford Town 0 – 2 Manford Way, a link to that report is mentioned later. Many thanks for reading.
Essex Olympian Lge – Saturday 5 March
EOFL Premier Division, Divisions One & Two
In the top-tier, all three games that got played were on artificial pitches. At Garon Park, Basildon Town got a fine 5 – 2 win over Old Southendian. Rhys Fatt and Graham Harrison both scored two goals each and Ryan Scougall also netted for Marcus Bowers’ side, who went up to fourth spot – four points adrift of leaders Ongar with three matches in hand. OS got their goals from Mitchell Ali and Jack Lelliott, but this loss meant they dropped one place to ninth.
Both of the other games were rare goalless draws for this division. Hutton were held 0 – 0 by Kelvedon Hatch in a match moved to Hannakins Farm Community Centre 3G. Hutton fell to fifth but still have two games more to play than the leaders to catch up the four point deficit. Shenfield AFC were also held 0 – 0 by Bishop’s Stortford Swifts, which saw AFC move up to eighth while Swifts are five points clear in eleventh.
Division One saw just the one match irrespective of the weather, as Beacon Hill Rovers climbed out of the bottom two with a 2 – 1 triumph over Herongate Athletic. Lee Henry netted for Herongate in what was their final league game of the campaign, their rivals in Rovers, Leigh Town and Snaresbrook all have four games to overhaul their tally of 17 points, which does make Herongate vulnerable to demotion.
There was two matches this week in Division Two. ACD Utd extended their lead at the summit to six points with a comfortable 3 – 0 victory at May & Baker A. Michael Wade’s 22nd league goal of the season allied with strikes by Warren Taylor and Ollie Williams meant they left Dagenham with the win. Greg Knock’s side know they need a maximum of ten points from their remaining four matches to confirm the Division Two title. Also, in a match reversed to Rochford Recreation Ground, Manford Way had to work hard to grab a 2 – 0 victory against Rochford Town in the match I saw this weekend. Harry Davison and Salum Said got the goals to seal the win that keeps Manford in the hunt for a top-three finish at least. If you’d like more on this match, here’s my report: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2022/03/05/s21-22-match-report-rochford-town-0-2-manford-way-sat-5-mar-eofl
EOFL Senior League Cup – Canning Town 2 – 2 Epping Town (Canning won 4 – 3 on penalties)
Essex Premier Cup – Semi-Finals
In what features a crossover with the Essex Alliance League, we now know who will contest the Final of the EPC on April 13th. There was guaranteed to be an Olympian League representative and Catholic Utd emerged with a hard-fought 2 – 1 victory at Sungate. Strikes by Harrison Day and Jay Nash meant that Simon Thomas’ team will make it to the Premier Cup Final once again. Their opponents will be EAL Senior Division side Woodford East, who got an impressive 3 – 1 win at Clapton CFC. It is right to respect also what has been a superb run to the last four for CFC, but a James Briggs penalty wasn’t enough to get the Middlesex County Premier Division side back into the contest. The Final will be played at Billericay Town’s New Lodge, it should be a fascinating match. Congrats to both finalists.
EOFL Divisions Four Results
Canning Town Res 0 – 1 Ongar Town Res
Chingford Athletic Res 4 – 1 Southend Manor Dev
Leytonstone Utd 3 – 2 Wakering Sports A
Shenfield AFC Res 5 – 3 Sungate Dev
EOFL Division Five
In Division Five, Old Barkabbeyans are chasing a top-five finish now after a 3 – 1 victory at home to AS Rawreth Res. Lucas Winzar netted for Rawreth, but strikes by Jay Elliott, Jordan Mullings and Sean Doyle ensured Old Barks gained ground on the sides above them, with three matches remaining.
EOFL Reserve League Cup
Finally, in the Ressie League Cup, Wakering Sports Res went through after a 4 – 1 home win over Rayleigh Town Res at Cupid’s. The ensemble cast of Connor Fardyga, Scott Clark, Ciaran Sweeney and Charlie Smith all netted for the Sports second-side.
Thanks again for reading.
survivor16b 