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 2 April. The focus this week is on the League action and we have additional sections on Divisions Four & Five. Thank you for reading.
Essex Olympian Lge – Saturday 2 April
EOFL Premier Division, Divisions One & Two
In the Premier Division, Rayleigh Town got the big win this weekend to stay in the title hunt, as they got a 3 – 1 triumph over rivals Hutton at London Road. Will Baldry, Liam Oliver and Harry Talbot all netted for Paul Higgins’ side as they stayed second. Stephen Judge got the reply for the visitors. Fellow Non-League writer Pete Dudley was there and his report can be viewed here: http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/04/rayleigh-town-3-hutton-1.html
Elsewhere, Basildon Town remain third after a 3 – 1 victory over Kelvedon Hatch at Gardiners Lane. The trio of Graham Harrison, Rhys Fatt and James O’Brien got the goals for Marcus Bowers’ team there. They still have two games in hand on the top two with a four point deficit to make up. Sidney Walker netted for Kelvedon , who are in fifth spot. Leaders Ongar Town remain three points clear at the summit after a 5 – 1 success at bottom side Harold Wood Athletic. Joe Lilly netted twice for Richard Ponsford’s side here, with Harry Rawlins, Brandon Wood and an OG accounting for the other goals. Max London responded for Ath but they have six games left to overhaul a nine point deficit to third-bottom Galleywood. Speaking of Galleywood, they got a big 2 – 1 victory at Shenfield AFC, with Harry Bond and Tyler Tredgett netting for ‘Wood there.
Also, Leigh Ramblers got a massive three points by overcoming Old Southendian 3 – 0 at Belfairs. George Moxon, Tom Franks and Ryan Lowe (on his 200th appearance for the club) all netted for Mark Hunter’s team here. They have four games left to gather as many points as possible as all the sides below them have matches in hand on them. OS remain seventh. Finally, Catholic Utd had goals from Tom Elliott and replacement Joe O’Kane to thank for a 2 – 0 success at home to Bishop’s Stortford Swifts, which keeps them in sixth spot and a chance of a top-five finish. Swifts remain tenth.
In Division One, the only match was a big one which saw Epping Town grab a 3 – 2 triumph at rivals Beacon Hill Rovers, thanks to a fine treble by Joe Rickett. The win takes Epping six points clear of the bottom two. Rovers will need at least one win from their last two matches to avoid a bottom-two finish.
Moving into Division Two now, Hutton Res drew 1 – 1 with AS Rawreth in a big battle at the bottom of the division. Both teams remain in the bottom three, with Rawreth having one more match to play. There was a walkover win for Manford Way also, over bottom side Rochford Town which saw them rise back up to third spot. It’s worth noting also that all of the top four sides have three matches remaining.
EOFL Divisions Three, Four & Five
Into Division Three, Hashtag Utd Dev took a big step towards the title with a huge 10 – 1 triumph at Toby Res. The ensemble cast of goal-scorers for Denis Simpson’s included doubles for Shaun Warren, Matthew Gauci and Josh Jarvis with Samuel Pratt, Chandler Wray, Jake Smith and Bradley Bunker all adding one each to take them to the top, with three matches left. Also, Hullbridge Sports Res drew 3 – 3 with Corinthians Res at Lower Road. Jay Knight got two goals for Sports here, with Owen Barrett also scoring for the hosts.
Moving into Division Four, Springfield Res got a important 3 – 1 victory over Leytonstone Utd to remain second, with two games in hand on nearest rivals Ongar Town Res, who also got three points after a 2 – 1 victory at Southend Manor Dev, in a match played at Cupid’s. Hudson Lawrence scored for Manor’s side there. Elsewhere, Old Chelmsfordians Res secured a 3 – 2 win at home to Galleywood Res, thanks to Timothy King who struck two twice for OC’s second side, with Shane Pritchard also finding the net. Oliver Sadler and Lee Judd responded for the visitors but they remain third-bottom. There are as many as four teams who could finish in second spot and the OC side and Roydon have the most matches left (four each) to play.At the bottom, Canning Town Res rounded out their campaign with a 3 – 1 win at home to Shenfield AFC Res, to record their second win this term but it is most likely they will still finish bottom of the table.
In Division Five, Old Barkabbeyans drew 4 – 4 with top four side Herongate Athletic Res at Barking Abbey. The point means the hosts go up to sixth, but this was their last match of the season so they could yet be caught by the two teams immediately below them in the standings. Herongate have two matches left. There was a walkover win for Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res as well over Runwell Sports Res, which sent Swifts top by two points and ended the Runwell team’s season, in which they will finish fifth.
EOFL Cups
EOFL Senior Lge Cup – Semi-Finals
Harold Hill 1 – 2 Canning Town
Sungate p1 – 1 Corinthians ( Sungate won 6-5 on penalties)
EOFL Reserve Lge Cup
Wakering Sports Res 6 – 1 Chingford Athletic Res
EOFL Res Lge Trophy
May & Baker A 2 – 1 Leigh Town Res
EOFL Denny King Cup
Runwell Sports 2 – 1 Collier Row
Snaresbrook p1 – 1 Wakering Sports (Snaresbrook won 7 – 6 on penalties)
Thanks again for reading.
survivor16b 