![S20-21 Round-ups: Essex Olympian League (Sat 24 April) [EOFL 20/21 25.4.21]](https://survivor16b.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/20210424_144110.jpg?w=1200)
Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League & EOFL Writer
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of my round-up articles, looking athe action in week four of the ‘mini-season’ in the Essex Olympian League divisions on Saturday 24th April. As ever, our focus here is on the top four tiers, with results from Divisions Four & Five. After each division, you’ll notice an image of the updated divisional standings (Source: FA Full-Time website). Image is from Buckhurst Hill v Harold Wood Ath, taken by me. Thank you for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
Starting off in the Premier Division and Bishop’s Stortford Swifts made it five league matches unbeaten with a good 3 – 0 win over Leigh Ramblers at Silver Leys. The goal-scorers for Billy Cove’s side were Tola Odedoyin, Gabriel Odili and Chris Gibbs as they reduced the deficit to Catholic Utd in third to four points, ahead of their visit to the Len Forge next weekend. The Rams remain in fourth spot. Basildon Town remain in second after a 2 – 0 win over third-placed Catholic Utd at the Basildon Sports Club. Goals from Charlie Kendall & player-boss Marcus Bowers ensured that caretaker boss Simon Thomas’s first game in charge (after the resignation of boss Stuart Marshall last week citing work commitments) ended in defeat.
In my featured match this weekend, Buckhurst Hill pulled off a fine 5 – 0 win over Harold Wood Athletic at Roding Lane. Tyler Dolan struck twice here for Mark Williams’ side, with Jack Griggs, Nathan Sollosi and replacement Fehinti Falola all netting as well to keep Buckhurst five points clear at the summit. My report from this match is available here: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/s-20-21-match-report-buckhurst-hill-5-0-harold-wood-athletic-eofl/
Elsewhere, Rayleigh Town got a super away-day victory, 3 – 1 at Shenfield AFC with Bailey Moss, Shaun Gittleson and George Vile the scorers for Paul Higgins’ side. Town rise to ninth spot in the table while Shenfield drop to 11th. Sungate also got back to winning ways with a 2 – 0 win at Kelvedon Hatch, which sent them back up to seventh. Two of the bottom three sides met at Arun Park as Springfield were held 1 – 1 by Old Southendian. David Knight struck for Dan Williams’ side but a late leveller for OS from Lewis Caplin denied them a much-needed victory. Other results meant that OS are now bottom, while Springfield reside in 12th. Finally, Canning Town leapt off the bottom with a superb 3 – 1 win over Hutton in Beckton. Town’s third league win this term leaves them in tenth, while Hutton’s third loss on-the-rack see them stay in fifth.
EOFL Division One
Moving into Division One, with perhaps the most surprising result this week being Rayleigh Town Reserves fighting back to claim a 4 – 4 draw with Old Chelmsfordians at London Road. The result means the hosts inch to a three-point cushion in tenth spot while the OC’s drop to fourth place. Leaders Ongar Town continued their sparkling form with a 7 – 0 victory over struggling Herongate Athletic at Lakeside. Aaron Blair grabbed yet another treble to move to 18 league goals this term for Ongar, with Harry Rawlins notching twice alongside singles for Frankie Goodall and Rodney Wilson. Richard Ponsford’s side now have an eight-point lead at the summit and surely won’t be caught before the end of May.
That being said, Manford Way could give it a good go as they won 6 – 2 at Shoebury Town. Tyrone Scarlett netted a superb treble to lead the way for Trevor Grace’s side here, with Jourdon Sabarouche also grabbing two goals himself. Ronnie Hobbrough got the other goal as Manford made it four wins from their last five games. Shoebury probably cannot wait to regroup in June now as they are four points adrift of Herongate at the foot of the table.
There were goals aplenty in other matches this weekend too, only the 41(!) being scored overall in the six matches in the division this weekend. Snaresbrook certainly did their bit for that tally as well with a 5 – 2 win at Toby. Daniel Tesfay got another double here for Rob Caine’s side, as Drew Barbier also notched a pair plus Ife Ogunbayo also netted from twelve yards. ‘Brook go above their hosts here into sixth and they are only three points adrift of a top-three place, such is how congested the top half of the standings are. Also, Galleywood managed a fine 3 – 0 win at Runwell Sports with Matthew Buckingham, Thomas Watling and substitute Luke Osborne all finding the net at St Luke’s Park. ‘Wood go up to third in the standings while Runwell drop to fifth.
Finally for this division, Chingford Athletic made it four games unbeaten as they won 4 – 2 at Ramsden Scotia. Michael Mignot got another double here to take his tally to nine goals in a Chingford shirt in the last month. Archie Stojic and George Miller also netted to send Lee Bowers’ side up to eighth. I wouldn’t rule them out making a late run for a top-four spot either. Scotia drop to ninth spot.
EOFL Division Two
On a day of movement in the top half in Division Two, Leigh Town got back to their irrepressible selves with a thundering 6 – 1 at Old Southendian Res. Brodie Horne netted another three goals here to make it to five league goals this term now. Tom Byford, Sam Irvine and Lewis Lawrence completed the ensemble cast of scorers for Jack Pearman’s side who remain a point clear at the summit, while OS Ressies remain seventh. Beacon Hill Rovers ended a three-match winless run with a 3 – 0 win at my local club Rochford Town. Bradley Morgan, Karl Swanborough and Josh Perry all struck to give Stephen Bennett’s side renewed impetus in second spot, Rochford drop to tenth.
Elsewhere, Corinthians moved into third place with a decent 2 – 0 win over Ryan at Stambridge. John Bolton-Smith and Leo Clarke provided the goals as Chris Stoneham’s side got their third straight win. Ryan remain in eighth spot, a point clear of Harold Wood Athletic Reserves who were held 1 – 1 by AS Rawreth at Harold Wood Park. Substitute Darren Wettner got the crucial goal there for the hosts as bottom side Rawreth finally got their first point of the campaign. May & Baker ‘A’ also got a fine 3 – 2 win over Laindon Orient with Nimaga Dauda notching twice for Scott Harding’s team. A known name to fans of the whole club, Carl Patten got the other goal for Bakers. Carlos Dias and an OG accounted for Laindon’s goals but this loss drops them to fourth and makes them vulnerable to being caught by both Wakering & Epping as Orient have played more matches.
Speaking of Wakering, Wakering Sports took on Epping Town this weekend at Cupid’s. A fine performance saw the hosts emerge with a 3 – 1 victory with Ben Rowe, Ben Burrows and Max Drury goals sealing a third win in succession for Mitchell Gleeson’s side. Charlie Pollard netted a late goal for Town but Wakering go above their opponents here into fifth spot.
EOFL Division Three
In Division Three this week, leaders ACD Utd came away with a fine 3 – 2 win over Collier Row at the Forest Row Centre. Jamie Alexandrou, Connor Lambert and Jake Noble all struck for player-boss Michael Wade’s side as they extended their lead at the summit to four points. Row suffered a damaging defeat here in their own promotion ambitions and fall to sixth. ACD’s two nearest rivals also had setbacks, with Manford Way Res being held to a 1 – 1 draw at Hullbridge Sports ‘A’. Edward Hawney netted for the Lower Road developmental side, with David Hornsby notching his 18th league goal of the season to level for the visitors, who are still unbeaten in their last six matches.
Elsewhere, in the late kick-offs, Basildon Town Reserves came from behind to defeat Wakebury 2 – 1 at Basildon Sports Club. Late goals from Mark Squibb and a Scott Cooper penalty were enough to overhaul Adam Topley’s earlier goal for the Berries to give the hosts their fourth win in their last six outings. Wakebury’s three-match winning run is over and they are four points adrift in third now. Also, Toby Res were held 2 – 2 by Corinthians Res at Ford’s Sports Club in Newbury Park. The result doesn’t do much for either side as they both are in the bottom three.
Buckhurst Hill Res got a fine 4 – 1 win at home to Lakeside Utd with Harry Davison scoring for the visitors there. Buckhurst’s second-side had a brace from Louie Cooper to set them on their way to success, with Endrit Abazi and Genit Abazi both also netting here. Buckhurst’s second-side rose to ninth after this victory. Also, Hutton Res had two matches this week which heralded six points. Firstly in midweek, they defeated Collier Row 4 – 1, in a match I attended at Polo Fields, my report is available here: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/s-20-21-match-report-hutton-res-4-1-collier-row-wed-21-apr/
Meanwhile at the weekend, Hutton Res defeated Leigh Town Res 5 – 1 with Jack Shaw scoring twice, plus Carl Dutton, Thomas Price and substitute Bailey Morris were all also on target in their fourth consecutive win. Bill Stratford’s side sit fourth, level on points with Wakebury just above them in what is a tight top six (see table below).
EOFL Division Four Results
Chingford Athletic Res 1 – 4 Catholic Utd Res | Town Mead [3G]
Galleywood Res 5 – 4 Leytonstone Utd | Moulsham High Sch [3G]
Hashtag Utd Dev 4 – 0 Wakering Sports Res | Barleylands Road
Laindon Orient Res 2 – 1 Canning Town Res | Markhams Chase
Old Chelmsfordians Res 1 – 3 Shenfield AFC Res | Lawford Lane
Sungate Res 5 – 4 Ongar Town Res | Ilford Wanderers RFC
EOFL Senior Five Results
AS Rawreth Res 1 – 10 Springfield Res | The Warren
Collier Row Res H – W Shoebury Town Res | Home Walkover
Epping Town Res 3 – 3 Newbury Forest Res | Epping UC Rugby Club
Herongate Athletic Res 2 – 0 Leigh Ramblers Res | Billericay Road
Roydon H – W Old Barkabbeyans | Home Walkover
Runwell Sports Res A – W Wakering Sports ‘A’ | Away Walkover
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