Woodford Town 4 Leyton Athletic 1

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Friday 3rd August 2018

Ola Ogunwamide netted two as he helped see Woodford Town begin their ESL season with three points after victory over Leyton Athletic in Harlow.

The visitors, previously known as Wadham Lodge, were playing their first ever competitive fixture under their new name, but they were almost behind after a minute’s action when the hosts forced their keeper James Scammell into a diving save, and then two minutes later required Scammell to save again after the hosts had got in again.

And on eight minutes the fragile Athletic defence were on the back foot again as this time the hosts saw an effort blocked as the Leyton defence were at sixes and sevens, although they did manage their first effort on goal in the 11^th minute although it was an easy save for the hosts keeper Alex Reed.

But on 14 minutes Woodford should have been in front when yet again they got in behind that Leyton back line but again Scammell saved before the rebound was dragged horribly wide, and the hosts held their heads in their hands once again.

In the 21^st minute the visitors made a rare foray forward and almost took the lead, but after cutting inside the effort was well saved by Reed, but two minutes later the hosts did finally breakthrough when a brilliant crossfield ball by Samir Ali found the dangerous Ogunwamide who ran onto it before lofting over a stranded Scammell to give the hosts a well deserved lead.

Leyton tried to respond and won a free kick in a dangerous position, but the set play was poor and straight at Reed, and then Woodford almost added another when whipping in a free-kick into the dangerzone but seeing a point blank header go over the bar.

Leyton were making more of a contest of it as the match approached half time, but the hosts continued to carve out opportunities however could not add to their tally, and the visitors almost had a sight of goal right on half time but this was also thwarted and Woodford held a slender lead going into the break.

Half Time Woodford Town 1 Leyton Athletic 0

The visitors made a triple substitution at half time to try and change things up after being dominated for much of the contest so far, but it didn’t stem the flow of chances that the hosts continued to create as a good move ended with a poke at goal going straight at Scammell, before another hosts effort saw a sprawling Scammell save.

In the 54^th minute a cross to Leyton’s far post saw the hosts hit wide of the target as another chance went begging, but two minutes later they did have a second as substitute Chinua Phinn-Archer, who had only just come on, shrugged off his marker before running clear and slotting beyond Scammell and giving the hosts some breathing space.

And just before the hour it was game over when Woodford netted a third as a loose ball fell to Ethan Kessel who lofted over a stranded Scammell, who had been in a challenge leading to the ball falling loose, and the hosts had a three goal cushion.

The hosts continued to hunt for more goals and whistled an effort past the post, whilst Leyton themselves had a chance with just over twenty minutes left, but saw a cross headed just wide of the far post, before back up the other end once again saw Woodford close as they squeezed an effort wide of the target.

Woodford then fired a ball across the dangerzone with just under fifteen minutes remaining, before the visitors managed to get in but a brave Reed managed to save at the feet of his opponent and then moments later fired a decent long range effort at Reed who managed to parry away for a corner.

But with nine minutes remaining Woodford found another as a break forward saw Ogunwamide burst through and brilliantly slot across Scammell into the far corner for his second goal of the evening.

Leyton almost converted from a free-kick two minutes after, but the hosts continued to create openings although they failed to add to their four goals already netted as the game etched towards the final few minutes.

Leyton though did have the final act of this contest when they did manage to find a consolation goal when a good run down the left ended with a ball across goal finding another substitute Dwade James who tapped home from close range, but it was far too little too late as the hosts ran out convincing winners.

Full Time Woodford Town 4 Leyton Athletic 1