Rayleigh Town 3 Hutton 1

Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Saturday 2nd April

I was over at Rayleigh Sports & Social Club on the first Saturday in April to see a big top of the table clash in the Essex Olympian Premier, and it saw hosts Rayleigh Town come from behind to enhance their title aspirations whilst denting their opponents own chances of winning the division.

The sides came into this one second and fourth respectively, Rayleigh sat three points behind leaders Ongar Town and only a point above their opponents who had two games in hand, so victory either way would certainly have made a difference, with the hosts knowing three points could send them top on goal difference if Ongar slipped up.

Hutton themselves knew if they could grab victory here they could climb above both Rayleigh and Basildon Town, and could only be one point off Ongar at the top if results went their way, and with two games in hand leave themselves in a very good position, so this was a big game for sure.

Rayleigh's form since the new year had been decent, six wins from eight league matches netting eighteen goals in the process, with their last outing being a 1-1 draw at local rivals Leigh Ramblers, whilst visitors Hutton had also been in decent form since the turn of the year, netting four wins from five league games, in fact they were unbeaten in the league for 2022, and they had netted four last time out when seeing off bottom side Harold Wood Athletic.

So, would we get a free flowing attacking game or a scrappy hard fought contest? Well, we got the latter in a scrappy first period, and it was the visitors who drew first blood midway through the first half when after a foul had been committed inside the box, this after a wonderful turn from the attacker after receiving the ball from the right, Stephen Judge stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

This looked likely to be the only goal of the half too, that was until a minute before the break when Rayleigh found a leveller when a ball to the far side of the box saw Alfie Larkin head back across goal to the far stick where Liam Oliver was on hand to volley home and send the sides into the break all square.

It had been a tight battle so far with no quarter given, unsurprisingly seeing how well matched the sides were and how big the game was, the second half though proved to be a much more entertaining affair and it saw the hosts ultimately produce the moments that mattered to take all three points.

They grabbed the lead to complete the turnaround twelve minutes into the second period when after a ball into the box saw keeper and striker go for the cross, the ball popped out and looped up towards Will Baldry, and he headed over a group players into the net to give his side the advantage, and then with ten minutes remaining Rayleigh sealed the deal as it turned out after Harry Talbot fired inside the near post after his initial cross had been blocked back to him.

A big win for Rayleigh then who enhance their title chances, whereas for Hutton their chances are by no means over as they still have two games in hand on the top two, but they are now seven points off leaders Ongar, which is not ideal.

Full time Rayleigh Town 3 Hutton 1

Let's now have a look at how today's results affected the standings in the Premier Division...

Today's Results...

Basildon Town 3 Kelvedon Hatch 1

Catholic United 2 Bishop's Stortford Swifts 0

Harold Wood Athletic 1 Ongar Town 5

Leigh Ramblers 3 Old Southendian 0

Rayleigh Town 3 Hutton 1

Shenfield A.F.C. 1 Galleywood 2

and here is the updated table...

Ongar Town unsurprisingly did not slip up at bottom side Harold Wood, netting five in the process to remain three clear of Rayleigh Town, with their win over Hutton meaning they are now four clear of fourth, and still a point above Basildon Town who went three clear of fourth after victory over Kelvedon Hatch. Leigh Ramblers and Galleywood netted huge wins down at the bottom of the division to increase their survival hopes.

Next weekend's fixtures...

Basildon Town Vs Catholic United

Galleywood Vs Hutton

Kelvedon Hatch Vs Harold Wood Athletic

Leigh Ramblers Vs Canning Town

Sungate Vs Springfield

Shenfield A.F.C. Vs Rayleigh Town

With Ongar Town not in action next weekend Rayleigh Town would go top on goal difference if they can see off Shenfield A.F.C. at St Martins, but if they drop points and Basildon Town can defeat Catholic United then Basildon would jump into second spot and be only a point off top spot with a game in hand, whilst Hutton could get themselves right back into the mix if they win at Galleywood and Rayleigh & Basildon both slip up, although Galleywood need the points just as much so that won't be an easy game for Hutton that is for sure. 

The Galleywood v Hutton game would be my pick of the weekend fixtures, a local derby of sorts and also a lot riding on the game at both ends of the table, although Leigh Ramblers v Canning Town is a huge relegation six pointer with the visitors needing the points more than their hosts, should be another exciting weekend that is for sure...