Saffron Walden Town 2 Hoddesdon Town 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 23rd April

I was at Catons Lane for the final weekend of the Essex Senior League season, and it saw goals from Charlie Smith and Stan Leech help Saffron Walden Town net a comfortable win over Hoddesdon Town to claim the runners up spot and seal a promotion play off place to boot.

The equation for the hosts was simple, grab at least a point and second place and the play offs was theirs, however if they slipped up against a Hoddesdon Town side who had beaten Walthamstow and Stansted recently, they could be pipped to second spot by Redbridge who were facing relegation threatened St Margaretsbury at Oakside.

Walden then were in the driving seat prior to kick off then, it had been a remarkable end to their campaign as at one point a couple of months or so ago they were well off the pace and it seemed no chance they would challenge for that playoff place, but since losing at Cockfosters in mid-February they are eleven matches unbeaten having won ten of those, with a goalless draw at FC Clacton being the only one they have failed to win in that time.

It's an amazing run of form that has seen them in this position to have the chance of grabbing second spot and a playoff against a third bottom side in one of the Step Four divisions for a place at that level next season, but it would not be an easy game against a Hoddesdon Town side who, although have nothing to play for and are down in an unspectacular 14^th position, have been in decent form lately.

Since the start of March they have lost just twice in eleven in all competitions, and as said above have beaten Walthamstow twice in that period and also ended Stansted’s hopes of the playoffs too after beating them as well, although all three of those games were at Hoddy’s Lowfield ground, their away form is nowhere near as strong as their home form, so you would certainly have expected the hosts to get the job done here today.

But pressure does funny things doesn’t it, Walden had it all to lose going into this one whilst Hoddesdon could just play with freedom, like they had been doing recently, so you can never tell what may happen, could Walden hold their nerve though and claim that coveted play off spot and see themselves just ninety minutes away from a possible promotion?

A bumper crowd of 776 were in attendance for this one, a magnificent effort from all concerned, and it certainly had a latter FA Vase round feel to it, this was a big day for the club, and although Walden dominated the opening half it looked as though they would go into the break still in a nervy position although they were still heading for that point they needed despite not finding that goal.

Gavin Cockman had gone closest in the opening forty minutes or so, thumping a powerful effort from an acute angle against the woodwork, possibly via Hoddesdon keeper Alex Read’s hand, whilst the hosts had numerous efforts go straight at Read, however, two minutes before the break Walden eased their nerves by finding the net.

Khris Oti had been put through, and although he stumbled under pressure from close attentions from defenders, the ball was played back into the middle where the superb Smith was on hand to convert a first time finish past Read and into the net to send the 800 plus crowd wild, as well as Jason Maher and co on the side lines too, it was a huge goal, and one that settled down any nerves amongst the home contingent, sending them into the break a goal to the good.

Hoddesdon had very little in the way of attacking play thus far in this contest, but they almost stunned their opponents when firing inches wide shortly after the break, it was the warning that Walden needed as an equaliser from the visitors would leave the hosts in a nervous position once again, especially as Redbridge were making light work of St Mags at Oakside, so losing this one was certainly not an option.

As it turned out Hoddy rarely threatened thereafter and The Bloods looked the more likely to add another goal, a goal that would certainly seal their runners up spot and the play off place too, and with three minutes of the ninety to go, Walden sealed that position with a second goal after substitute Leech nodded home a Craig Calver cross from the right, and cued celebrations with the noisy Walden fans behind the goal.

A comfortable win then for the home side, and great scenes thereafter as the hosts received their runners up tankards and shield, it’s been an amazing finish to the season from them, unbeaten in twelve games, eleven of those wins, and they head into that playoff against a side yet to be confirmed in top form, and they will not fear anyone in their bid to gain promotion.

Full time Saffron Walden Town 2 Hoddesdon Town 0

 

Shall we see how the final day of the Essex Senior League panned out, why not...

Results

Clapton 0-4 Woodford Town

Cockfosters 0-1 Athletic Newham

Enfield 4-0 White Ensign

FC Clacton 1-1 Southend Manor

Ilford 1-1 Little Oakley

Redbridge 6-1 St Margaretsbury

Saffron Walden Town 2-0 Hoddesdon Town

Sawbridgeworth Town 4-1 West Essex

Takeley 2-2 Stansted

Walthamstow 2-1 Stanway Rovers

Final Table

Champions Walthamstow defeated Stanway Rovers to cap a wonderful season and win the division by nine points, and despite Redbridge sticking six past St Margaretsbury they will finish third and two points behind Saffron Walden Town who sealed that runners up spot today.

That heavy defeat for St Mags though saw them finish the season in the bottom two and possible relegation after Sawbridgeworth Town leapfrogged them on the final day after they put four past West Essex at Crofters to end their season in style and confirm their place in the league for next season.

And step five newbies Little Oakley finished the highest out of the three promoted sides from step six last season by finishing a very creditable sixth, with Athletic Newham finishing eighth and White Ensign eleventh, all three can be pleased with their seasons though and will surely look to push on next season no doubt.

And finally.....hurrah!!!! We have managed to finish a season too, the first one for what seems like forever, so that is a huge positive, just the playoff to come now, can Saffron Walden Town win one more game and join champions Stow in Step Four next season???