Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

Essex Alliance League Senior Division, Saturday April 9th

Saturday saw me over at Hackney Marshes for a huge top of the table clash in the Essex Alliance Senior Division, and it saw first half goals from Callum Maltese and Connor Braithwaite enough to secure Woodford East another huge win in their quest for the title with victory over league leaders Chadwell Heath Spartans.

This was a massive game in the title race, Woodford East had kept their hopes alive after winning at Cricklefield against Lymore Gardens on Wednesday evening (blog on that one can be found here http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/04/lymore-gardens-2-woodford-east-4.html ) to go nine points off leaders Spartans with three games in hand, so a win here for the hosts would see them cut that gap to six and knowing they would overhaul them if they won those games in hand.

Spartans on the other hand knew if they could inflict only East's second loss of the season here then they would take a huge stride towards the title themselves and send a dagger to the heart of East's title aspirations, and with Spartans hosting second placed DTFC next weekend, these two games would surely define the visitors season, it was huge.

The venue was Hackney Marshes on the show pitch there in front of the main building on the grounds, and amazingly this was my first ever visit to the original home of football, so nice to have finally ticked this one off my list, and conditions were bright if a little breezy, but after Wednesday nights conditions in Seven Kings, this was like a summers day!!!

So how would this one go? East had a tough game Wednesday night so would this affect their fitness as the game went on, and with a big Premier Cup final to come for the hosts, maybe they would have one eye on that too with the game only four days away?

Spartans didn't start to badly and fired an early effort straight at Callum Drummond, but just before the quarter hour mark came the breakthrough, and it was a gift from the visitors, as visitors skipper Janel Alexander, who has had a superb season to date, slipped, allowing hosts striker Maltese to nip in and slot beyond Lewis Edwards, and East had the advantage and set the tone for the first period.

Spartans didn't seem to be at it and East were looking much the more dangerous side, and just past the half hour mark doubled their advantage with a truly fantastic team goal, as after some lovely one touch passing had seen them slice through the visitors, Braithwaite finished off the devastating attack by firing an effort in off the post from the edge of the box, and the hosts were in total control and two goals to the good. 

Spartans did have their moments in the first period, a couple of crosses caused hosts keeper Drummond some concern, and Thomas Callagher fired a free kick off target from a decent position, but the hosts were the more likely to add to their tally but Spartans managed to get to the break just the two goals behind but knew they needed a big second half improvement if they were to get back into this contest.

East though should have put the game to bed early in the second period, seeing a close range effort from Braithwaite saved by Edwards before a wonderful cross from Maltese saw Braithwaite somehow head over from point blank range, but thereafter though Spartans started to get a bit more of a foothold in the contest and their second half from that point on was much improved.

James Odukoya fired a lovely ball across the hosts goal but no one gambled on it so the ball went away and out of danger, and another cross saw Aaron Hunwicks, player boss of Spartans of course, head down but wide of the far post as the visitors desperately tried to find a route back into the contest, and with six minutes to go they did just that when Aaron Hunwicks curled a corner into the six yard box, and the wind took the ball and caught out keeper Drummond who could only help the ball on it's way into the far corner, setting up an intriguing final few minutes.

There was a strange moment after that though as East attacked and looked to seal the game and were awarded a penalty after an infringement, only for the assistant's flag to go up on the far side and give offside prior to the foul, so free kick Spartans, however skipper Alexander talked to much, obviously upset at the award of the non penalty and was sin binned meaning Spartans would end the game a man light.

And East managed to see out the remainder of the contest to earn another huge three points and keep their title hopes alive for another week, whilst defeat for Spartans means next weekend's game against DTFC is a must win now, although they cannot keep East below them if the hosts win their games in hand.

A deserved win for East ultimately, they were superb in patches and took advantage of an off colour Spartans, especially in the first period, and they go into Wednesday's final in good spirits, Spartans would have been disappointed but whatever happens this season they can be very proud of their achievements, both sides can, as they have both had superb campaigns.

Full time Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

So, how has today's results affected the title race? Let's have a look...

Results

Blue Marlin 3 Lymore Gardens 1

Chigwell Town 2 Rapid Chingford 3

FC Baresi 1 CSM London 1

Jolof Sports 2 Kit Out London 2

Tower United 1 DTFC 4

Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

Table

With Spartans losing and DTFC defeating bottom side Tower United, it means DTFC now lead the way by a point over Spartans with a game in hand ahead of their showdown at Chigwell Hall next weekend, you would say if DTFC win that one they are almost certainly going to win the league, however, a Spartans win would be good news for them and also for Woodford East who would still be right in the hunt.

These are the games each title contesting side have left to play...

DTFC

Chadwell Heath Spartans (a)

FC Petrocub (H)

Kit Out London (H)

Chadwell Heath Spartans

DTFC (H)

Rapid Chingford (H)

Woodford East

FC Petrocub (a)

Jolof Sports (H)

FC Baresi (H)

Rapid Chingford (H)

CSM London (a)

Next weekend's game is pivotal in the title race at Chigwell Hall, although even if Spartans do win that game and their final game, and East win out, which isn't guaranteed anyway, you expect DTFC to win their remaining two home fixtures at Harlow Town and take the title, but pressure does funny things doesn't it, so who knows??? Could be a fascinating month ahead.....