Frenford 0 Little Oakley 1 - Freddie Tandon's unfortunate second half own goal sees visitors to hard fought win at The Drive, Barking, Tilbury, Halstead, Stanway, Romford & Ensign also grab wins in the ESL this weekend

Essex Senior League, Friday 17th/Saturday 18th November 

I decided to make a first trip of the season to The Drive in mid-November to see two sides I had yet to see this season, fourth bottom Frenford (I hadn’t seen them in the league at least, I had seen them in the Vase earlier in the season) who were finding their first season at this level tough, and Little Oakley who were having a mixed campaign so far, sitting tenth prior to the weekend’s action.

Before that though there were a couple of Friday night games in the league, one at Roding Lane and the other at Ashton’s, let’s see how those played out before we go onto the game I attended before the other Saturday action that took place…..

Buckhurst Hill 0 Barking 2

Its four games without defeat for Barking and three wins in a row in all competitions without conceding a goal now after they netted twice at Roding Lane to take all the spoils in this one. The visitors went ahead after thirty-one minutes after Anthony Martin punished an error at the back to see the Blues lead at the break, and a second goal from Luke Hirst with just under twenty minutes remaining sealed their victory and sent them into the top ten as a result.  It’s been a brilliant turnaround after losing 6-0 at home to Halstead, three wins and a draw since, and just two conceded in that time too, well done.

 

Woodford Town 1 Takeley 1

The hosts knew a win would take them top of the division ahead of the Saturday games, but they were held at home by 16^th placed Takeley on Friday night at Ashton’s. The visitors did lead at the break but were pegged back by the hosts in the second forty five, but a great result for the visiting side who remain 16^th in the table, whereas for Woodford it means they do close the gap to leaders Tilbury to just a point, but with The Dockers scheduled to play on Saturday, they could see that gap increase.

 

Right, onto Saturday, and we begin as said at The Drive in Ilford/Redbridge/Gants Hill (wherever it is, make your own conclusion!!!) where I was for the afternoon as Frenford welcomed Little Oakley to their shores, here is what happened…..

Frenford 0 Little Oakley 1

The hosts first season at this level has been largely a struggle, only four wins from their eighteen league games saw them fourth from bottom headed into this contest, however they are capable of beating some of the best sides in this division, two of those wins coming against Romford and Sporting Bengal United who are both top five sides, showing that on their day they can cause a surprise.

Those days have been few and far between this term though, and a 4-0 loss at home to an improving Barking last time out wasn’t particularly pleasing for them, and they were taking on a Little Oakley side packed with danger and had netted a recent 3-0 win away at Great Wakering Rovers although they have had a rather inconsistent season so far themselves, they had had some great results but also some difficult days at the office too, and began the weekend nine points off a play-off spot in tenth position as a result (and after Barking’s win at Buckhurst Hill on Friday night they had slipped to eleventh).

These two had met on the opening day of the season back in the summer (feels like a long time ago now!!!) and it saw Oakley net a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Harry Mann & Jordi Papple, it was certainly a difficult beginning to life in the ESL for Frenford and this game would be no easier, but could the hosts do what Oakley had done to them back in late July, or could the visitors here today grab a double over their opponents?

The visitors began the game on the front foot and had their opponents pushed back in their final third and saw a couple of early efforts go straight at Frenford keeper Matt Knight, both that were fielded fairly comfortably, but as the half went on the hosts began to settle and get a foothold in the contest, and ended up creating the best two chances of the opening forty five minutes.

An error at the back allowed Dion Johnston in to round keeper Billy Lawlor before squaring to Kai Haysman who looked certain to score before seeing his effort brilliantly blocked by a flying defender, and then just before half time Haysman stole in after two defenders left the ball to each other, but Lawlor came to the rescue to somehow tip the hosts striker's effort wide of the target, it was some save!!!

The caused the two defenders in question to square up to each other in an incredible moment, neither would back down and it ended with them both being booked, total frustration for the visitors who had started well but allowed their opponents to settle and probably end the half better, it had been a tight contest so far though with action at both ends, how would the second half pan out?

Well, ten or so minutes into the second period came what ended up being the winning moment, and it was a very unfortunate moment for hosts centre half Freddie Tandon, as a ball drilled into the six yard box by Daniel Rowe towards Harry Mann saw a blocked clearance back towards Tandon hit him and end up in the net for a very unfortunate own goal and a lead for Oakley. This kind of summed up Frenford's luck it has to be said in this contest.

The hosts should have levelled soon after this but saw another brilliant stop from Lawlor before a follow up effort was blocked, and with Frenford pushing forward to try and find an equaliser they were almost caught on a couple of occasions as the visitors nearly doubled their lead, firstly a superb powerful long range strike from Adrian Cant thumped off the underside of the bar, and then another sweeping move saw Daniel Rowe's effort glance off that same cross bar before going over.

Apart from these efforts though Oakley spent long period on the back foot in the second half as they continued to keep Frenford at bay, Lawlor made another good stop to deny them once again and despite a lot of pressure from the home side, especially late on, they could not find the net and saw Oakley cling on for what was certainly a hard fought win.

Frenford did everything but score today, but their failure to find the onion bag means a 12th loss in the league this season as they slip a place to third bottom, three points above Ilford who are just up the road of course (the name Frenford was created from the slogan 'Friends of Ilford' of course) but if they continue to play this way they will win enough games to be fine come the end of the campaign.

Oakley to their credit dug in and put up a rear-guard action in that second period at times, it was one of those wins that can be much more satisfying at times and I am sure their management will be pleased at how they put their bodies on the line at times to make sure they grabbed a clean sheet and the points, a very hard fought win indeed it was, and this sees them reclaim tenth spot as a result and only six points off those play off spots too.

Full time Frenford 0 Little Oakley 1

   

So, a hard fought win for the visitors who certainly rode their luck at times, let’s now see what else happened on Saturday in the division…..

Athletic Newham 0 Tilbury 2

The Dockers extended their unbeaten run to an incredible eighteen games as they saw off Athletic Newham at The Terrance McMillan Stadium. Both goals came in the second period, the visitors grabbed the lead ten minutes after the break when Macauley Joynes saw a corner go straight in, and with nine minutes remaining Harvey Browne smashed home from long range to seal the now league leaders all three points.

 

Halstead Town 3 Ilford 2

The Humbugs twice came from behind to see off The Foxes at Rosemary Lane, a Okuguni free kick went past Cherry to give the Foxes the lead but Older was on hand to tap home the leveller, however Ilford restored their lead shortly after this following a superb goal from Tacine, all of this action coming in the opening twenty three minutes of the contest. It remained this way until Ade Funbi converted a second half Kane Gilbert cross to make it 2-2, and with two minutes remaining Matt Coppen headed home a Older corner to win the game for the home side and send them into the top six.

 

Hullbridge Sports 0 Stanway Rovers 5

Stanway Rovers boinged out of the bottom three after an extraordinary 5-0 win at Lower Road against Hullbridge Sports. The game was only five minutes old when the visitors took the lead when Jack Johnson headed home, and midway through the first half Reece Conway applied a header of his own to double Rovers lead. The hosts then saw a penalty saved on the half hour mark before they sealed the deal with twenty or so minutes to go as Mardell headed home at the far post, and after the hosts were reduced to ten men Rovers added further goals through Josh Hughes & Jack Madley late on to cap a superb away day.

 

Saffron Walden Town 0 Romford 1

A brilliant rear-guard action from the visitors saw them to an heroic win at Catons Lane, this was after Michael Turner was sent off for the visiting side with less than half an hour on the clock, and then finishing the game with nine men after Kris Newby was sin binned with five minutes plus stoppages to go. The winning moment came five minutes into the second period in farcical circumstances when a pass back from defender Jamie Riley was missed by keeper Jarvis Monk and ended up in the net for a rather embarrassing moment for the hosts, and even more embarrassing as this proved to be the only goal too, sending Romford into second spot in the process.

 

Sporting Bengal United P-P Great Wakering Rovers

The only match to fall this weekend in the ESL was at Mile End after the pitch was deemed unplayable by the match referee after he had arrived at the ground and had a look at the pitch. Very frustrating for all, especially for the visitors who had already travelled to East London to play the game. 

 

White Ensign 3 Coggeshall Town 1 

Ensign were the latest side to hand bottom side Coggeshall Town defeat as they eased themselves to victory at Burroughs Park. A fine curling finish from Iyiola Adebayo in the opening minute plus a further goal from the hosts striker had Ensign two up inside twenty minutes before a firm finish from Robbie Allen three minutes into the second period had the hosts pretty much out of sight with most of the second half remaining. A good counter attack from the visitors which saw Nathan Dennis slot home a goal back after sixty-four minutes gave them brief hope, but it wasn't to be as the hosts ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Let's see what this weekend's results do for the table as we head towards the half way mark of the campaign.....

Tilbury lead the way after they continued their long unbeaten run, that slow start to the season now a distant memory, previous leaders Woodford Town slip two places to third after they dropped points on Friday night, Romford's win at Walden sees them now the closest challengers to the leaders, just, the top five are only separated by seven points.

Behind them, only three points cover sixth placed Halstead Town and eleventh placed Barking, the Blues have recovered well after their thrashing at the hands of Halstead a few weekends ago, even fifteenth placed Buckhurst Hill are only eight points off sixth place in what is a very tight competitive division once again.

Down at the bottom Coggeshall Town are still four points adrift Ilford and a further three adrift of third bottom Frenford, The Seedgrowers are in danger of being cut adrift if they continue in this vain, since they beat West Essex in mid October it's been five straight defeats in the league, worrying times indeed for the West Street side.

Anyway hope you enjoyed my latest blog, it's been fun writing it, thanks for taking the time to read.....