Callum Boylan nets stoppage time winner as Great Wakering Rovers come from behind to take a huge three points in intense battle at Burroughs Park against West Essex, whilst Hullbridge Sports, Barking, Buckhurst Hill, Halstead Town, Tilbury & Sporting Bengal United also pick up wins

Essex Senior League, Friday 5th / Saturday 6th January

Another weekend, and the first one of the new year, and it was Essex Senior League duty for me as I headed over to Burroughs Park for Great Wakering Rovers Vs West Essex, let’s look at what happened in that contest first before having a look back at all the action in the division this weekend…..

Great Wakering Rovers 2 West Essex 1

These two sides are harbouring hopes of a promotion charge this campaign, and a playoff spot for either would probably be a minimum requirement, GWR are one of the most inform sides in the division right now and under Marcus Bowers have gone from strength to strength, and sat fifth in the standings, two points and two places above today’s opponents.

West of course knew a win here today would most likely propel them into the top five and above GWR in the table, but their form over the last six games had been mixed, with a equal amount of wins, draws and defeats in that period, so what West would turn up today we wondered, could they tame the in form Rovers on their opponents own patch?

Well, things looked good after just three minutes when West grabbed the lead, poor defending from the hosts saw them fail to clear their lines and allowed the loose ball to be fired home by Darnell Bromfield into the bottom corner, GWR were slow out of the blocks in this one but they soon found themselves on level terms.

It came on the quarter hour mark after a superb long range strike from Ben Search looked to be heading in, but West keeper Luke Adams made a brilliant save to tip the effort onto the post, but the league's top scorer in Callum Boylan was first to react to fire the rebound across goal into the far corner, meaning the contest was back on level terms.

The game remained level into the second period as well, it certainly was an intense battle between two sides fighting for the play off spots, the hosts though were looking much likelier to get ahead though as they had much more of the play and chances, Adams somehow kept out a close range effort from Wakering's Tommy Barton, it's one of the greatest saves I have ever seen live, it was that good, and then Adams again had to be smart to thwart another hosts effort at goal after an air shot from one of his defenders inside the box trying to clear his lines.

Search then curled a brilliant long range effort against the bar, and it seemed as if GWR were not going to get what they deserved in this one, but deep into added on time came the winning moment, a ball into the box was headed back across goal by substitute Sonny Noble and that man Boylan was on hand to turn the ball home and cue mass celebrations amongst the home players and fans behind that goal, it did feel like a huge goal, and it was one that saw GWR to another three points and a fifth straight win.in the league (seven straight in all competitions).

It was heartbreak for West though, it had been a terrific rear-guard action in the second period and it looked as if they would earn a very hard earned point, but they just fell short here although they certainly put in maximum effort in this one so should be proud of that.

Full time Great Wakering Rovers 2 West Essex 1

Right let’s see what else happened this weekend in the Essex Senior League…..

Friday

Ilford 1 Hullbridge Sports 5

The Foxes were heavily beaten at home for the second successive Friday, as after their 8-0 home loss to Great Wakering Rovers seven days ago, they conceded another five here against Hullbridge Sports. Martin Tuohy tapped home the opener on twenty-five minutes before new signing Otote produced a great finish to double the visitors lead right on half time, and when Jay Leader headed home Sports third goal early in the second period, the job was as good as done. Tuohy then grabbed a second goal to make it 4-0 before Dixon then netted to make it five with eight minutes remaining, and although Ilford did manage a goal in the 87^th minute, it was a brief moment of joy for the struggling hosts as Bridge ran out comfortable winners.

 

Saturday

Barking 3 Woodford Town 0

It's eight unbeaten in the league now for The Blues as they pushed promotion chasing Woodford Town aside at Mayesbrook Park, Luke Hirst opened the scoring on nine minutes after converting from a Jack Dickinson driving run, and it was two right on half time when Karl Kayembe capitalised on a defensive mix up to smash home from close range. And the game was sealed in the 82nd minute when Kayembe netted again, this time from the spot, to hand the hosts another superb win.

 

Frenford 0 Buckhurst Hill 1

Buckhurst Hill netted a very hard fought win at The Drive against Frenford after the hosts had laid siege on the visitors in the second half but were unable to find a way through. The only goal of the game came two minutes before half time and was enough for Hill to take all three points.

 

Halstead Town 2 White Ensign 1

Goals from Harry Pinckney & Kane Gilbert saw Halstead come from behind to net another win in their chase for a play off place, Bademosi tuned inside the area before firing the visitors in front eight minutes after the break but with just under twenty minutes to go Pinckney netted after a scramble inside the box. And with nine minutes remaining an Older corner found the head of Gilbert to win the game for the hosts as their incredible season continued. 

 

Little Oakley 1 Tilbury 4

It's now fifteen league games unbeaten for The Dockers as the league leaders netted another four goals as they swept Little Oakley aside at The Memorial Ground, they grabbed a 12th minute lead when Roman Campbell's deflected effort found the net, and Tilbury doubled their lead twenty minutes into the second period after Harry Donovan bent the ball into the far corner. Dan Rowe gave Oakley some hope when firing home in the 86th minute to reduce the deficit, but two minutes into stoppage time Trendall drilled a ball across the Oakley goal and Sibbons slid the ball into his own net, and there was still time for a fourth goal in the 94th minute after Trendall calmly slotted home to seal the deal.

Sporting Bengal United 5 Coggeshall Town 1

Second placed side Sporting Bengal had to come behind to eventually see off bottom side Coggeshall Town at the Mile End Stadium, 16-year old Lester Ward gave Town the lead but goals from Dami Olusesi & Dan Pepple handed the hosts the half time lead. Sporting were much better after the break and dominated their opponents, Alagi Juwara added a third before a Chris Gyamfi penalty & a lovely lob from Keanu Hill rounded off a good day at the office for the home side as they continued their impressive campaign.

 

Stanway Rovers 1 Saffron Walden Town 1

Visitors Saffron Walden Town netted a late leveller to salvage a point at The Hawthorns against Stanway Rovers, Rovers took the lead twelve minutes before the break when a superb run by Ellis ended with him one on one with the keeper and he calmly lobbed him into the net, but a long ball into the box in the 85th minute from the visitors saw the keeper misjudge it, leaving an open goal to find, meaning a point a piece.

 

Right, let’s look at the latest table following this weekend’s results…..

Tilbury still lead the way, and have games in hand too, but it's very tight for those play off spots with anyone as far down as Athletic Newham in tenth feeling they have a chance to claim one of those top five positions. Some of those top five sides will have aspirations of winning the league, Tilbury are certainly in the driving seat right now but sides like Romford & Great Wakering Rovers may have something to say about that. It's going to be one hell of a race that's for sure!!!

Down at the bottom heavy defeats for the bottom two see them as they were whilst the sides above them have a decent buffer for now, and looking likely they will keep the bottom two at arms length for now as well, Coggeshall are all but doomed if truth be told, Ilford are not in good shape right now either, things not looking good for those bottom two sides that's for sure.

Anyway that's all for now, really enjoyed my day over at Burroughs Park today watching two totally committed sides go at it, hope your enjoyed reading my blog, as said before I really appreciate you taking the time to read it, so thank you.