(Romford celebrating only goal of game at Little Oakley to take all three points in the pouring rain in North Essex, photo courtesy of Bob Knightley/Romford FC)
This week saw three Essex Senior League league games take place across Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday so let's see how those matches went:-
Monday November 18th
Little Oakley 0 Romford 1
Romford were trying to bounce back from a disappointing result last time out and try and hold onto their play off spot with the likes of Saffron Walden Town & Barking hot on their tails and threatening to replace them in that fifth spot in the division, they were up against a Little Oakley side who were trying to get back into the top ten with a win themselves. One goal proved to be enough to settle this contest playing in the pouring rain near the North Essex coast, and it went to the visitors just before the hour mark when Joe Paxman was on hand to net what proved to be the winner and hand Romford a very important three points.
Tuesday November 19th
Saffron Walden Town 3 Hullbridge Sports 1
As said above, Walden are trying to chase that final play off spot and knock Romford out of those places, along with Barking of course, The Bloods are obviously chasing more than that overall but were already fourteen points behind leaders Stanway heading into this contest, albeit with three games in hand, so they knew that for now they just needed to get into those play off spots and then see what happens further down the line. They were up against a Hullbridge side who have really struggled this season and are sitting way down in third bottom spot and five points above bottom side FC Clacton, so points for them were also necessary to put a bigger gap between them and that twentieth spot in the league. Things began well for the visitors as they caught Walden cold as after only two minutes Mechack Asuka put Bridge ahead, and it was a lead that lasted until three points before half time when Solomon Ofori levelled, and Walden then turned it around six minutes after the break when Ross Wall scored and now the visitors were having to chase the game. The hosts though made sure of the points to keep the heat on the ones above when Correy Davidson netted and kept up their chase on a play off spot.
Wednesday November 20th
Ilford 2 Barking 2
Former Mayesbrook Park tenants Ilford were up against their ex landlords in Barking at Cricklefield in a derby match, league placings didn't really mean to much in this one, The Foxes have been playing well of late and have pulled themselves well away from danger whereas Barking under the guidance of new boss Craig Edwards are challenging for a play off spot helped by two big wins against promotion rivals Saffron Walden Town & Great Wakering Rovers with the new boss having a 100% record so far in his two games in charge. The Blues got themselves ahead after ten minutes through Sam Shaban but were pegged back by Jabir Adam's 28th minute leveller as the sides went in level at the break, Juwon Akintunde then restored Barking's lead barely a minute after the restart, but Joel Appiah quickly levelled three minutes later. Neither side could go on and win the game meaning it ended all square, thus ending Edwards perfect start to his latest spell as boss of The Blues, but he remains unbeaten at least in what was probably a decent point.
Let's look at the latest league table ahead of a full weekend fixture list:-
And below are those weekend fixtures which all take place on Saturday November 23rd:-
Benfleet Vs Athletic Newham (2pm)
Buckhurst Hill Vs Stansted
FC Clacton Vs Saffron Walden Town (2pm)
Hullbridge Sports Vs West Essex
Ilford Vs Frenford
Little Oakley Vs Woodford Town
Romford Vs Halstead Town
Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Barking
Stanway Rovers Vs Great Wakering Rovers
White Ensign Vs Takeley (2pm)
No doubt above game of the weekend, league leaders Stanway Rovers at home to fourth placed Great Wakering Rovers, the visitors can ill afford a loss as a home win would see Wakering fall nine points behind the leaders, an away win would certainly change the outlook as GWR would only be three behind and have two games in hand still, so you feel this is a biggie already in terms of GWR's title aspirations.
You have the old Ilford derby at Cricklefield as Frenford, whose name is devised from the slogan 'Friends of Ilford', make the very short trip to Seven Kings and I am sure it won't be friendly either, no friends on the pitch as they say, so that should be a well contested match for sure.
There are also plenty of games that see sides going for play off spots or cementing those places against sides who are trying to get themselves away from the bottom places and secure some breathing space for now, and those sort of games can be never be taken for granted, so it will be interesting to see what happens in those too, promises to be another dramatic weekend of Essex Senior League action!!!
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