Essex Senior League, Friday 1st/Saturday 2nd November
The first weekend in November (how has that happened!!!) saw me visit two grounds I've not visited since the 2022/23 season so I felt it was time I put that right in one go, so, Friday night I made the journey over to Roding Lane (Myrak Park) for a Friday evening showdown between Buckhurst Hill & Ilford, and then on the Saturday I travelled over to Hargrave Park to see Stansted host Barking.
These are two grounds and clubs I do enjoy visiting so it was certainly good to get back to see both clubs and enjoy their awesome hospitality, hopefully we would have two decent games too, let's now see how those featured games of mine went then, starting with the Friday night match up at Roding Lane:-
Friday November 1st
Buckhurst Hill 2 Ilford 2
So, as said, my Friday night fare came from Myrak Park, or Roding Lane, as Buckhurst Hill, who came into this one having picked up a total of thirteen points from a possible eighteen since the middle of September to see them rise up to seventh, took on an Ilford side who had picked up seven points from their last four league outings, taking them four points above bottom side FC Clacton and up to 17th spot.
A pretty uneventful first period ensued, with the only real clear cut chance seeing the visitors go close when they fired wide of the target after a decent run, however five minutes before half time Ilford grabbed the lead when a ball out to the right hand side was collected by winger Abdul Shobowale and he fired a ball across the six yard box and it found it's way to Daniel Izekor who literally fell over the line with the ball to hand The Foxes a half time lead.
A pretty average second half then followed, the visitors were definitely edging the contest though but could not find a killer second goal, and they were made to pay for this with 82 minutes elapsed, a loose ball finding it's way to Suley Zuhdu on the edge of the penalty area, and he made no mistake in firing into the bottom corner to level up the contest.
Ninety minutes came and went and the referee told both benches there would be a minimum of ELEVEN minutes added on, their were quite a few stoppages to be fair so maybe this was borderline correct, although it did seem a bit much, anyway plenty of time for a winner to be found, and Ilford thought they had found it when Izekor fired home from inside the box two minutes into stoppage time, but there was a lot more to come as it turned out.
Eight minutes into stoppage time Ilford were not given a clear foul and this caused a retaliation foul because of it, and that resulted in a a straight red for the visitors, much to the dismay and annoyance for the visiting side, but despite this they were surely going to come away with all three points and record a superb win in the process.
Well, not quite as the referee was clearly enjoying the spectacle and FIFTHTEEN, YES FIFTHTEEN minutes into added on time, Buckhurst drew themselves level once again, Zuhdu getting in behind the Foxes backline, and despite Wilkinson Boateng's best efforts to save the lofted effort, he could only parry up into the air and as the ball bounced towards the goal line, the keeper appeared to help the ball into his own net with pressure from Archie Hammond, and a couple of defenders too.
Unbelievably the game went on and on and almost TWENTY minutes of stoppage time had elapsed when the referee finally blew to end a pretty average contest that had a very dramatic end to it, Hill will be more than happy with snatching a point from this contest as it was barely deserved, Ilford were upset, angry, despondent & frustrated after that, and were less than impressed with the referee's performance. It certainly was a very dramatic ending that's for sure!!!
Saturday November 2nd
Stansted 0 Barking 1
Saturday saw me over at Hargrave Park as Stansted looked to try and get back to winning ways at home and repeat there success over Frenford two games ago and pick up vital points as they look to get themselves further away from the bottom sides in the division, they were already six clear of bottom side FC Clacton. They did welcome a Barking side though who were trying to fight their way closer to the play off spots and get back to winning ways after a defeat and a draw in their last two.
Conditions were not the best, a heavy and muddy pitch and heavy drizzle made trying to play any type of football tough, the hosts though were manging to do this and edged a goalless first forty five minutes, creating the better of the openings that did come in what was an attritional game it has to be said.
It was also a game where both sets of players and people on the side-lines were arguing pretty much every single decision, challenge, 50/50, you name it, the ref was getting it right in the earhole, which wasn't helping proceedings if truth be told, although it did show how much the game and the points meant to each side.
The home side continued to edge the contest in the second period, seeing one effort beaten away by keeper Dan Purdue, and then Callum Leggatt s nearly levelled just past the hour mark when he saw a lovely effort from outside the box strike the frame of the goal, and then twenty minutes into the second half they fell behind after a ball into the near post wasn't dealt with and Sam Shaban managed to poke the loose ball over the line whilst on his back and give the visitors the advantage.
It was very harsh on the hosts who certainly did not deserve to be losing this one, but they were, and had to try and find a route back into the contest, in doing so Barking did have some chances to kill the game off as Stansted pushed forward, they could and Stansted still had a chance of grabbing a point at least if they could find a goal.
The hosts matters were not helping in the 86th minute when midfielder Luke Skinner was given a second yellow, meaning they would end the game a man light, but this did not affect the hosts who were given a golden chance to level as ninety minutes expired, the hosts struck the bar before it broke to them and Barking centre half Simon Omope committed a foul inside the box, he was given a second yellow meaning Barking would end the game with ten as well, and Stansted had a late penalty.
Skinner, the normal penalty taker, had been sent off of course, and there seemed some confusion as to who was taking it, and eventually the responsibility was handed to Charlie Portway, whether this clouded his mind I don't know, but the penalty , although struck into one of the corners, it wasn't struck with conviction and Purdue got across well to save the kick and keep his side ahead.
It kind of summed up Stansted's day, they had played some neat stuff with no reward, Barking to their credit dug in and made it difficult in what was a physical battle in poor conditions, but it was The Blues who managed to record a very hard fought win and take all the points in this one, that's football as they say, it certainly was not a pretty game by any means, but I do love a good battle in muddy conditions, was like football of yesteryear.
Right, let's see what else happened in the division this weekend and how it affected the league standings:-
Friday
West Essex 2 Halstead Town 1
Hosts West Essex had to come from behind to defeat Halstead Town at Wadham Lodge, after a goalless first hour the visitors grabbed the lead midway through the second period when Dean Agar struck home from the spot, but two goals in a minute with just over ten minutes remaining proved the difference in the end, Yemi Adelani levelling the contest up in the 78th minute before Joe Damrell netted a minute later to hand the hosts all three points.
Woodford Town 0 Saffron Walden Town 1
The hosts were looking to close the gap to Stanway at the top of the division ahead of the league leaders game on Saturday afternoon, they were up against a Walden side who were looking to close the gap to the top five, well, the only goal of the game went to the visitors after Correy Davidson struck twelve minutes after half time to settle this one and see Woodford's unbeaten home record go up in smoke as a result.
Saturday
Athletic Newham 1 Takeley 2
A late late comeback from visitors Takeley saw them defeat Athletic Newham at Parsloes, the hosts did lead at the break after Leonardo Luis De Carvalho Pedro netted five minutes before half time, and this looked like it would be enough for them to take all three points, but, in the 85th minute Lanre Balogun levelled it up before Jordan Wescott scored in the 89th minute to hand the visitors all the points. And Newham ended the game with ten men after Hassan Saleh Togba was sent off deep into added on time, rubbing salt into already gaping hosts wounds.
Frenford 1 Little Oakley 2
Oakley took all the spoils at The Drive against Frenford, things went wrong for the hosts late on in the first period, firstly going behind to a 40th minute goal from Jack Ladbrook, and then seeing striker Warren Kayembe given a straight red deep into first half stoppage time. The game in terms of personal was levelled up just past the hour mark when Oakley saw Luke Hipkin given second yellow, but Oakley netted a second goal in the 82nd minute through Daniel Smith to double their lead, and although Jordon Elongo pulled one back for the hosts in added on time, Oakley held on to record victory.
Hullbridge Sports 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 3
Sawbo Town came from 3-1 down once again away from home to net a very decent point against Hullbridge who looked all set to net three points when they lead 3-1 at the break. Louis Bragg gave Bridge a fourth minute lead, and although Kieran David levelled just past the midway point of the first half, a Tobias Braney spot kick & a second from Bragg saw the hosts with a two goal cushion at half time. Jude Collins though pulled one back eleven minutes after the break and then with 80 minutes on the clock Elijah Mambombe levelled it up and earned his side a point in the process.
Romford 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1
This was fifth against fourth in the standings and over 200 were at Mayesbrook to witness it, the hosts needed to win to go above their opponents and put a bigger gap to sixth placed Walden who won the night before, GWR knew that if they could win then it would put a four point gap to Romford, and in what was a very tough battle, Harry Brown's 50th minute goal proved the difference as the visitors took a big win on the road.
Stanway Rovers 8 FC Clacton 0
It was top against bottom at The Hawthorns and sadly for the visitors it showed today as they were demolished by their superior opponents, FC Clacton had recently held second placed Woodford at Ashton's, but they never looked like repeating that here against a rampant league leader, and found themselves three goals down in twenty minutes courtesy of a Fletcher Hanna own goal, and further goals from Goerge Okoye & Jamie Bennett. The visitors managed to get to half time with no further damage, but the second period saw the hosts add a further five, Bennett adding another six minutes after the break before Tom Maycock netted twenty minutes into the second half. Nathaniel Mardell then added a sixth with twenty minutes or so of the ninety to go, and then Mardell & Harry Thomas added goals in stoppage time to complete the rout and go further clear at the top in style.
White Ensign 1 Benfleet 0
Nathan Wilson's 49th minute goal proved enough for Ensign to defeat Benfleet at Burroughs Park, this despite the hosts having to play almost the entire game with ten men after Billy Bonham-Dare was sent off after just eight minutes, but as said this did not mean the hosts would lose, and they put in an heroic effort to grab the win and keep a clean sheet as well.
Where does that leave the table, let's have a look:-
Stanway Rovers now have a seven point buffer to second placed Woodford Town, with Takeley and Great Wakering Rovers just a point further back, Romford lose ground but are still in the play off spots despite their loss on Saturday, although the gap to sixth is just four points now, Walden & Barking also have games in hand too.
FC Clacton are now three points behind Sawbo Town after their heavy defeat today, the former are in danger of being cut adrift if they cannot pick up some points too, they still have plenty of games to go of course but the predicted struggle for them has rung true so far. Halstead, who were bottom, are now four points above the bottom side despite them losing at West Essex on Friday.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading and as always thanks for taking the time to do so, it's very much appreciated.
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