Burnham Ramblers 1 Saffron Walden Town 1 - Thurlow Nunn South Burnham Ramblers and Essex Senior League Saffron Walden Town draw their latest pre season game on a beautiful day on the Crouch

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 11th July

I made a trip to a lovely part of Essex on the River Crouch for my latest pre season action as Thurlow Nunn South side Burnham Ramblers took on Essex Senior outfit Saffron Walden Town who made the trip from another lovely part of Essex, it was still a round trip of around 100 miles though, showing just how big this vast county of Essex really is.

Ramblers are of course under new management this season, and are looking to build a side who can maybe challenge for the playoffs again this season, they were up against a Walden side who themselves had turned up to this fixture with a mix of first team players, trialists & U18s, giving them all valuable minutes in the legs and an idea of how the players on show will perform.

Walden will no doubt want a playoff run themselves this season, but today for both sides was about getting some more fitness in ahead of the season, and the game would be taking place on the outside pitch at Leslie Field, which was a first for me as every other game I have seen Ramblers play there has been in the main stadium, so a sort of first for me!!!

The first half was not much of an event really, there were barely any real clear cut chances to report, and sadly for Ramblers they lost their starting keeper not long into the game due to a groin strain, well that's what I heard anyway, so not an ideal warm up for him that's for sure ahead of the season, this prompted a drinks break, followed by another one about five or ten minutes later, no comment!!!

A forgettable first half was followed by a much better second period, and it was only two minutes old when Ramblers got themselves ahead, Walden lost the ball in their final third and the hosts struck a lovely effort from outside the box into the bottom corner, advantage the hosts then, however, Walden responded well to going behind and were level just before the hour mark.

It came when a nice though ball sent the striker in behind the defence, and he managed to beat the onrushing keeper to the ball and fire home a nice effort with his left foot from the angle, bringing Walden level, and they could easily have been ahead shortly when they struck the post, but after a decent spell from them, and following another drinks break, Ramblers were the ones looking likelier to find winner.

They couldn't though, and although Walden also had chances on the counter, the game ended all square and saw both sides come away from this one with plenty of positives to take from it no doubt.

Full time Burnham Ramblers 1 Saffron Walden Town 1

East Thurrock Community 0 Grays Athletic 3 - Three second half goals enough for Grays Athletic to take victory over East Thurrock Community and bag the James Chisnell Memorial Cup for 2026

James Chisnell Memorial Trophy, Friday 10th July

My second pre season outing saw me over at Wyldecrest Sports County Club as East Thurrock Community hosted Grays Athletic in what is now an annual event in memory of Grays lifelong supporter James Chisnell who sadly passed away suddenly in April 2024 at a very young age.

Grays at the time announced his death by saying "The whole club is completely shocked by this tragic news. James was one of a kind. A genuinely kind man who could always be found on the terraces with his fellow supporters, cheering the club on. We know that those supporters of our Blue Army will feel his loss the most and we are there with them through what is a very difficult time."

The club vowed to never forget James, and since his death the James Chisnell Memorial Cup was born, and as said is now an annual event in pre season, making sure that is memory lives on, which is a lovely touch indeed, he is certainly missed by all that knew him, so this friendly was in memory of him, who could prevail?

Grays were certainly favourites to win the game, albeit it only pre season, but they are two levels above their hosts in the pyramid, Grays are in the Isthmian North division, that's Step Four, whilst East Thurrock have just won promotion from Step Seven into Senior Football and the Thurlow Nunn South, which is Step Six, and the hosts had lost 11-0 to Hashtag United a few days ago, and they are in the same division as Grays, but certainly did not want a repeat of that drubbing.

Well, the first half wasn't the greatest of spectacles and it was no surprise when the sides came in goalless at the break, with not a lot of goal mouth action to report, it was certainly a well contested forty five minutes though as both sides got stuck in and competed hard but fair, Grays though started to get the upper hand beyond the hour mark and duly went in front in the 64th minute.

A ball through saw the hosts claim offside, but it was not offside and the visitors ran through and sent a ball across the keeper and into the far corner, and the deadlock was broken, and it was a lead that was to be doubled eight minutes later as the visitors were now in total control, a nice square ball into the box was laid back into the path of an incoming attacker who sent a nice finish into the bottom corner.

Grays did have time to add a third with what proved to be the last kick of the contest, the visitors getting in down the right and a ball in was initially somehow saved from point blank range, but the striker somehow whilst lying on the floor stuck out a leg to prod the ball into the net, a rather messy end to the game but it sealed a nice 3-0 win for the visitors, and they duly took the James Chisnell Memorial Cup honours for 2026, something that would have no doubt pleased James who was no doubt looking down from above with pride.

Full time East Thurrock Community 0 Grays Athletic 3

Rayleigh Town 0 Hullbridge Sports 2 - Essex Senior League visitors Hullbridge Sports net pre season derby victory over Thurlow Nunn South Rayleigh Town on a very warm and sunny July evening

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 7th July

My first game of the 2026/27 campaign was a pre season friendly off course, the first of eight planned matches ahead of the new season, and it came at Rayleigh Town Sports & Social club as hosts Rayleigh Town took on near neighbours Hullbridge Sports as both sides continued their early pre season schedule.

The hosts, who will again be plying their trade in the Thurlow Nunn South (Step Six) after another heart-breaking play off final defeat at the end of last season, were taking on a Hullbridge Sports outfit who will be looking to make a real go at having a decent Essex Senior League campaign this time round, the league that Rayleigh are trying to hard to get promoted too.

It was a well contested opening forty five minutes with some crunching tackles going on, fair ones though of course, but it was the ESL visitors who certainly created the bulk of openings that came in the first half, but they only had an 18th minutes penalty to show for it, despite having the better of the half, Rayleigh did have a couple of decent chances themselves, one nearly handed to them, but Sports did hold a slender lead as the players took a well earned rest after a half running around in warm conditions.

Both sides made multiple changes at half time, as is normal practice in these types of games, especially early on in the pre season schedule, Sports though continued to have the better of the contest and made sure of the win ten minutes from time when a lovely burst into the box was squared across goal and rammed home by the incoming attacker.

A pleasing win for Hullbridge then against a decent Rayleigh side, plenty learned no doubt for both sets of managers, and lots of minutes played by their squads too in warm conditions on a very dry pitch, which is to be expected considering the lack of rain on the whole recently, and also pleased that I am back into the swing of things once again, and my 2026/27 season is now underway!!!

Rayleigh Town 0 Hullbridge Sports 2

Non League Pre Season Fixtures 2026 (Essex & Surrounding Areas, Steps 1-6)

Well. it's that time of year again where I release pre season fixtures for my local non league sides covering several leagues across all the senior divisions (National League, National League South, Isthmian Premier & North, Essex Senior League, Spartan South Midlands Premier & Thurlow Nunn North & South.

Below then are the fixtures I have managed to collate so far, and more fixtures will be added as and when I see them or am advised about them.....

Also please remember that fixtures are subject to change with short notice cancellations etc, so please double check before you decide to do any of these games.....

Saturday 27^th June

Basildon United Vs May & Baker (Post Office Club, 2pm)

 

Tuesday 30^th June

Barking Vs Wormley Rovers (7.30pm)

 

Wednesday 1^st July

Benfleet Vs Basildon Town (7.45pm)

Dunstable Vs Ilford

Hutton Vs Stansted (7.45pm)

West Essex Vs Walthamstow U23 (8pm)

 

Thursday 2^nd July

Harlow Town Vs Harold Hill (7.45pm)

Witham Town Vs Brantham Athletic (Lift Rickstones Academy)

 

Friday 3^rd July

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Coggeshall Town

 

Saturday 4^th July

AS London Vs Ilford

Basildon Town Vs Old Chelmsfordians (Selex Sports Ground, 2pm)

Benfleet Vs Concord Rangers (1pm)

Benfleet Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Canvey Island Vs Ebbsfleet United (1pm)

Cannons Wood Vs Staplehurst Monarchs (Parlsoes Park)

Clacton Town Vs Woodbridge Town

East Thurrock Community Vs Basildon United (Wyldecrest, 3pm)

FC Baresi Vs Hackney Wick (3pm)

Frenford Vs Little Oakley (3pm)

Harlow Town Vs Bishops Stortford (3pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Burnham Ramblers (1pm)

Holland Vs Stanway Rovers (3pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Witham Town

Hutton Vs Brightlingsea Regent (2.30pm)

Lymore Gardens Vs Buckhurst Hill (3pm)

Rayleigh Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 2pm)

Redbridge Vs Arlesey Town (3pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Stansted (Neutral Venue)

SE Dons Vs Hornchurch (7.30pm)

Sevenoaks Town Vs Barking (4pm)

SOUL Tower Hamlets Vs Renaissance Elite

Stanway Rovers Vs Holland (Spring Lane (venue TBC))

Takeley Vs Wormley Rovers (Mark Hall Sports Centre, 2pm)

UC Ceares Vs Clapton Community (Campo de la Cruz, 6.30pm)

West Essex vs Barkingside (3pm)

West Wratting Vs Halstead Town (1pm)

Woodford Town Vs Lewisham Borough (Whitbreads Sports Ground)

 

Monday 6^th July

Hashtag United Vs East Thurrock Community (7,45pm)

 

Tuesday 7^th July

Aveley Vs Folkestone Invicta (7.45pm)

Barking Vs Tilbury (7.30pm)

Basildon Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers (Selex Sports Ground, 6.45pm)

Billericay Town Vs Cambridge City (7.45pm)

Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Vs Sawbridgeworth Town (Neutral Venue)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs West Essex (7.45pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Braintree Town

Buckhurst Hill Vs Stansted (Chigwell School, 7.30pm)

Coggeshall Town Vs Holland (7.45pm)

Harlow Town Vs Takeley (7.45pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Concord Rangers (7.30pm)

Rayleigh Town Vs Hullbridge Sports (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 7pm)

Redbridge Vs Newbury Forest (7.45pm)

Wingate & Finchley Vs Waltham Abbey (7.45pm)

 

Wednesday 8^th July

Benfleet Vs Old Southendian

Burnham Ramblers Vs Wivenhoe Town (7.15pm)

Cannons Wood Vs White Ensign

Hutton Vs Stanway Rovers (7.45pm)

Walthamstow Vs SOUL Tower Hamlets

 

Thursday 9^th July

FC Baresi Vs Norseman

 

Friday 10^th July

Aveley Vs Leiston (7.45pm)

East Thurrock CFC Vs Grays Athletic (Rookery Hill, 7.45pm)

Frenford Vs Clapton Community (7.45pm)

Harlow Town Vs Buckhurst Hill (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 11^th July

Basildon United Vs Sporting Bengal United (Lakeside Sports Ground, 1pm)

Bishops Stortford Vs Chelmsford City (3pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Braintree Town (3pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs White Ensign

Brentwood Town Vs Hullbridge Sports

Burnham Ramblers Vs Saffron Walden Town

Canvey Island Vs Billericay Town (3pm)

Cheshunt Vs Barking (1pm)

Coggeshall Town v AFC Pegasus Reserves (3pm)

Dunmow Town Vs Brantham Athletic

FC Baresi Vs Lewisham Borough

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Clacton Town

Hashtag United Vs SE Dons (4pm)

Haverhill Rovers Vs Takeley (2pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Witham Town (1pm)

Holland Vs Halstead Town (3pm)

Lancing Vs West Essex (1pm)

Lymore Gardens Vs Great Wakering Rovers (3pm)

Margate Vs Concord Rangers (3pm)

Old Southendian Vs Hutton (1pm)

Newmarket Town Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

Rayleigh Town Vs Chadwell Heath Spartans (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 2pm)

Redbridge Vs Hornchurch (1pm)

Romford Vs Southend United U18/U23 (4.30pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Benfleet (Neutral Venue)

Shenfield AFC Vs Wivenhoe Town (Neutral Venue, 2pm)

Stowmarket Town Vs Waltham Abbey (1.30pm)

Studley Vs Hackney Wick (3pm)

Walthamstow Vs Ilford

Woodbridge Town Vs Little Oakley (Neutral Venue)

Woodford Town Vs Sutton Commons Rovers (Whitbreads Sports Ground)

Wormley Rovers Vs Stansted

 

Monday 13^th July

Barking Vs Player FC (7.30pm)

Hashtag United Vs Clapton Community (7.45pm)

 

Tuesday 14^th July

Aveley Vs Ebbsfleet United (7.45pm)

Basildon United Vs Southend United U21 (Post Office Club, 7.30pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Old Southendian

Brentwood Town Vs Grays Athletic (7.45pm)

Canvey Island Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

Cornard United vs Holland (7.45pm)

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Enfield (7.45pm)

Hackney Wick Vs SE Dons (New River Stadium, 7.45pm)

Halstead Town vs Stanway Rovers (7,45pm)

Haringey Borough Vs Cheshunt (7.45pm)

Harlow Town Vs Woodford Town (7.45pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Hadleigh United

Heybridge Swifts Vs Bishops Stortford (7.45pm)

Hitchin Town Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (7.45pm)

Hoddesdon Town Vs Buckhurst Hill (7.45pm)

Hornchurch Vs Millwall U21 (7.45pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Tilbury

London Harts United Vs SOUL Tower Hamlets

Redbridge Vs Potters Bar Town (7.45pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Saffron Walden Town (Neutral Venue)

West Essex vs Stansted (7.45pm)

 

Wednesday 15^th July

Benfleet Vs Southend United U21

Cannons Wood Vs Sporting Bengal United (Venue TBC)

Hutton Vs Buckhurst Hill (7.45pm)

Romford Vs Cockfosters (7.45pm)

Thursday 16th July

Coggeshall Town Vs Heybridge Swifts U23 (7.45pm)

 

Friday 17^th July

Heybridge Swifts Vs Colchester United (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 18^th July

AS London Vs Witham Town

Aveley Vs Braintree Town (3pm)

Barking Vs Brightlingsea Regent (3pm)

Basildon Town Vs Basildon United (Selex Sports Ground, 2pm)

Benfleet Vs Enfield

Biggleswade Town Vs Buckhurst Hill (3pm)

Billericay Town Vs AFC Wimbledon (12pm)

Bishops Stortford Vs Stevenage (3pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Southend United XI

Cannons Wood Vs Hackney Wick (3pm)

Canvey island Vs West Ham United U21 (3pm)

Chelmsford City Vs Ipswich Town U21 (3pm)

Clapton Community Vs New York International (3pm)

East Thurrock Community Vs Earls Colne (3pm)

Ebbsfleet United Vs Brentwood Town

FC Baresi Vs Barnet XI

Fisher Vs Grays Athletic (3pm)

Frenford Vs Barnston AFC (2pm)

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Burnham Ramblers (2pm)

Hashtag United vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

Harlow Town Vs Erith & Belvedere (3pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Brantham Athletic

Holland Vs Wivenhoe Town (3pm)

Hornchurch Vs Norwich City U21 (3pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Redbridge (3pm)

Ilford Vs Concord Rangers (Parsloes Park, 3pm)

Little Oakley Vs Romford (4pm)

Northwood Vs Waltham Abbey (3pm)

Rayleigh Town Vs Hutton (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 3pm)

Saffron Walden Town vs Stansted

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Takeley (2pm)

SOUL Tower Hamlets vs Bridon Ropes

Southend United Vs West Ham United

Stanway Pegasus Vs Halstead Town (3pm)

Walthamstow Vs Watford XI (3pm)

Ware Vs Cheshunt (3pm)

West Essex Vs Tilbury (3pm)

Woodford Town Vs Stotfold (Whitbreads Sports Ground)

 

Tuesday 21^st July

Basildon United Vs Wivenhoe Town (Post Office Club, 7.30pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Enfield

Brentwood Town Vs Saffron Walden Town

Buckhurst Hill Vs Waltham Abbey (7.45pm)

Concord Rangers Vs Colchester United XI (7.45pm)

Coggeshall Town Vs Brantham Athletic

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Crystal Palace U21 (7.30pm)

Dartford Vs Billericay Town (7.45pm)

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Witham Town (7.45pm)

Hackney Wick Vs Hashtag United (New River Stadium, 7.45pm)

Haringey Borough Vs Woodford Town

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Brightlingsea Regent (7.45pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Canvey Island (7.45pm)

Holland Vs Thorpe Athletic (7.45pm)

Hornchurch Vs Leyton Orient (7.45pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Romford

SOUL Tower Hamlets Vs Fisher

Takeley Vs Bishops Stortford (7.45pm)

 

Wednesday 22^nd July

Grays Athletic Vs Sporting Bengal United (7.45pm)

Southend United Vs Northampton Town (7.30pm)

White Ensign Vs Sheppey Sports (7.45pm)

 

Friday 24^th July

West Essex Vs Walthamstow (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 25^th July

Bowers & Pitsea Vs SOUL Tower Hamlets

Braintree Town Vs Colchester United U21 (3pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Aveley (1pm)

Buckhurst Hill Vs Welling United (3pm)

Cannons Wood Vs CSM London (Parsloes Park)

Canvey island Vs Brentwood Town (3pm)

Chelmsford City Vs Witham Town (3pm)

Cheshunt Vs Waltham Abbey (3pm)

Clapton Community vs Enfield (3pm)

Concord Rangers Vs Hastings United (3pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Buxton (3pm)

FC Baresi Vs Vallance

Frenford Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

Grays Athletic Vs Tilbury (3pm)

Harlow Town Vs Wivenhoe Town (3pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Ransomes Sports

Herne Bay vs Redbridge (3pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Barking (1pm)

Old Southendian Vs Basildon United (1pm)

Potters Bar Town Vs Witham Town

Rayleigh Town Vs Sporting Bengal United (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 3pm)

Royston Town Vs Billericay Town (3pm)

Saffron Walden Town Vs Biggleswade United

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Hutton

Sheppey Sports Vs Hackney Wick (3pm)

Southend United vs Leyton Orient (3pm)

Spalding United Vs Bishops Stortford (3pm)

Takeley Vs Ware (3pm)

Walthamstow Vs Romford

Woodford Town Vs Fisher (Whutbreads Sports Ground)

 

Tuesday 28^th July

Ashford United Vs Grays Athletic (7.45pm)

Canvey Island Vs Aveley (7.45pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Boreham Wood (7.30pm)

Dartford Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

Enfield Town Vs Hornchurch (7.45pm)

Felixstowe & Walton United Vs Braintree Town (7.30pm)

Halstead Town Vs Brightlingsea Regent (7.45pm)

Maidstone United vs Brentwood Town

Newmarket Town Vs Saffron Walden Town

St Ives Town Vs Bishops Stortford (7.45pm)

Takeley Vs Waltham Abbey (7.45pm)

Tilbury Vs SOUL Tower Hamlets (7.45pm)

Welling United Vs Billericay Town (7.45pm)

Witham Town Vs Hackney Wick (7.45pm)

 

Friday 31^st July

Bishops Stortford Vs Enfield Town (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 1^st August

Aveley Vs Tilbury (1pm)

Billericay Town Vs MK Dons (3pm)

Braintree Town Vs Aldershot Town (3pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Stanway Rovers (3pm)

Chelmsford City Vs Spalding United (3pm)

Hornchurch Vs Coventry City U21 (3pm)

Sittingbourne Town Vs Brentwood Town

South Shields Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

 

Tuesday 4^th August

Waltham Abbey Vs Leyton Orient (7pm)

Last updated 09/07/2026 at 17:06

Essex Alliance League Finals Double Header - Get Rich Together net win over FC Alpha to earn Fenton Trophy success, FC Petrocub see off Chadwell Heath Spartans to take Fenton Cup honours

 

(Chadwell Heath Spartans & FC Petrocub do battle in the Fenton Cup Final)

Essex Alliance League Finals Double Header, Saturday 23rd May

As the football seasons winds down for another year, there were plenty of finals to be had still, and I made my way over to Victoria Road, home of Dagenham & Redbridge, for two finals under the Essex Alliance League banner, and it saw the Fenton Trophy & Fenton Cup finals take place on what was a very hot day so both sets of players fitness would certainly be tested, it was hot enough watching!!!  Anyway let's see how both those finals panned out.....

Fenton Trophy Final (2pm)

FC Alpha Vs Get Rich Together

This pitted together an FC Alpha side who ply their trade in the Division One East against Get Rich Together who are in Division One West, so they are both at the same level in the EAL, and they both fourth in their respective divisions too, and FC Alpha can still finish third if they win their final league game, Get Rich Together have finished their leage campaign so fourth is were they finished.

So, a close fought contest was expected then, how did both sides reach this final, well FC Alpha got a bye into the Second Round and defeated SP United 5-3 before they then beat Iona Wheels 4-2, they then saw off London Academicals 2-0 in the Quarter Final before they defeated Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves 3-1 in the semi finals to set up today's final showpiece.

Get Rich Together started in the First Round and saw off Old Parkonians B 2-0 before they defeated Loughton Town 5-2, they then saw off Redbridge Community 4-1 and then their Quarter Final tie against Old Parkonians A finished 4-1 to see them into the semi finals, and in that last four contest they smashed Royal Forest 7-0 to emphatically earn their spot in today's final.

So what of today's final then, well, GRT certainly created the majority of the chances in the opening half, a strong athletic outfit for sure, caused their opponents alot of issues, but their lack of finishing in the final third meant they were unable to turn their possession and quality into goals, and this meant FCA stayed in the contest, and they could easily have led at half time after spurning two great chances themselves late on in the opening forty five minutes, a warning sign to GRT that they had to be wary and had to take those chances if they were to be successful.

Things were made harder for FCA early in the second period when their skipper was sent off for a very high boot on an opponent as he tried desperately to stop him getting in on goal, and then ten minutes into the half GRT finally found the net, and it was an absolute beauty too, Mohammed Malik cutting inside before curling a beauty in off the post, and cue big celebrations amongst them all, and FCA had it all to do now with a man light as well.

GRT continued to dominate thereafter and it was no surprise when they did find a second goal to pretty much clinch this contest with about fifteen minutes remaining, Eni Akinoka bursting through before slotting beyond the keeper, and you felt that this was the killer moment in the game, and you felt GRT would go on to comfortably win the tie and the Trophy from here.

They had more chances to totally the seal the game but wasted them, and then they became sloppy and took their eye of the ball a bit, this allowed FCA to mount one last attempt to get back into the contest, and deep into stoppage they did, Lungu sweeping home from close range, and all of a sudden they had brief hope of an incredible comeback, but GRT managed to keep them at bay in the remainder of stoppage time and take their crown.

Overall GRT certainly deserved this win, they dominated for large parts and could and should have won by more, but credit must be given to FCA who certainly did not give up and managed to stay in the contest right till the end, well done to Get Rich Together, Fenton Trophy winners for 2026!!!

Full time FC Alpha 1 Get Rich Together 2

Onto game two of the day then, the Fenton Cup final, let's see what happened there.....

Fenton Cup Final (6pm)

Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs FC Petrocub

This was an all Senior Division tie, the top level of the EAL and Step Seven in the football pyramid, FC Petrocub finished runners up in the division some eighteen points behind runaway champions London Harts United, but twelve points above today's opponents Chadwell Heath Spartans who finished fifth in the division themselves, so a top five clash this was then, and another closely fought contest you would think.

How did these sides reach this final, and final that was a repeat of last seasons one, Chadwell Heath winning that on penalties so they were looking to defend this cup, well Spartans got a bye into the Second Round and defeated North East Lions 2-0 before seeing off Old Esthameians 5-1 in Round Three, they then won at Athletic Newham U23s 5-2 in the Last Eight and then saw off Waltham Forest Borough 3-0 in the semi finals.

FC Petrocub themselves began in the First Round, netting a narrow 1-0 win over Haringey Borough Reserves before they saw off Manford Way Reserves 3-1 in Round Two, their third round tie saw them thrash Motormen 6-1 before they beat Fairlop Oak 5-0 in the Quarter Finals, and they won their semi final tie against Inter Newbury 2-1 to reach todays finale once again.

The two league matches between the sides had finished 1-0 to FC Petrocub, so this final was likely to be tight, could Spartans get on the right side of the scoreline here today, well they had a great early chance to go ahead when Joshua George headed wide from close range at the far post, but after that FCP were the ones who carved out the majorty of the first half openings.

Spartans keeper Byerley was one reason why FCP didn't hold a half time lead, making some decent stops to prevent his side from going behind, and even when he was beaten, the bar came to his rescue late on in the half as Spartans were kind of holding somewhat, but they did reach the break level and had another forty five minutes to turn the momentum around and try and find a goal themselves.

The second period saw much less in the way of big chances, and you felt that despite FCP having the majority of the play, Spartans would get a chance and maybe pinch the lead, and it so nearly happened in the final twenty minutes when they created a great chance but saw Mucheri's chance thwarted by keeper Buza who had rushed off his line to block the effort, a big warning to FCP for sure.

However, there was to be a winning goal, it came in the 84th minute, and it went to FCP who deserved to have the lead in all honestly, Ghenadie Molsei firing the ball across Byerley and into the far corner, and now Spartans had very little time to find a response and prevent themselves from a third 1-0 loss against this opponent this campaign.

The best they could muster up was a Billy Gipp header but he could not find the target with it, and FC Petrocub saw out the contest and grabbed Fenton Cup honours for 2026, and gained revenge for last years penalty shootout heartbreak in this final against the same opponent, they certainly deserved their win overall, but commiserations to Spartans who lose out here today. 

Full time Chadwell Heath Spartans 0 FC Petrocub 1

Well done to Get Rich Together and FC Petrocub then, both worthy winners of their respective competitions today, commiserations to FC Alpha & Chadwell Heath Spartans who finish runners up but both will admit the better sides won on the day, a good day out and a great atmosphere created by the Moldovans who were there supporting boith FC Alpha and FC Petrocub, and over 800 attended the second game, a great achievement for sure for the league and the clubs as well.