Essex Olympian Football League Weekend Preview (Saturday April 3)

(Action from Wakebury 2 ACD United 3 at Shoebury Park earlier this season in Division Three) 

It was announced that the Essex Olympian Football league was to resume with the 2020/21 season on Saturday April 3, so I decided to do a blog on the fixtures that take place on the weekend when the season resumes, starting with the Premier Division…

 

Saturday April 3 – Premier Division

Basildon Town v Shenfield AFC (Basildon Sports & Leisure Club, 2.30pm)

Basildon Town sit second on goal difference after winning seven of their eight games this season, Shenfield AFC are not doing so well, sitting fourth bottom having lost six of their nine games, the hosts last game back in December had seen them loose their 100% record, whilst Shenfield had ironically lost to the side that had ended Town’s perfect start too, Hutton, in their last game as well.

 

Bishop’s Stortford v Sungate (Silver Leys, 2.30pm)

Swifts are eighth in the division having lost six of their nine games, whilst Sungate are two places above them and five points better off having won four of their six games, Swifts did win their last game though at home to bottom side Old Southendian, Sungate’s last game was also against Old Southendian in the Essex Premier Cup which Gate managed to win on penalties.

 

Catholic United v Harold Wood Athletic (The Len Forge Centre (3G), 2.30pm)

United sit third after five wins from nine games so far, whilst Wood are seventh and seven points behind their opponents having won three and lost four of their eight games thus far, Catholic’s last game came in the Premier Cup when they won a seven goal thriller against Division One Chingford Athletic, Wood also played in the Premier Cup last time out and netted a 2-1 away win over fellow Premier side Kelvedon Hatch.

 

Hutton v Old Southendian (Polo Fields, 2.30pm)

Hosts Hutton were in fine form before the season was stopped, they sit fourth having won five of their eight games and only behind Catholic on goal difference, OS though sit bottom of the division with just one win from seven and had lost the other six, Hutton had ended Basildon Town’s 100% record before defeating local rivals Shenfield AFC before the season stopped, OS were beaten at Stortford Swifts in their last competitive outing.

 

Kelvedon Hatch v Rayleigh Town (New Hall, 2.30pm)

Hatch are not doing so well this season, five defeats from seven and the equal worst goal difference in the division as they sit second bottom, Rayleigh were not much further ahead of them though having lost two thirds of their six games so far as they sit one place and two points above their opponents, Hatch lost at home to Harold Wood in the Premier Cup last time out, Rayleigh also won their last game, also in the Premier Cup, as they won 5-3 at Division Two side Epping Town.

 

Leigh Ramblers v Canning Town (Belfairs Park, 2.30pm)

Rams sit fifth in the division with five wins from their nine games so far, Canning Town are down in tenth having lost five of their eight games so far, Rams beat Division One Runwell Sports in the Premier Cup at home 4-1 in their last competitive run out, Canning Town were beaten 4-0 at home by fellow Premier Division side Springfield in the Premier Cup before the season was stopped.

 

Springfield v Buckhurst Hill (Springfield Hall Park, 2.30pm)

Chelmsford side Springfield sit ninth in the division having accumulated just eight points from their eight games thus far, Buckhurst Hill are top of the division on goal difference having won seven of their eight games and are many peoples tip to win the league, Springfield did thrash Canning Town in the Premier Cup 4-0 last time out, Hill also were in Premier Cup action last time out and saw off Division Two side Wakering Sports 2-0 last time out over in Great Wakering near Southend.

 

 

Saturday April 3 – Division One

Galleywood v Herongate Athletic (Clarkes Field, 2.30pm)

Wood are going well this season, sitting in third after five wins from their seven games, Ath haven’t done as well though having lost four of their seven games and down in ninth (fourth bottom), both sides played in the Premier Cup last time out, Wood beat fellow Division One side Rayleigh Town Reserves 2-0 at home, Ath lost out at Barkingside Reserves 3-1 after extra time.

 

Manford Way v Toby (London Marathon Sports Ground, 2.30pm)

Hosts Manford Way sit fifth in the division having won two thirds of their six games, Toby are two places and a point behind but have played three more games, winning three and losing four of those, Manford Way beat second placed Runwell Sports 3-0 last time out whilst Toby were in Premier Cup action and netted a 3-1 home win over ESL Reserve division side White Ensign Reserves.

 

Ramsden Scotia v Ongar Town (Nursery Sports Ground, 2.30pm)

Scotia sit bang in mid table (sixth) having won three and lost three of their eight games thus far, Ongar are the league leaders by three points having won six of their eight games and are still unbeaten, Ramsden’s last run out was a 2-0 away win at Toby, whilst Ongar were in Premier Cup action last time out and they netted a superb 4-2 win at Border League Premier side White Notley.

 

Rayleigh Town Reserves v Chingford Athletic (Rayleigh Town Sports & Social Club, 2.30pm)

Town’s Ressies have struggled this season and sit third bottom after losing six of their nine games, Chingford though have also struggled and are one place below their opponents and two points behind having only one win all season (and five defeats) from eight games, the hosts lost 2-0 at Galleywood 2-0 in the Premier Cup last time out, Chingford narrowly lost a seven goal thriller at home to Premier Division Catholic United, which was a very good effort it has to be said.

 

Runwell Sports v Old Chelmsfordians (Runwell Sports & Social Club, 2.30pm)

Sports sit three points behind leaders Ongar Town in second spot having won half of their eight games so far, OCS are two places and four points further back after winning four of their eight games too, although they have lost one more, Sports were beaten 4-1 at Premier Division side Leigh Ramblers last time out in the Premier Cup, OCS though managed to win at Witham Town Reserves 2-1 in the same competition.

 

Snaresbrook v Shoebury Town (Nutters Field, 2.30pm)

Hosts Snaresbrook are down in eighth but have only played six games, winning four of those although due to an infringement have had three points deducted, Shoebury Town have not had a great season so far, sitting bottom with only four points from eight games, Snaresbrook’s last competitive outing was October 24^th and that was ironically against Shoebury when they lost 2-1 in what is the Southend’s side only win this season in the league, Shoebury’s last game was early December when they lost at home to Rayleigh Town Reserves, which was only Town’s second win of the season.

 

 

Saturday April 3 – Division Two

Corinthians v Leigh Town (Stambridge Memorial Ground, 2.30pm)

Hosts Corinthians sit in fourth, five points off the top after five wins from seven games, and only a point behind second placed Leigh Town who are unbeaten and have four wins from seven games, the hosts lost the last time they played when falling to a 4-2 loss at Borden League side Great Bentley, whilst Leigh netted a decent 3-0 win away at Wakering Sports in their last competitive run out.

 

Epping Town v AS Rawreth (Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Club, 2.30pm)

The hosts were having a decent campaign and sit fifth in the division having won three and drawn three of their eight games, whereas Rawreth were not having such a good time of it having lost all six games so far, Epping had lost an eight-goal thriller at home to Premier Division Rayleigh Town last time out, whilst Rawreth had been thrashed 5-1 at Old Southendian Reserves in their last run out at the end of October.

 

Laindon Orient v Beacon Hill Rovers (Markhams Chase, 2.30pm)

Third placed Orient take on league leaders Beacon Hill, the hosts have won five of their nine games so far but are four behind Rovers who have won seven of their nine matches so far, Orient’s last run out was a 1-0 success at fourth placed Corinthians (that was Corinthians first league loss) whilst leaders Beacon Hill’s last competitive game saw them lose 3-0 at home in the Premier Cup to Saffron Walden Town’s reserve side.

 

Old Southendian Reserves v May & Baker ‘A’ (Garon Park, 2.30pm)

OS Reserves in their seven games so far have won two, drawn three and lost two which sees them just below mid table in seventh, May & Baker’s ‘A’ side hadn’t had the best of season’s so far, losing four of their six games and sitting third bottom in the division, OS Reserves had lost 4-1 at home to leaders Beacon Hill last time out, whilst Bakers ‘A’ were beaten 3-1 at home by Ryan.

 

Rochford Town v Wakering Sports (Rochford Recreation Ground, 2.30pm)

The hosts sit ninth (fourth bottom) in the league having lost five of their nine league games, whereas Sports are three places and seven points above their opponents having won four and lost four in their eight games so far, Town were thrashed 6-1 at Epping Town in their last contest, Sports put in a very good performance against Premier Division leaders Buckhurst Hill in the Premier Cup in their last match before shut down but ended up losing 2-0.

 

Ryan v Harold Wood Athletic Reserves (Wadham Lodge Sports Ground (Intermediate Grass Pitch, 2.30pm)

Ryan have only played five league games so far, and have won two of these and sit eighth in the division, Wood Ressies have played seven games but only won one game so far and are second bottom, Ryan had won their last game though, 3-1 at May & Baker ‘A’ whilst Wood’s Reserves side had also won last time out (there only win so far) at the end of October when they won at Wakering Sports 2-1.

 

 

Saturday April 3 – Division Three

ACD United v Manford Way Reserves (Westlands Playing Fields, 2.30pm)

Hosts ACD have had a superb season so far and sit top of the pile with seven wins from seven, Manford Way’s Ressies are in second spot so this is a battle of the top two, and are five points behind their opponents having played a game more and have five wins in those games, ACD’s last game saw them thrash Leigh Town Reserves 6-0, whilst Manford Way also enjoyed a big win last time out, a 5-1 success against Buckhurst Hill Reserves.

 

Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ v Basildon Town Reserves (Hullbridge Sports FC, 2.30pm)

Sports ‘A’ side sit fifth with four wins from their seven games so far, whilst Town’s reserve side are two places and four points behind their opponents having won three and lost four of their games so far, Sports last game was a cracker although they came out on the wrong side of a ten goal thriller against Corinthians Reserves, whereas Town netted a 4-2 success at Lakeside United in their last run out.

 

Lakeside United v Hutton Reserves (Lakeside Sports Ground (3G), 2.30pm)

Hosts Lakeside sit bang in mid table in sixth spot after winning four and losing four of their eight games thus far, Hutton are in ninth (fourth bottom) after two wins and three defeats in their six games, the hosts netted a 2-0 win over Corinthians Reserves last time out, Hutton netted a 2-1 success at Wakebury in their last match.

 

Leigh Town Reserves v Collier Row (John Burrows Recreation Ground, 2.30pm)

Town have not had a great season so far it must be said, seven games played, and seven games lost as they sit bottom with zero points, Collier Row sit third in the division having won five out of eight so far and are five points behind the leaders, Leigh’s last game saw them beaten 6-0 at leaders ACD, whilst Row netted a 2-0 win over Toby Reserves in their last match.

 

Toby Reserves v Buckhurst Hill Reserves (Fords Sports & Social Club Newbury Park (Toby Pitch), 2.30pm)

The hosts have not had a great season so far, second bottom having lost five of their seven games, Buckhurst Hill are only one place and two points above their opponents though having won two and lost four of their six games, Toby were beaten 2-0 at Collier Row last time out, whilst Buckhurst Hill were smashed 5-1 at Manford Way Reserves last time out.

 

Wakebury v Corinthians Reserves (Shoebury Park, 2.30pm)

Hosts Wakebury sit fourth in the table and eight points off the leaders having won four and lost three of their eight games so far, visitors Corinthians are down in eighth but only five points behind their opponents having won two, drawn two and lost three of their seven games, Wakebury were beaten 2-1 at home by Hutton Reserves last time out, Corinthians won 6-4 at home to Hullbridge Sports ‘A’ in their last game.

 

 

Saturday April 3 – Division Four

Canning Town Reserves v Shenfield A.F.C. Reserves (Bobby Moore Pavilion, 2.30pm)

The bottom two do battle in this one, Canning Town are still yet to win in seven starts and are bottom and just a point behind Shenfield who have seven of their eight games so far, Canning Town managed to pick up only their second point of the campaign last time out with a 2-2 draw at Old Chelmsfordians Reserves, whereas Shenfield were beaten 4-2 by leaders Catholic United Reserves last time out.

 

Catholic United Reserves v Hashtag United Development (Play Football (3G), 2.30pm)

The top two do battle in this one, Catholic have won all seven of their league games so far and sit top, two points clear of Hashtag who have six wins from eight so far, Catholic thrashed Galleywood Reserves 6-1 last time out, Hashtag had a very good afternoon in their last game, netting eleven goals without reply at Old Chelmsfordians Reserves.

 

Leytonstone United v Laindon Orient Reserves (Forest Row Centre Pitch No.1, 2.30pm)

Hosts Leytonstone sit third bottom although five points above second bottom Shenfield A.F.C. Reserves after two wins, two draws and three losses in their seven games, Orient sit fourth in the division having won half of their eight games so far, Stone lost 0-3 at home to Sungate Reserves last time out, Orient’s last game saw them draw 3-3 at home to Wakering Sports Reserves.

 

Old Chelmsfordians Reserves v Chingford Athletic Reserves (Lawford Lane, 2.30pm)

OS Reserve side are in eighth spot with ten points from ten games although have the worst goal difference in the division so far, largely after they were beaten 0-11 at home by Hashtag United Development last time out, whereas Chingford are two points and three places better off in fifth having won four and lost four so far, with their last outing a 5-4 reverse at Wakering Sports Reserves.

 

Ongar Town Reserves v Sungate Reserves (Lakeside Sports Ground (Grass Pitch), 2.30pm)

Town’s reserve side sit fourth bottom (ninth) have won three and lost four of their seven games so far, Sungate are two places and one point above their opponents with three wins, a draw and four defeats so far, Ongar’s last game wasn’t memorable, a 3-7 home defeat to Wakering Sports Reserves, whilst Sungate netted a 3-0 away success at Leytonstone United last time out.

 

Wakering Sports Reserves v Galleywood Reserves (Cupids Country Club (Pitch No.1), 2.30pm)

Sports have had a decent season so far, they sit third and five points off the leaders having won five of their seven games so far, Galleywood are sixth (mid table) with three wins, a draw and three defeats, Sports last game saw them hit seven past Ongar Town Reserves in a 7-3 win, whilst Galleywood were beaten 6-1 at leaders Catholic United Reserves.

 

 

Saturday April 3 – Division Five

AS Rawreth Reserves v Epping Town Reserves (The Warren, 2.30pm)

Rawreth have struggled so far this season, losing five of their six games so far as they prop up the division, but they take on second bottom Epping who have lost six of their seven games, so a battle of the bottom two will take place here, Rawreth’s last outing was a first win of the season though, as they defeated league leaders Collier Row Reserves 4-3, although they still sit on zero points after having those points deducted for an infringement, Epping’s last outing was a 5-2 loss at Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Reserves.

 

Herongate Athletic Reserves v Springfield Reserves (St Clere’s School (3G), 2.30pm)

Athletic sit ninth after three wins and three defeats so far, Springfield are two places and three points above their opponents with four wins and two defeats from their campaign so far, Athletic’s last outing was a 4-2 success at home to Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Reserves, Springfield’s last game was a 1-0 home win over Newbury Forest Reserves.

 

Newbury Forest Reserves v Collier Row Reserves (Fairlop Oak Playing Field (NF), 2.30pm)

Forest have two wins and three losses so far and sit third bottom, Row are league leaders having won five of their eight games so far to be five points clear of second place, Forest lost 1-0 at Springfield Reserves in their last game, Row managed a 2-1 win at Old Barkabbeyans last time out.

 

Old Barkabbeyans v Leigh Ramblers Reserves (Barking Abbey Comprehensive School, 2.30pm)

Hosts Old Barks sit fourth in the division after winning half their eight games so far, Rams are in tenth (fourth bottom) after two wins and four losses from their six games, Old Barks last run out was a 2-1 home defeat to leaders Collier Row Reserves, Rams last outing saw them net a 3-0 success at Runwell Sports Reserves.

 

Roydon v Runwell Sports Reserves (Roydon Playing Fields, 2.30pm)

Hosts Roydon sit sixth in the division having won four of their six games so far, and with games in hand could go level with the leaders if they win them, Sports themselves are two places and a point further back having won three, drawn two and lost four so far, Roydon’s last game was a 2-1 triumph at Leigh Ramblers Reserves, Sports also played Leigh Ramblers Reserves in their last game but suffered a 3-0 reverse at home.

 

Wakering Sports ‘A’ v Shoebury Town Reserves (Cupids Country Club (SH Pitch No.2), 2.30pm)

Sports ‘A’ side are in third spot and five points behind the leaders with two games in hand having won four of their six games so far, Shoebury are sitting just above them in second spot on the same number of points with four wins from six too, Sports last game was a 2-1 home win over leaders Collier Row Reserves, Shoebury’s last outing was a 4-4 draw at Runwell Sports Reserves.

 

 

Well, I hope you all find this preview of the return of the Essex Olympian League useful and gives you a brief background to each game, let’s hope things go as planned and we are all back playing on Easter weekend as planned.