Midweek ESL/Thurlow Nunn South round up (Tuesday 15/Wednesday 16 March)

 (Action from Sawbridgeworth Town 1 Walthamstow 3 at Crofters, thanks to @walthamstowfc for the photo)

Decided to do a round up of the midweek action in my local Step Five and Six divisions of non league, the Essex Senior League and the Thurlow Nunn Division One South, there were ten scheduled games in total, lets see what happened and how it affected the tables...


Tuesday March 15th
Essex Senior League
Hoddesdon Town 1 Cockfosters 1 (A late late Reece Mosanya goal salvaged a point for ten men Fosters, denying the hosts all three points in the process. The visitors were reduced to ten men just before the break when Reece Barrett was dismissed, and then Hoddesdon edged ahead in first half stoppage time after Larry Asare-Bediako was sent through on goal and his driven shot found the empty net past the onrushing Charlie Mann. That seemed to be enough to take the points, but deep into added on time at the end of the game Fosters won a penalty after Bailey Stevenson was brought down by keeper Luke Nugent, and although Mosanya's spot kick was saved by Nugent, Mosanya was on hand to net the rebound and earn a point for his side)

Sawbridgeworth Town 1 Walthamstow 3 (League leaders Stow had to come from behind to net another big three points as their charge to the title and promotion to the Isthmian North got closer. Sawbo took a shock early lead with a header from a corner but the visitors levelled when after Callum Ibe had put in Charlie Cole, he held off a defender before rolling home. Ibe was then hooked down in the box resulting in a penalty for Stow, and Connor Scully slotted home the spot kick to give them the lead, and then the points were sealed as from a corner a combination of Tendai Quamina and a drop from the keeper saw the ball nestle in the bottom corner)

St Margaretsbury A Saffron Walden Town A (The match at The Recreation Ground was sadly abandoned after half the floodlights went out meaning the referee called an early halt to proceedings)

Stansted 2 Athletic Newham 0 (Two first half goals were enough for Stansted to net a very important three points against Athletic Newham at Hargrave Park, a fantastic front post header by Mike Salako from a Billy Coyne corner handed The Airportmen a sixth minute lead, and the lead was doubled seven minutes before the break after Paul Clayton netted a bullet header, and it was enough to see the hosts to victory)


Thurlow Nunn Division One South
Harwich & Parkeston 0 Holland 4 (Anthony Spyrou netted a brace as Holland thrashed local rivals Harwich & Parkeston at The Royal Oak, there were also goals from Ben Dixon, whose effort from outside the box went in off the far post, and Charlie Ellis-Hall, who also netted a superb effort from outside the box too in what was a superb performance from the boys in Orange)

Haverhill Borough 5 AFC Sudbury Res 0 (Leon Scarlett netted a brace as second bottom Borough made it back to back wins without conceding after thrashing AFC Sudbury's Ressies. Scarlett put his side ahead on 21 minutes after the keeper fumbled inside the box, and it was two for Scarlett and Borough nine minutes before the break after an excellent finish from the RWB. Spencer Sykes then made it 3-0 ten minutes after the break before Joe Morris netted a flying header after the ball was crossed in by Sykes for another brilliant goal with just over twenty minutes remaining. And the scoring was completed deep into stoppage time when an own goal made it five, capping off a fine evening for the home side)

May & Baker 0 Barkingside 2 (Side picked up all three points despite some difficulties against May & Baker at Parkview. Striker James Peagram, not for the first time, had to take over in goal ten minutes before the break, but it mattered not as he kept a clean sheet and saw an own goal and a 30+ yard strike from Archie Hammond seal the win for the visitors)

Wormley Rovers 2 Newbury Forest 1 (Rovers netted all three points despite serious pressure from the visitors as they held out. An early goal for The Worms from Cav Clarke gave them the advantage and then a header from Louie Offer put the hosts 2-0 up, this after withstanding a lot of decent play from Forest which saw the hosts under the cosh for a while. Forest's possession and attacking play finally paid off when they pulled one back, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat here)


Wednesday March 16th
Thurlow Nunn First Division South
Benfleet 1 Ipswich Wanderers 2 (Wanderers took a step closer to promotion after they saw off Benfleet at Park Lane. It only took the visitors two minutes to grab the lead as Benfleet gave Matthew Blake too much space down the left, and the striker produced a great, powerful finish past Flo Gislette at his near post, and just before half time they doubled their advantage when the hosts gave the bal away outside the penalty area, and a pass to Jacob Lay saw him produce a great finish. Benfleet, who were left scratching their heads at how they were two down at the break after dominating and striking the woodwork twice, managed to pull one back inside the opening minute of the second period thanks to a great strike by Ben Foord, but those two first half goals proved enough for Wanderers to take all the points back to Ipswich)

Hackney Wick 2 Burnham Ramblers 4 (Ramblers grabbed three very important points as they netted four at Spa Road against Hackney Wick. Samir Ali gave them the lead after twenty minutes but a mistake at the back allowed Wick to level, however Ramblers managed to get their noses back in front to lead at the break, only to see Wick respond once again and restore parity. Ramblers were not to be denied though and goals from Adebolu Adeyemi and Said Issa sealed the points for the visitors)


Let's check out those tables and see how this week's results affected them...
Essex Senior League

Stow's come from behind win at Sawbridgeworth Town means they increased their lead to fifteen points, and only need another ten points from their remaining five games to confirm the title and promotion back to the Isthmian North after a few seasons out, whilst defeat for Sawbo leaves them second bottom and still three points off St Margaretsbury whose game against Saffron Walden was abandoned of course. Stansted's grip on second was strengthened after victory at Hargrave Park against Athletic Newham.


Here are this weekend's fixtures...
Athletic Newham v White Ensign
Cockfosters v West Essex
Enfield v Sporting Bengal United
FC Clacton v Saffron Walden Town
Ilford v St Margaretsbury
Little Oakley v Woodford Town
Sawbridgeworth Town v Redbridge
Southend Manor v Hoddesdon Town
Takeley v Stanway Rovers
Walthamstow v Clapton


Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South...

Ipswich Wanderers increased their lead to eight points over Buckhurst HIll at the summit and fourteen points from their final five games will get the job done, Benfleet do remain third after defeat to the leaders but their is now just five points between them and sixth placed Ramblers who grabbed a vital win in Witham to keep their play off hopes alive. It looks likely three of Benfleet, Hastead Town, Wivenhoe Town and Burnham Ramblers will claim those other play off berths along with one of the top two, likely now to be Buckhurst Hill, so all to play for!!!


Here are the fixtures for the weekend...
AFC Sudbury Res v Burnham Ramblers
Benfleet v Brimsdown
Buckhurst Hill v Coggeshall United
Haverhill Borough v Barkingside
Holland v Wormley Rovers
Newbury Forest v Harwich & Parkeston
Park View v Frenford