April Fools Day saw eight of the ten scheduled Essex Senior
League games take place, an astonishing effort considering the awful weather leading
up to the weekend, so fair play to all ground staff and volunteers who got
their games ahead, would their teams reward them with a positive performance
and a win, or would they be made to look like fools, let’s find out:-
Barking 4 Stansted 2 (Tim Ogunrinde, Lauric Diakiesse and Sam Shaban were amongst the Blues scorers
as they saw off Stansted at Mayesbrook Park)
Clapton 1 Southend Manor 0 (The Tons took a huge three points at home to Southend Manor thanks to a second half goal from Giseldi Marashi at The Terry Mac)
Enfield 1 Romford 0 (The Es got back to winning ways after a late Louis Johnson goal saw them
to victory over Romford at The Prokit Stadium. It looked as if the league
leaders would drop points until the 87th minute when a lovely run
from Solomon Ofori down the left saw him find space to send in a cross which
found Johnson who met it first time to send the crowd wild and edge the leaders
closer towards the title and promotion)
FC Clacton P-P Redbridge (The huge 3rd vs 2nd clash at the top of the division
was called off very late in the day after originally being deemed ok to play
and kick off being delayed by an hour, with one corner of the ground being an
issue. Both teams apparently were happy to play but the referee deemed it not
safe enough and called the game off, much to everyone’s frustrations no doubt)
Halstead Town 4 Little Oakley 0 (Four goals in the final twenty-five minutes saw
Halstead to a first win since January and almost certainly guarantee their
Essex Senior League status for another year. After a goalless hour or so The Humbugs
broke the deadlock through a lovely finish from Kane Gilbert into the bottom left
corner, and it was two goals in four minutes for the hosts when they doubled
their lead after a superb ball from Alfie Cleal found Gilbert who drove into
the box and finished brilliantly for his second of the afternoon. And the hosts
sealed the deal with fifteen to go after a fantastic finish from Ben Morris inside
the box before adding another goal with another superb finish, this time from
Harry Pinkney, latching onto a mistake at the back to smash home from the edge
of the area off the underside of the bar and send the majority of the 243 in
attendance home happy)
Ilford 1 Woodford Town 4 (Woodford bounced back from a disappointing draw on Thursday night to keep
themselves well in the hunt for promotion after netting four at Cricklefields. Woodford
netted the opener through a free header from Miles Mitchell-Nelson, getting on
the end of a corner in the 19th minute, and the visitors doubled
that lead six minutes later as a rapid counter saw Luke Parrott tee up Dimi Christou
to slot home. The Foxes needed a response and got one when reducing the arrears
seven minutes before the break when Joe Lilly’s corner crept over the line, but
Woodford quickly restored their two-goal cushion from a Parrott spot-kick right
on half time. And the visitors opened up a three-goal cushion four minutes
after the break when Wale Odedoyin swept home from close range and maintained
that lead until the end to take the points)
Saffron Walden Town 3 Takeley 0 (Three first half goals were enough to see Walden
to victory in front of over 400 at Catons Lane. Walden edged ahead through a
Jason Hallet strike before quickly doubling that advantage through Charlie
Cole, and the hosts made it three before the break when Cole grabbed his second
of the contest as the hosts had total control of this one, allowing them to
breeze through the second period and take the spoils)
Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Athletic Newham 2 (Visitors Athletic Newham netted two goals without
reply at Crofters to break back into the top ten of the Essex Senior League)
Stanway Rovers P-P West Essex (The match scheduled to take place at The Hawthorns was postponed earlier
in the day as the pitch was deemed unplayable due to the rain we had prior to
the game and leading up to it)
White Ensign 4 Buckhurst Hill 2 (Ensign twice came from behind to see off
Buckhurst Hill at Burroughs Park. It was the visitors who drew first blood in
this one, taking the lead midway through the first period thanks to Nathan
Sollosi, following up to ram home the loose ball after the keeper had made a
save, but the hosts responded by levelling eight minutes before the break when
Archie McFadden converted from a corner. The Stags started the second half
brightly and saw Sam Sollosi sweep home from close range to give Hill the lead
again, but just like before Ensign fought back to level through Joseph Gregory
just past the hour mark. And with seven minutes to go Ensign edged ahead for
the first time in this contest through Joshua McFall before sealing the deal
two minutes from time thanks to a second from Gregory)
Let’s see how those results affect the table:-
Enfield’s late winner against Romford sees them open up a five-point cushion to the chasing pack, it’s very tight in the race for second spot as well with only one point between Redbridge, FC Clacton and Woodford Town after the latter’s win at Ilford today. Redbridge’s last eight games includes fixtures against FC Clacton and Enfield, FC Clacton still have to play Enfield and Redbridge of course, and Woodford also still have to play Enfield so it’s very much all to play for at the summit of the division.
Down at the bottom well it’s been the same for some time now,
but today’s was the day when Southend Manor’s relegation to Step Six was
confirmed after they lost to second bottom Clapton and Halstead thrashed Little
Oakley, although with a three point deduction for the bottom side also being
added to the division today, relegation would have been confirmed before today’s
games anyway. That result for Clapton though gave their faint hopes of getting
out of the bottom two a boost as they closed the gap to Sawbridgeworth Town
after the latter lost at home today.
That concludes today’s blog, many thanks as always for reading!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment