As the season reaches its final few weeks the games are coming thick and
fast in the Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn First Division South and there
were some very important games which affected both ends of the division’s this
midweek, oh and a Cup Final as well as Quarter and Semi Finals to take place as
well, let’s see what happened shall we…..
Monday 3rd April
Essex Senior League
Clapton 0 Athletic Newham 5 (Richard Kone netted a hat-trick as Athletic Newham thrashed Clapton in the
Terrence McMillan derby. Kone had slotted the visitors into a half-time lead
before he tapped home from close range to double their advantage, before a
fantastic cross shot into the far corner made it three to complete his
hat-trick. A Baro free kick and a thumping effort from Seidi completed the rout,
bringing the hosts back down to earth with a bump after such an important win
at the weekend)
Takeley 2 Stansted 0 (Takeley netted a deserved victory over rivals Stansted at Station Road
after a goal in each half saw them to all three points. The hosts grabbed a
first half lead when George Wappett’s cross from the touchline appeared to skim
off the head of Clarke and end up in the back of the net and then the hosts
doubled their lead after the break when Southgate was adjudged to have been
fouled by keeper Askew inside the box allowing Bryn Thorpe to send Askew the
wrong way from the spot. Stansted, who felt many big decisions went against
them, including the penalty, were unable to respond and fell to defeat)
Tuesday 4th April
Essex Senior League
Barking 1 Enfield 4 (Former Barking striker Luke Hirst netted a brace as Enfield came from
behind to stroll past Barking at Mayesbrook Park. The hosts grabbed a 26th
minute lead when Sam Shaban converted from the spot, this after Mubiayi handled the ball on the goal
line, but only three minutes after the break the league leaders were level when
Hirst levelled against his former side. And only nine minutes after the break
The Es had turned the match around when Samrai Gebrai got on the end of a ball
in from Alfie Mason, and the visitors added a third to take complete control
twenty minutes into the second period when Hirst netted a second of the night
against his former employees. And with five minutes of the ninety to go Enfield
added a fourth goal when new boy Tom Richardson netted to keep their title and
promotion charge right on course)
Halstead Town 1 Woodford Town 0 (The Humbugs confirmed their ESL status for
another season after Robbie Bennett headed home an 80th minute
winner in front of 204 at Rosemary Lane. The hosts netted that all important
goal with ten minutes to go after Kane Gilbert’s corner was brilliantly headed
home by Bennett, but that wasn’t the end of the drama as seven minutes into
stoppage time the visitors keeper was sent off for an off the ball incident
with Gilbert and then a minute later went down to nine men after Ben Bryne was
also given his marching orders It all meant Woodford left with no points and
their chances of promotion taking a big hit)
Redbridge 1 Saffron Walden Town 0 (A Dean Hall volley with eight minutes to go saw
The Motormen gift the perfect present to late photographer Philip Lindhurst
(who sadly passed away a few days ago) as they picked up a huge three points. The
hosts missed countless chances in a game they largely dominated but it seemed
their luck was out, that was until Hall popped up in the 82nd minute
to volley home a corner and bag a potentially huge goal in the title and
promotion chase)
Sawbridgeworth Town 1 Little Oakley 3 (Little Oakley grabbed all three points with a
decent performance at Crofters, the visitors led at the break courtesy of a
Danny Garrad goal after creating several chances prior to that, but the hosts
roared back after the break and after bundling home an equalizer had chances to
take the lead, but late goals from Dan Rowe and Alfie Canning helped the
visitors to the win)
Thurlow Nunn First Division South
Coggeshall United 2 Sporting Bengal United 5 (Sporting netted five as they strengthened their play-off
position after victory at bottom side Coggeshall United. Sam George Edwards
netted a brace for the promotion chasing visitors and there were also goals
from Kevin Krans, Anthony Murray-Bruce and substitute Liam George as the Mile
End side heaped more misery on the struggling home side)
May & Baker 4 Enfield Borough 1 (Bakers netted four as they came from behind to
defeat Enfield Borough at Parkside. The visitors took the lead in the 27th
minute after tapping home following an initial effort coming back off the post,
but the hosts levelled in first half stoppage time when Bobby Breem controlled
a ball into the box before slotting home across the keeper. Bakers were much
better after the break and grabbed the lead to turn this one around twenty
minutes into the second period when Anthony Connor got through to finish beyond
the keeper and it wasn’t long before they added a third when Connor netted a
second in three minutes after sending a delightful chip into the far corner. And
Bakers netted a fourth goal to cap a memorable second half performance when
Kalum Bama headed home)
Wednesday 5th April
Essex Senior League
Athletic Newham 0 Takeley 0 (This was both sides second game in three days after they both netted wins
on Monday night, however they were unable to trouble the scorers in this
contest at The Terry Mac, meaning a goalless draw and a point a piece, so four
points for the week for both too)
Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Semi Final
Romford 2 FC Clacton 3 (FC Clacton came from two goals down to set up a final against Redbridge
after second half goals from Jake Clowsley, Charlie Collis and Chris
Ribchester. The hosts edged in front in first half stoppage time after a free
kick from Kris Newby thumped against the woodwork before the rebound was fired
home by Camilo Restrepo, and then eleven minutes after the break they doubled
their lead when a low cross was converted by George Cox. The Seasiders though
pulled one back on the hour mark through Ribchester before levelling the tie up
with eleven minutes to go thanks to Collis, and then amazingly the visitors
then went in front a minute through Cloesley after that to turn this tie on its
head. The game ended on a rather sour note as after the final whistle a number
of players became involved in an altercation, resulting in two red cards a
piece, Kris Newby and Jesse Olukolu were sent off for the hosts and the
visitors saw Kyelan Marvell and Michael Okafor dismissed, however it’s the
visitors who go through to the final)
Thurlow Nunn First Division South
Barkingside 1 Newbury Forest 1 (The match at Frenford’s The Drive ended all
square between Barkingside and Newbury Forest, although hopefully Side can
start playing midweek games back at Ilford’s Cricklefields as the floodlights
have now been fixed)
Benfleet 1 NW London 1 (It was two points dropped for Benfleet as they were held at home by NW
London. The visitors wasted no time in edging ahead after barely a minute when
Momba ran onto a forward pass before laying it off to Kozak whose shot from the
edge of box went through hosts keeper Jackson and into the net, however
Benfleet managed to level midway through the first half as they levelled from
the spot through Russell after Frances was fouled inside the area. Benfleet had
several chances to grab a winner but could not after the break, NW London had
their moments too but would have been more than happy with a point, which
cannot be said for the hosts whose play off charge took a blow here)
Hackney Wick 1 Burnham Ramblers 1 (Ramblers play-off hopes took a hit after they
conceded a late leveller at Spa Road against Hackney Wick. It took the visitors
only eight minutes to break through when Adebayo Adeyemi netted and this looked
to be enough for Ramblers to get a much-needed win, but Wick levelled from a
corner in the 90th minute to salvage a point, a very important point
too in their case, but a big blow for the visitors who really needed all three)
League Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Basildon Town 0 Woodbridge Town 3 (Basildon Town fell to defeat in the last eight
of the League Challenge Cup after they were beaten at home by Thurlow Nunn
Premier Woodbridge Town. Mark Ray turned
out to be the difference between the sides, netting a hat-trick for the
visitors as they won through to face Ipswich Wanderers in the Last Four)
Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup Final
Heybridge Swifts 5 Wivenhoe Town 0 (Wivenhoe Town found Isthmian North side
Heybridge Swifts too much to handle as they were well beaten in the Tolleshunt
D’Arcy Memorial Cup Final at Scraley Road. Swifts didn’t take long to grab the
lead as they saw a low cross from Kieran Jones converted into his own net by
Wivenhoe defender Ryan Culleton from close range after just seven minutes, and
it was two just past the quarter hour mark after Sam Park danced through the
Dragons backline and then found Jones who laid it on a plate for Rhys Henry to
tap home. The game was as good as over
just past the half hour mark when Swifts made it three, Tyler Brampton with an
impressive finish from the edge of the box for his first goal for the club, and
eight minutes after the break it was certainly over when Jones slotted home a
penalty to make it four for Swifts. And with eleven minutes to go it was five
for Swifts after Ben Sartain smashed home to seal a comfortable win and take
the cup honours too. The other winner on the night was the Cup itself, with a
crowd of 251 turning up to watch, meaning a good amount of proceeds to go to
the Essex FA’s Benevolent Fund to help injured players through financial
hardship)
Right, let’s see how all the above affects the tables heading into the
Easter Weekend…..
Essex Senior League
Enfield (who play Thursday night against Little Oakley) still have a five point gap to Redbridge after they came from behind to beat Barking, The Motormen needed a late goal to keep tabs with The Es and now have a three point cushion to FC Clacton and Woodford Town, the latter losing at Halstead, meaning the top two now are in the driving seat for promotion having got games in hand too.
That win for Halstead means they have secured ESL football for next season
as they cannot finish in the bottom two now, so a great evening for them in
front of a raucous crowd at Rosemary Lane, Clapton still need a miracle after
they were thumped by Terry Mac rivals Athletic Newham meaning their ESL status
hangs by a thread.
Thurlow Nunn First Division South
None of the top three were in action in midweek so it’s as you were there, however Sporting, Burnham and Benfleet were all in action and with the latter two dropping points, it certainly strengthened Sporting’s play-off hopes (Sporting thrashed bottom side Coggeshall United), and also Stanway Pegasus’s too, they only have two games left so are hoping the clubs below them slip up. May & Baker did win though so they can still deny Pegasus a play off spot too, so it will be interesting to see if those sides below the play off line can make a late charge.
Coggeshall's heavy loss at home to Sporting sees them still eleven points
behind Wivenhoe with only five games to go now, so it’s looking bleak for them,
the battle to finish outside the bottom two though is very tight with only seven
points across second bottom Wivenhoe and 12th placed Barkingside,
all have played a similar number of games, so the final five or so could be
interesting.
Anyway, that completes this blog, I will be back with another soon with the
Easter Weekend action, it’s sure to be dramatic and tense no doubt!!! Thanks
for reading and take care for now.
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