Essex Senior League - Midweek Round Up (Wednesday July 31st) - Saffron Walden Town bounce back from opening day defeat, Romford, Athletic Newham share spoils

 (Buckhurst Hill on the attack against Saffron Walden Town at Myrak Park, photo courtesy of Richard Brock (@Beckton86))

There were two more games on Wednesday night to conclude the second round of matches in the Essex Senior 2024/25 season, let's see how those games went.....

Buckhurst Hill 0 Saffron Walden Town 2 (Att: 130)

The hosts were looking to build on their 2-2 draw at home to Little Oakley on the opening weekend, they had to fight from two goals down in that one too, whereas Walden, one of the title & promotions favourites, were looking to bounce back from a shock 1-0 home loss to Athletic Newham.  Things began well for the visitors when Darren Phillips gave The Bloods a 2nd minute lead, and with 63 minutes on the clock they doubled that lead through Roman Campbell and this proved enough for Walden to emerge victorious and bounce back from that opening day defeat.

Romford 1 Athletic Newham 1 (Att: 131)

Both these sides had began their seasons really well, and both had stunned the title/promotion favourites too, Romford struck four past Stanway Rovers on the opening day whereas Newham had gone to Catons Lane and defeated Saffron Walden Town 1-0, who would be the third side to make it two wins from two and join Hullbridge Sports & Woodford on six points from six?  Well it was the visitors who struck first when Alessio Akabuogu handed them a 25th minute lead and just like at the weekend, the hosts would have to come from behind to get something from the game, and with just over twenty minutes remaining they found a leveller through Praise Ogbebor but they were unable to find another meaning they would have to both settle for a point. The visitors were to end the game with ten men though after goalscorer Akabuogu was sent off in stoppage time.

Let's see how the table looks after all teams have now played two games.....

Following Romford & Athletic Newham's draw at Mayesbrook Park it means that Hullbridge & Woodford remain the only sides with 100% records after two rounds of games, with nine sides in total remaining unbeaten after two games, Little Oakley are the only side too have drawn both their games so far, so there you go. Still very early days though as said numerous times already.

This weekend sees no league fixtures as all twenty teams are competing in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round as the competition gets under for the 2024/25 season, lets see who the ESL sides face.....

Friday 2nd August

Stansted Vs Biggleswade 

Saturday 3rd August

Barton Rovers Vs Saffron Walden Town 

Benfleet Vs Woodford Town

Biggleswade United Vs Frenford 

Chipstead Vs Athletic Newham

Colney Heath Vs Takeley 

Eynesbury Rovers Vs Romford

FC Clacton Vs Leighton Town

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Redbridge

Harpenden Rovers Vs Halstead Town 

Little Oakley Vs Dunstable Town

Newport Pagnell Town Vs Ilford

Potton United Vs White Ensign 

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs FC Romania

Stanway Rovers Vs Maldon & Tiptree

Tilbury Vs Buckhurst Hill

Tring Athletic Vs Barking

West Essex Vs Enfield 

Sunday 4th August

Grays Athletic v Hullbridge Sports

There is just one all ESL tie in the round which sees Benfleet & Woodford Town do battle at Woodside for the second weekend in succession, Woodford won that contest 1-0 in the opening weekend of the season, can Benfleet gain revenge for that one in what will be their first ever FA Cup match in the clubs history.

It does mean that the league are guaranteed a club in the next round, but hopefully a whole gaggle of ESL clubs can win through to the next round and gain some much needed prize money as well, just getting through two rounds of this competition can make such a difference at this level, so these games are so important to them.

Anyway I wish them all the best and hope to see many of them succeed and get through, good luck!!!