(Action from The Hawthorns between Stanway Rovers & Hullbridge Sports, photo courtesy of Essex & Suffolk Groundhopper (@EssexSuffo62178))
It's been a while since I've written about the Essex Senior League so I thought'd I'd update you all with the latest goings on in the division, there were two midweek games that took place on Tuesday & Wednesday which involved the top two in the division, so let's see what went on in those games:-
Tuesday October 15th
Stanway Rovers 5 Hullbridge Sports 3
League leaders Stanway Rovers came into this contest two points clear of second placed Woodford Town (who played White Ensign at home on Wednesday) knowing that a win would take them five points clear for at last twenty four hours and keep them at the top of the division for at least another week, they were up against a Hullbridge side who are finding things tough this term, down in 15th in the table and only six points above bottom side Halstead Town, so on paper at least it looked like a nailed on home win.
It started well for the hosts too as Harrison Chatting fired the hosts ahead in just the ninth minute, but Hullbridge to their credit fought back to level after twenty minutes when Tobias Braney netted a brilliant free kick, however Stanway were to regain the lead just past the half hour mark after George Okoye saw an effort deflected in off a visiting skipper Ollie Jenkins before Jamie Bennett produced a moment of magic to increase the hosts lead just before the break, curling an effort into the top corner, meaning the league leaders had a 3-1 lead going into the break.
Hullbridge needed a response and they got it seven minutes into the second half as after Piers Hatcliff was sent through on the right, his cut back was finished off by Owen Bellamy to reduce the arrears, and then with just over fifteen minutes to go the visitors were level through Braney's second of the contest. Stanway though were not to be denied and were back in front just four minutes later as after Bennett was tripped up inside the box, Okoye calmly converted the spot kick for 4-3, and then after Stanway won a free kick which resulted in visitors Joe Burton being sin binned for disagreeing with the decision, Tom Maycock saw his 87th minute free kick deflected home to seal what had been a bonkers game at The Hawthorns.
Wednesday October 16th
Woodford Town 6 White Ensign 0
Second placed and hosts Woodford Town knew they needed to win this one to close the gap back down to two points to league leaders Stanway following the latter's entertaining win over Hullbridge the night before, and they were up against a young and determined White Ensign side at Ashton's who were themselves looking to get into the top ten of the division with a win themselves.
It didn't take long for the first piece of action to materialise as after just three minutes the hosts won a penalty as after Josh Banfield struck the post with a volley, David Gokou-Siakouri was brought down as he tried to follow in to score, and although Marko Protic's spot kick struck the post, Georges Kebi was quickest to react and prod the rebound home and hand Woodford the perfect start to this contest, a start that got even better after just twenty minutes when the hosts increased their advantage as a Banfield corner found Miles Mitchell-Nelson at the back post who rose the highest to head home.
And just before the half hour mark Woodford added another, the visitors failing to cleat another dangerous delivery from Banfield, and it ended up falling to Gokou-Siakouri who lashed home a volley, and you would have been forgiven to have thought the game was as good as over inside half an hour, the hosts were all over their opponents. There was still time for the hosts to add a fourth before the break as well as in the 43rd minute the superb Banfield managed to turn goal scorer on this occasion after the ball broke to him and he found the corner of the net with a lovely half volley, and Ensign, who won 7-0 at the weekend, were in danger of seeing that wiped out in this contest, 4-0 down at half time to a rampant Woodford side.
Ensign improved after the break although it wasn't difficult too after a rather disappointing first forty five minutes where they were put to the sword, however, Woodford did add a fifth goal with just under twenty minutes remaining as who else but Banfield produced another elite ball into the box where Protic nodded home from inside the six yard box, and then a minute after that fifth goal it was six for the hosts and a fine one at that, as Nathan Sollosi drove in-field and straight through the visiting backline before finding the bottom corner for a sublime solo effort and cap a fine performance from the home side.
This is how the table looked after the latest matches:-
Stanway and Woodford both won as seen above meaning they remain as they were with two points between them at the summit, Wakering, Romford & Takeley make up the remainder of the top five, Walden are four points off those places but do have games in hand as they continue their quest to break into those play off places.
Down at the bottom Halstead continue to hold up the rest with FC Clacton just a point above them, in fact only three points separate the bottom four, so very tight indeed down there as those sides try their hardest to grab a win or two to try and put some daylight between themselves and the rest down there.
Anyway that's you all up to date with the Essex Senior League, thanks for reading.
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