(Action from Hullbridge Sports 4-1 win over West Essex at Lower Road, photo courtesy of Scott W (@ScottMHC14))
Despite the threat of Storm Bert in the forecast and the windy and very wet conditions, eight of the scheduled ten Essex Senior League matched went ahead as planned, so let's see how those matches fared:-
Benfleet 3 Athletic Newham 0
Benfleet netted a very welcome three points after they saw off Athletic Newham at Woodside, after a goalless opening forty five minutes it was the hosts who broke the deadlock nine minutes after the break courtesy of Nathan Saunders, and that lead was added too in the 65th minute when Sonny Hartman netted to double the hosts advantage. And the hosts sealed the deal in stoppage time through Toby Dickinson to net a very welcome three points.
Buckhurst Hill 4 Stansted 0
Buckhurst Hill are now just five points off a play off spot after they thrashed Stansted at Myrak Park, Hill grabbed an eighth minute lead when Tyreece Robertson rounded visiting keeper Jack Dixson after a deflection and slotted home from a tight angle, and a minute before the break Hill had a second goal when Suley Zuhdu provided a fine finish after the ball had fallen to him on the edge of the box. Hill then extended that lead further in the 65th minute after a brilliant run from Bradley Ismaili was met by a pass played to Archie Hammond who slotted home, and they sealed a wonderful day at the office when they made it four in the 86th minute through Jonathan Ogunsanya after a shot from Dan Jones was saved the lose ball was buried by Ogunsanya. Stansted's poor afternoon ended with Joe Pullen being sent off after an altercation with Ogunsanya as they suffered another disappointing afternoon as they slipped to third bottom in the standings.
Hullbridge Sports 4 West Essex 1
Bridge netted four as they jumped up a place to seventeenth, just like in midweek the hosts made a brilliant start as they took an early lead through Ruben Santos, seeing his set piece find the far corner, and after just ten minutes Bridge had an even better start when a good pass from Piers Hatcliff found Mechack Asuka who found the right corner with a cool finish. However, in the 57th minute West found a route back into the contest when Matt McDowell applied a decent finish in a congested penalty area, but any nerves the hosts may have encountered were eased when they restored that two goal cushion midway through the second period after Asuka netted his second of the game, decent build up play from Jack Unwin found the striker who fired low past Emmanuel Nwosu. And the hosts sealed a very important win for their morale in the 81st minute after a defensive error allowed the ball to be played to Owen Bellamy who fired a lovely strike high into the left corner, and following this West saw Ramzi Mahmoudi & Bieron Ademi sent off to add to the visitors woes, and they ended the game with eight men after a sin bin late on too, not a good day at the office for them.
Ilford 2 Frenford 3
Frenford came from behind at half time to win this derby at Cricklefield, putting them on the verge of the top ten as a result. It was the visitors who grabbed a 14th minute lead when Jordan Elongo found the net, however The Foxes were level midway through the first half courtesy of Greg Akpele before they had turned this match around five minutes before the break when Adama Konate found the net. Frenford though would hit back and level this derby once again when Nick Reynolds netted the visitors second in the 73rd minute, and it was Frenford who had now turned the match on it's head when they netted a winner in the 87th minute as Elongo added his second of the contest.
Romford 1 Halstead Town 2
Halstead's revival continued as they stunned Romford at Mayesbrook Park, it looked like it could be a long afternoon for the visitors when the hosts grabbed an early lead here as Harry Elsey found the net after just eight minutes, but the visitors recovered from the early set back to level through Alfie Cleal just before the half time break to send the sides in level. And with 72 minutes on the clock The Humbugs had turned things around when Dean Agar struck home a penalty for the visitors which turned out to be the winning strike too meaning Halstead climbed to 15th and ten points above bottom side FC Clacton, a spot they occupied themselves not so long ago.
Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Barking 2
Barking under Craig Edwards is going very well thus far, four games, three wins and a draw has seen The Blues right in the play off shake up after they netted twice to see off struggling Sawbo at Crofters. It took the Blues only nine minutes to open the scoring when Sam Shaban found the net, and seven minutes after the half time break Barking doubled that lead through Teddy Stacey and this proved enough for the visitors to go level on points with fifth placed Romford with a game in hand.
Stanway Rovers 3 Great Wakering Rovers 1
Joe Debell netted a brace as league leaders Stanway Rovers increased their lead at the top to five points after a huge three points against promotion rivals Great Wakering Rovers at The Hawthorns. It was the league leaders who drew first blood in this big top of the table clash after 14 minutes when Tom Maycock scored, curling a lovely effort into the bottom left corner, and just before the break the hosts double their lead when Joe Debell ran onto a free kick from Reece Harris to calmly volley past the keeper. GWR had the chance to get themselves a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty with 71 minutes gone after Callum Boylan was pulled back inside the box, and Harry Talbot duly converted from the spot to half the hosts lead, however, any sniff the visitors felt they had of getting something from the game evaporated when Debell added his second of the game as in the 82nd minute, converting a Harris cross after passing a ricocheting ball into the net to seal the win and open up a nine point gap to their rivals who remain fourth and are looking over their shoulders now after back to back losses.
White Ensign 0 Takeley 2
Takeley are now three points ahead of fourth placed GWR and only a point off second placed Woodford after they netted victory at Burroughs Park against White Ensign. After a goalless first forty five minutes it was the visitors who got their noses in front when a Charlie Allum corner dropped to Coby Miles, he played the ball out to Jordan Wescott whose floated ball in found John Clarke at the far post to nod home, and the visitors then doubled their lead when keeper Jarvis Monk found skipper Allum who curled home over hosts keeper Bradley Davison after shrugging off two defenders. Ensign would end the game with no points and ten men too after Robbie Allen was dismissed in stoppage time, their inability to take chances was their downfall in this one as they remain in tenth spot.
Let's see how the table looks after today's contests:-
Stanway Rovers took advantage of Woodford Town being out of action (their game at Little Oakley was postponed today) by opening up a five point gap, Takeley also took advantage of Great Wakering's loss as well as closing the gap to second spot with victory at the home of GWR against Ensign. Barking continued their terrific form under Craig Edwards to be on the cusp of the top five after Romford's slip up today, Walden were out of action after their game at FC Clacton was scrubbed today.
Buckhurst Hill are now just five points off a top five place after they turned over Stansted at Myrak Park, Frenford closed the gap to the top ten after they won the derby at Ilford and Athletic Newham & Ensign both lost, there were also wins for Benfleet, Halstead & Hullbridge down towards the bottom of the table, giving all three pretty large gaps to bottom side FC Clacton. The Humbugs revival is a remarkable one after they occupied bottom spot not so long ago themselves but are now ten points ahead of that now.
That concludes the ESL round up for this weekend, thanks for reading and until next time, take care!!!
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