Their was another full round of fixtures in the Essex Senior League on the final weekend in November, it started on Friday night at Ashton's, so lets see how that one went and the other games on Saturday too:-
Friday November 29th
Woodford Town 3 West Essex 0
Second placed Woodford were looking to close the gap to leaders Stanway with a win over West Essex at Ashton's, the home side were five points behind with two games in hand prior to kick off so knew a win would keep their chances of top spot in their hands and also put the pressure on the leaders ahead of their mammoth tussle with Walden on Saturday. West themselves were looking to get into the top ten with victory, but their task was made even harder just before the half hour mark when Oliver Travell was shown a straight red meaning the visitors would have to play the remainder of the contest a man light, and deep into first half stoppage time Woodford broke through after Marko Protic guided a header back across goal and into the top corner. And in the 64th minute they doubled that lead when Sam Owusu glanced home a Luke Steele cross into the far corner before they added a third in the 80th minute when Bruno Tavares netted from the spot after winning the spot kick himself and make it five wins on the bounce.
Saturday November 30th
Athletic Newham 1 White Ensign 2
Ninth placed Athletic Newham have suffered back to back losses and were taking on tenth placed White Ensign at Parsloes knowing if they lost again they would be leapfrogged by their opponents, and the winners knew that victory could see them only seven points off a top five spot. The hosts had the edge at the break when Leonardo Luis De Carvalho Pedro struck home a 20th minute spot kick however the visitors fought back to level five minutes into the second half through Ellis Devereux's close range finish before Ensign netted what proved to be the winner in the 76th minute courtesy of Jon Evans absolute blockbuster from range.
Barking 1 Hullbridge Sports 0
The Blues are riding the crest of a wave right now under Craig Edwards, and their midweek London Senior Cup success at Haringey Borough only added to their confidence, and they knew a win over struggling Bridge at Mayesbrook Park could send them into the play off spots. Bridge themselves were trying to build on a rare success last time out which saw them pull an eight point gap to bottom side FC Clacton, well, one goal proved enough in this one and it went to the hosts, Michael Ngoo netting on the half hour mark to see The Blues great run continue.
Frenford 2 Romford 4
After dropping more points in midweek Romford knew a win here against Frenford was paramount if they were to stay in that top five, they were only one point ahead of Barking and two ahead of Walden so if results did go against them and they failed to take maximum points, both of the above would sail past them with wins, Frenford though were not going to make it easy that's for sure, they were hunting a top ten position with victory themselves. It was the visitors who struck first in the eighteenth minute through Brenden Ocran however an own goal in first half stoppage time meant the hosts would go in level at the break, but Romford retook the lead early in the second period through Kennedy Feyi. Frenford came back to level again midway through the second half courtesy of Anthony Uzoegbu but the visitors would take an important three points after Blaise Uwangji restored their lead once again in the 70th minute before Amaree Robinson-Jones sealed the win in the 88th minute.
Great Wakering Rovers 5 FC Clacton 0
This was a daunting trip for bottom side FC Clacton, up against promotion chasing Great Wakering Rovers who knew a win and a slip up from the leaders would see them just three points behind top spot with a game in hand, the visitors on paper had no chance, but this isn't played on paper, and they knew if they could muster a win could potentially go level on points with second bottom Sawbo and give themselves hope of getting off that bottom spot. But once Harry Talbot had given the hosts a fifth minute lead, they never looked back, Callum Boylan doubled their lead after fourteen minutes before he netted again in first half stoppage time to hand the hosts a 3-0 cushion at the break. Talbot then netted his second of the game when converting a 75th minute spot kick before Boylan completed his hattrick to wrap this one up in the 83rd minute and get Rovers back to winning ways in style.
Halstead Town 0 Buckhurst Hill 1
These two sides are playing some nice football currently, The Humbugs, who started the season terribly and were at the foot of the table not so long ago, are now in 16th and ten points ahead of bottom side FC Clacton, Hill themselves are punching well above their weight this season and are in eighth spot and just six points off a play off spot and looking to join the likes of Romford, Barking & Walden who are all battling for fifth place. One goal was enough to settle this one, and it came in first half stoppage time courtesy of visitors attacker Tyreece Robertson to hand them another impressive win.
Little Oakley 1 Ilford 1
Both these sides are looking to try and break into the top ten, Oakley started the day just two points off it so knew a win could put them into that part of the league, Ilford themselves were just five points off it after a run of solid performances and knew a win would take them level with their opponents just outside these places. They were ahead at the break as well, firstly because of Michael Adu's long range strike in off the post just before the half hour mark, and secondly after Wilkinson Boateng's penalty save right on half time to keep them in front. It looked like that would be enough for The Foxes to pick up victory, that was until deep into added on time when a goal mouth scramble ended with Nathan Rowe sweeping home a finish to salvage the hosts a point.
Saffron Walden Town 1 Stanway Rovers 3
The biggest game of the weekend came from Catons Lane where league leaders Stanway had a tough looking assignment against a Walden side trying to break into the top five, Rovers knew defeat and results going against them elsewhere would really pile the pressure on themselves so this was an important match for both sides as Walden knew a win would take them only eleven points off the leaders with four games in hand. Well, the first half could not have gone any worse for the hosts, Tom Maycock gave Rovers an eighth minute lead before George Okoye doubled that cushion after just sixteen minutes, he netted again just past the half hour mark and then the hosts saw Lee Hursit sent off right on half time meaning they were three goals down and a man down, oh dear. Roman Campbell did net from the spot early in the second half to reduce the arrears, but the damage had been done in the opening forty five minutes as Stanway took another impressive win.
Stansted 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 2
This pitted third bottom Stansted against second bottom Sawbridgeworth Town in what was also a local derby showdown at Hargrave Park, the sides were only separated by three points too so a result either way would certainly paint a different picture in the table for both sides, so this was an important game for sure. Well, the only goals of the game came inside twenty five minutes, Sawbo grabbing the lead through Joseph Fernandez after twelve minutes before the same man doubled their lead ten minutes later, and it was enough for the visitors to pick up a huge three points to draw level with their opponents in the table.
Takeley 1 Benfleet 0
Another side trying to break into the top ten were Benfleet, a solid start to their debut season at step five had stuttered somewhat, but they were only three points off this although they were up against a Takeley side sitting in third and looking to close the gap to leaders Stanway if they slipped up at all against Walden. One goal would prove enough to settle what was a scrappy encounter, and it came from the boot of Jordan Westcott from the penalty spot in the 81st minute to hand Takeley another important three points.
Right, let's see what that does to the table:-
Everyone in the top six won, it means Stanway remain five clear at the top, with Woodford, Takeley, GWR and Romford remaining in the top five, with Barking just behind, however with Walden's loss to Stanway, they now lose ground although still have games in hand despite this. Buckhurst Hill continue to keep their unlikely play off hunt alive, whilst White Ensign boing up to ninth with their win.
Down at the bottom the only side to win in that part of the league was Sawbridgeworth Town who have now put a six point gap to bottom side FC Clacton, it was certainly a very significant win for the Crofters side at near neighbours Stansted, things right now are looking bleak FC Clacton both on and off the field, tough times indeed.
That concludes today's blog, thanks for reading and stay safe.
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