Essex Senior League, Saturday November 16th
Mid November, and with the season fast approaching the mid way point in terms of league games, I was over at Burroughs Park for a top seven clash in the division, and it saw Great Wakering Rovers in third hosting Barking, who are under new management of course, who sat in seventh and just four points off the play off spots.
The hosts were trying to put the disappointment of exiting the Vase last weekend, getting back to league action where they were on a four game winning streak, and trying to grab three points to at least keep them on the coat tails of the top two, they were five behind leaders Stanway, with two games in hand, and only a point off second placed Woodford, with a game in hand on them too, so if they kept winning, they were in a very good spot, or an even better one than they currently are.
They welcomed Barking side though who saw Craig Edwards return to the club to manage once again, and they certainly had that new manager bounce last time out when they saw off one of their play off chasing rivals in Saffron Walden Town 3-1 at Mayesbrook Park in one of their better performances for a few weeks, so this was going to be a decent game and a well contested one that was for sure.
It was certainly well contested, the hosts settled the quickest and were the ones in the front foot in the opening exchanges, however, it was Barking who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, as after the referee had awarded the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position on the left hand side, much to the dismay of the hosts who thought it had been given the other way, as did most of the ground (it did look harsh on the defender if truth be told) and from this free kick, Sam Edwards sent a lovely ball into the six yard box and skipper Pat Ahern got something on it and the ball spun over keeper George Martin and into the Wakering goal.
Cue more protests at the award of the free kick, one that wasn't defended well, and Barking had the lead, a lead they probably didn't deserve on balance of play up till that point, but they did create some really good chances in the remainder of the half, however, it was Wakering who had most of the play but just could not find that killer touch inside the box, and it meant Barking would go into the half time break a goal to the good.
The second period saw Barking having to soak up a lot of pressure as they held onto the slender lead, but just past the hour mark a wonderful run from Dom Locke saw him play the ball to Bradleigh Rowland, and as he burst into the box he was upended by Teddy Stacey, and the referee pointed to the spot and the hosts had a golden chance to find a leveller and maybe go on and win the game.
But, it wasn't to be as Harry Brown stepped up and saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Dan Purdue, and you felt at this point it probably wasn't going to be the hosts day, they kept up the pressure though but were always in danger of being caught on the counter, and in the 84th minute that is exactly what happened as a ball through to Juwon Akintunde saw him keep his calm before slotting in at the near post to seal another big win for the Blues.
Yes they rode their luck in this one, but going away to a big promotion rival you are always going to have to ride your luck at times, especially against such a good Wakering outfit who were lacking in front of goal today, and it saw Craig Edwards superb start to his latest tenure as Blues boss continue in superb style with a brilliant battling performance and three points.
Full time Great Wakering Rovers 0 Barking 2
So, let's now see what else went on in the division today as nine other matches took place on a full fixture list Saturday afternoon:-
Athletic Newham 0 Stanway Rovers 0
Leaders Stanway were held at Parsloes by Athletic Newham as neither side could break the deadlock, it does mean Rovers stay top though although now only two points clear of second placed Woodford.
Frenford 2 Buckhurst Hill 3
Buckhurst Hill came from behind to defeat Frenford at The Drive, Bradley Ismaili had given the visitors an eighth minute lead but an own goal in the 26th minute and a Corey Hewlett strike in the 44th minute handed Frenford the lead, only to see Buckhurst Hill level a minute later through Suley Zuhdu to send the sides into the break at 2-2. Hill then saw keeper Toby Smith sent off in the 65th minute but it was they who won the game after Tyreece Robertson's 78th minute winner handed the visitors all three points, taking them to within five points of the top five.
Halstead Town 3 Little Oakley 2
A 105th minute winner from Owen Betts handed Halstead a dramatic win over Little Oakley at The Milbank Stadium, James Eveleigh had given the hosts the lead just past the half hour mark but saw Daniel Rowe level eight minutes before the break to see the sides go in level at the half. Dean Ager's penalty on the hour mark restored The Humbugs lead, but they were pegged back again after Darren Mills levelled in the 77th minute to seemingly earn his side a point. But with a whole heap of stoppage to come, FIFTEEN minutes into it Halstead saw Betts pop up to win the game for the hosts in dramatic fashion.
Hullbridge Sports 1 Woodford Town 3
Woodford cut the lead at the top to two points after they recorded victory at struggling Hullbridge, it was the hosts who started well and lead from Owen Bellamy's fourth minute penalty, but the lead only lasted nine minutes as Marcus Painter levelled for the visitors. Ten minutes into the second half the hosts saw Oscar Jones sent off and then five minutes later go behind after Kahlil Kirwan-Meade netted for Woodford, and with 82 minutes gone Sonny Shilling sealed the points for the visiting side who did end with ten men after Emmanuel Martins was sent off in stoppage time.
Ilford 3 Stansted 1
The Foxes netted their fourth win of the season after seeing off Stansted at Cricklefield, Mo Nur Habib gave the hosts a second minute lead, and then they doubled this lead seven minutes before the break when Daniel Izekor netted from the spot, and it was 3-0 at half time after Izekor netted again in first half stoppage time. Luke Skinner did pull one back early in the second half from the spot but Ilford saw out the game to take all three points.
Romford 1 White Ensign 3
Ellis Devereux struck twice as Ensign stunned ten man Romford at Mayesbrook Park, Devereaux handed the visitors a 34th minute lead and then the hosts saw keeper Harry Girling sent off four minutes before half time, meaning they would be on the back foot even more so. Riley Weir then handed the visitors a two goal cushion at the break when netting in first half stoppage time, and it was 3-0 when Devereaux netted his second early in the second half. Romford did manage to get on the scoresheet when Kennedy Feyi struck home a penalty in the 63rd minute, but it was Ensign who recorded a very impressive win.
Saffron Walden Town 3 Benfleet 2
Kevin Wright netted a 97th minute winner as Walden snatched a dramatic win at Catons Lane, Billy Carter had given Benfleet a 15th minute lead but Walden, fresh from their county cup win over Braintree in midweek, levelled through a Cameron Harris own goal just three minutes later. Things looked bad for Walden though just past the hour mark when keeper Jake Anderson was sent off, but Adalberto Pinto then gave Walden a 74th minute lead, but Fleet thought they had pinched a point when levelling in the 90th minute through John-Joe Salter, only to Wright pop up seven minutes into added on time to hand the hosts all the points.
Takeley 3 FC Clacton 1
It's been quite a dew days for FC Clacton with their off field problems mounting this week, and they remain bottom of the table after another defeat, this time at Station Road against Takeley. Lanre Balogun gave the hosts a 16th minute lead, and that lead was doubled seven minutes later courtesy of Olly Miles, the visitors did pull one back four minutes after the break through Emmanuel Ikwuegbu, but Takeley quickly restored their two goal lead in the 53rd minutes when Miles grabbed his second, and the hosts went on to take all three points.
West Essex 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
Hosts West came oh so close to knocking Chelmsford City out of the county cup in midweek, but they put that out of their minds as they took all three points against struggling Sawbo Town at Wadham Lodge. Jaedon Phillips handed the hosts a 12th minute lead, and they were two goals up by half time when Vanadiny Junior Mendes netted eight minutes before the break. And Yemi Adelani's stoppage time goal sealed a 3-0 win and the points.
Ok, let's see how the table looks after the latest round of games:-
Stanway's lead was cut to two points after they drew and Woodford won, Takeley go above Wakering on goal difference after the former beat FC Clacton and the latter lost at home to Barking, Romford are still just about in side the top five despite their loss at home to Ensign today, Walden & Barking of course are now just a point off them after they both won.
Down at the bottom, FC Clacton remain there and stay three behind Sawbo, who also lost, Hullbridge and Stansted both slip to 18th & 17th respectively after they lost and Ilford & Halstead both won, the latter two putting more daylight between them and the bottom side in the process.
That concludes today's blog, hope you enjoyed reading, and thank you!!!
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