Romford 3 Takeley 1 / Frenford 4 Hullbridge Sports 1 - I was over at Mayesbrook Park on Friday to see Romford end Takeley's three month long unbeaten run & at The Drive on Saturday to see Frenford net four at home to Hullbridge Sports

(Frenford do battle against Hullbridge Sports on Saturday at The Drive)

Essex Senior League, Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th January

The first weekend of the year new saw me do an Essex Senior League double and with only four of the scheduled ten games going ahead due to the freezing weather, I managed to cover 50% of the weekend fixtures 😉, on Friday night I was at Mayesbrook Park to check out Romford and Takeley, and then on Saturday afternoon I was over at The Drive to see Frenford do battle against Hullbridge Sports, the other matches that did beat the freeze was at Parsloes where Athletic Newham hosted Little Oakley & at Burroughs Park as White Ensign took on Barking, I will bring you a brief look at those games later on. Kudos to the ground staff in Wakering though for getting that game on as it was the only one on grass that took place all weekend in the division.

But for now it's the two games I attended, starting with Friday night's match up at Mayesbrook Park:-

Friday January 3rd

Romford Vs Takeley

Hosts Romford needed to grab a win and get themselves closer to a play off zone they were part of until recently, they had fallen behind both Saffron Walden Town, who now occupied the final spot in fifth, and Barking who were now in sixth, Romford had fallen to seventh and five points off the top five, so they really did not need any more slip ups from now till the end of the season.

They were welcoming a Takeley side though who were unbeaten in twelve league games, picking up 32 out of a possible 36 since they lost at Buckhurst Hill back on September 28th, a remarkable run which has seen them right in the mix for promotion, and if they won this game they would overhaul Woodford Town in second spot and go only three points behind leaders Stanway Rovers, they were very much in the title race as it stood, and even more so if they won.

Well, it was the hosts who managed to get themselves in front just before the half hour mark, Toheeb Elegushi doing good work down the right before sending in a cross that seemed to take a nick on the way through to Kennedy Feyi who saw the ball pretty much hit him and end up in the net, maybe that was a bit harsh to say, but he managed to direct the ball into the net from close range anyway so he did well in that sense, and Romford had a slender advantage.

However, Takeley are not on a long unbeaten run for no reason, and they managed to fight back just before the break when a long throw from Kaiden Imbert Thomas caused problems in the hosts backline, and the ball managed to find it's way to the back post where Alfie Attrill was on hand to convert and see the sides go in level at the break and the match very much in the balance.

Romford though were the ones to grab the next goal in the contest and restore their lead as a corner somehow found it's way across the six yard box, and through a crowded area, and find Feyi at the back post to nod home, and they could easily have added to their lead but saw a couple of efforts fly just over the crossbar, meaning Takeley were still in the contest.

Attrill probably should have grabbed his second of the game and level for the visitors but somehow headed wide from close range, and then Romford keeper Qamil Dervishaj made a superb double save to keep the visitors out as they desperately searched for a leveller to preserve their unbeaten run.

Takeley were certainly finishing the game strongly and were applying a lot of pressure on the hosts back line, however, deep into stoppage time it was to go wrong for the visitors as the game ended in a sour note, the ball came out to full back Coby Miles who mis controlled the ball and allowed the hosts to pinch it off him, he went down claiming a foul (it definitely wasn't a foul) and with visiting keeper James Bransgrove at the wrong end of the field trying to help his side equalize, Jake Gordon picked up the ball and after running up the other end of the field, he rolled the ball into the empty net to seal victory for the hosts.

Takeley were furious with referee Tony King, in particular Lewis Powell and Miles, Powell was given a straight red as Romford celebrated for dissent, and Miles, who had seemingly lost his head, was also dismissed for dissent aimed at the referee meaning they would end the game with nine men and their unbeaten record up in smoke too.

It was only Takeley's third defeat all season in the league, they remain third and six points behind the leaders, but still well set inside the top five despite this disappointing evening, for Romford they went up to sixth ahead of Barking and only two points behind fifth placed Walden, so they are still right in the mix for the play offs right now, especially after this brilliant result against one of the in form sides too.

Full time Romford 3 Takeley 1

So, onto Saturday then, and The Drive were Frenford took on Hullbridge Sports:-

Saturday January 4th

Frenford Vs Hullbridge Sports

Hosts Frenford were looking to build on a recent run of two unbeaten, and they had given promotion chasing Woodford Town, a team they beat at home at the end of September, a good run for their money on the road at Ashton's prior to those two draws, both at home, against Halstead Town and West Essex.

However, that home win against Woodford Town (I was at that one too btw lol) was the only home win Frenford had managed so far this season, they were a much better side away from home, so maybe Hullbridge could take heart from this and maybe grab the points here, although their last away outing had resulted in defeat to White Ensign, that off the back of two wins in a row, points they definitely needed to get themselves further away from the dangerzone.

The hosts were themselves looking to get closer to a top ten position, starting the afternoon in 12th and only a point off that top ten dream, an amazing achievement for a club punching above their weight for sure, although despite the visitors struggles this season, the 16th placed side could actually go joint tenth with a win if results went their way, it certainly was a tight bottom half.

But, by half time the game looked as good as done as Frenford, maybe because I was there again (joking obviously) found themselves three goals up at the break and heading towards only their second home win of the campaign, they grabbed a sixth minute lead when Sam Ince found the bottom corner from inside the box, and then ten minutes before half time doubled that lead when superb play down the left from Warren Kayembe saw him get the ball across to the far post where Nicolas Soloman applied a decent finish.

And then in first half stoppage time Frenford added a third goal when the brilliant Ince fired an effort at goal and although Bridge defender Jack Nolde tried to keep the effort out, he could only help the ball into the net with his head, and Frenford were in total control and surely cruising to the points no?

Well, the opening exchanges of the second period certainly suggested otherwise, Sports pulling one back barely two minutes after the break when a cross saw Iziah Antoine stretch to send an effort beyond hosts keeper Kasey Clark, and then minutes later the hosts were down to ten men after a ridiculous challenge from substitute Wilton Domingos saw him receive a second yellow and his marching orders.

Hullbridge sensed a way back into the contest and came close to reducing the arrears on more than one occasion as Frenford were hanging on somewhat to that two goal lead, Clark tipped a header onto the bar and over on one occasion to keep his side two goals ahead, but once Frenford had calmed that particular storm they knew that time was against their opponents to try and find a way back into the contest.

With around ten minutes of the ninety to go Hullbridge won a free kick inside the Frenford half, the visitors were upset with the challenge and Callum Knowlden expressed a bit to much towards the referee who duly sin binned the visiting player, much to his benches and team mates dismay, they were not happy with him at all and meant the game would pretty much end ten vs ten, taking away that advantage.

And whilst the visitors were coming to terms with that, Frenford sealed the points in the 82nd minute when they added a fourth goal as after an effort was saved by visiting keeper Laurence Whymark, he could only parry into the path of Elton Tetty who applied the finishing touch and end any hopes Hullbridge had of an unlikely comeback.

A rare win at home then for Frenford, and it takes them up one place to 11th, one point behind tenth placed Athletic Newham (who also won today) and in a very comfortable position in the table, whereas for Hullbridge it's back to back losses as they stay in 16th, ten points above bottom side FC Clacton and six points off the top ten.

Full time Frenford 4 Hullbridge Sports 1

Right, let's have a brief look at the two other games that went ahead this weekend:-

Athletic Newham 4 Little Oakley 0

A second half onslaught from Athletic Newham saw them record a comfortable win over Little Oakley at Parsloes, a goalless first half was played out before the hosts grabbed a 53rd minute lead through Hassan Saleh-Togba, and the same man doubled the home sides lead in the 77th minute before late strikes from Julian Sarmiento-Ramirez & Victor Ferrini added more gloss to the scoreline and saw the hosts remain in the top ten of the division.

White Ensign 2 Barking 0

Ensign continued their superb season so far after they saw off play off chasing Barking at Burroughs Park, Jon Evans gave the hosts the lead from the spot on the half hour mark and a Nathan Wilson goal ten minutes after half time doubled their lead and it was more than enough to take all three points, maintaining their ninth placed position in the table, whereas Barking slip to seventh after the weekend and are now three points off Walden in fifth.

Let's now take a look at the table after this weekend:-

Ensign, Athletic Newham & Frenford all maintained positions in mid table, Frenford did actually go up a place after Oakley lost, Sports remained in 16th as said after their loss at Frenford, Barking failed to close the gap to Walden after they lost at Ensign.

Only seven points covers the top four, so that could be a real tussle for number one spot and automatic promotion, whoever loses out on top spot though will most likely make the play offs, with the final spot likely to be fought out between Walden, Romford & Barking, but we will see if anyone below them can make a run in the final months of the campaign, who knows.

FC Clacton have five points to make up if they are to survive, however off the field problems may also hinder them going forward, let's hope things work out for them off the field, as if they can pick up a couple of wins, the ones above will start to become a bit nervous for sure, only time will tell how all that will pan out.

Anyway that's this blog done and dusted, hope you've enjoyed reading, any comments are welcome of course, good or bad, and I do appreciate you reading them too, I really do, thank you.....

Chelmsford City 1 Aveley 0 - An Osman Foyo first half header helps see Chelmsford City to all three points against Essex rivals Aveley in their Vanarama National League South contest at Melbourne Stadium

Vanarama National League South, Wednesday January 1

My first game of 2025 saw me over at an Essex Derby in Chelmsford as a very wet Melbourne Stadium hosted Chelmsford City's home clash with Aveley with both sides looking to get their new year's off to a good start.

The visitors needed the points more if truth be told, they were in the bottom four of the division and eight points from safety with half their league games gone, second season syndrome had certainly hit the Millers in the second tier of non league after making the play offs last season, and they had a lot of work to do in the coming months if they wanted to stay at this level for another season.

They were up against a Chelmsford side who themselves were not hitting their heights this campaign, a very disappointing campaign so far so them down in 14th spot and kind of in no mans land right now, quite a few points above the drop zone but quite a way away from those play off spots too, which they are normally accustomed to being around.

A crowd of 868, with a small contingent from Aveley, braved the elements to come and see if their sides could pull off a good result on the opening day of the new year, any doubts about whether the game would be on were never really a worry as the pitch was playing very well despite all the rain that had fallen since late morning, a testament to the groundsman for that!!!

Could the sides put on a show for the ones who had come out to watch? Well, City should have netted early on in the piece as Osman Foyo's cutback found Critclow who looked odds on to score but instead fired his effort straight at keeper Holden, Aveley responded with a decent chance of their own midway through the half when Anifowose flashed a ball across the six yard box but nobody could get on the end of it.

Chances though were few and far between as both sides struggled with the conditions, City created another decent effort ten minutes before half time when Sam Oguntayo floated ball into the box found Jake Hyde, but his header was straight at Holden, had it been either side of the keeper then City could well have gone ahead, however in the 39th minute the hosts were to edge ahead.

The Clarets won a free kick near the corner flag on the right hand side, and Oguntayo's cross found Foyo who nodded a lovely header back across goal and into the far corner, giving the home fans something to cheer in a half that had been largely frustrating for them.  It was a half that would end with them holding a slender lead though.

Aveley would have been annoyed at the way they conceded the goal as well, they were still right in this contest though and knew if they could find the next goal then it was anyone's game still, they certainly pushed the hosts back a bit in the early exchanges of the second period although they failed to really test Collins in the Chelmsford net, something that would have disappointed them too.

And they were lucky not to have fallen further behind with just over twenty minutes remaining when a counter attack saw Crichlow sent through on goal, but he could only slot wide of the post, and then Aveley had two golden chances to level, Bin-Semekula's free kick from the left wing glanced off the top of the bar, and then Coleman De-Graft somehow sent an effort wide from a few yards out, a hands in hand moment for sure.

Aveley sensed though the nerves in the hosts ranks, City needed a second goal you felt and they thought they had it in the 82nd minute when a quickly taken free kick from Donaldson was converted from close range by Charlie Ruff, however the referee called play back, much to the annoyance of the home crowd and bench, it was tense.

City then had another chance to seal the points in the 87th minute but fluffed their lines again, Ruff finding Hyde inside the box but they took too long and allowed a defender to get back to block, could Aveley punish their opponents for not sealing the deal, well sadly for them, no as this game would end up being settled by that late first half header by Foyo.

Not the greatest of games if truth be told, but Chelmsford wouldn't care about that, it's three points and a clean sheet to start 2025, even if it was a bit of a grind at times, for Aveley it's another disappointing loss, they had their chances but failed to hit the target, and defeat means they remain eight points from safety with twenty two games to go.

Full time Chelmsford City 1 Aveley 0

 

There was plenty of other games in the division on New Years Day so shall we see what happened and how it affects the table:-

Considering the poor weather only two games failed to take place/finish, Hampton & Richmond's home game with Dorking Wanderers was postponed whilst Hornchurch's home game with Tonbridge Angels was abandoned at 1-1 in the 37th minute due to waterlogging, all other games went ahead and finished.

League leaders Torquay edged their derby game against Truro to remain a point clear at the top whilst second placed Boreham Wood thrashed mid table Slough to remain a point behind the leaders, Maidstone edged struggling Welling to remain in third, whilst two play off sides clashed down in Sussex as Worthing and Eastbourne Borough shared a goalless draw.

Their was a big bottom two clash at St Albans as the hosts, who came into this one a point behind second bottom Enfield Town, netted a 2-1 win to leapfrog them, Weymouth and Aveley into fourth bottom spot, although they are still seven points from safety despite this, Weymouth did pick up a point themselves against Salisbury, but the four in those relegation positions are still in a precarious position as we enter the new year.

Anyway, that's my first blog of 2025 done and dusted, thanks for reading, here is to many more during the year!!!