Bowers & Pitsea 1 Chelmsford City 1 (Chelmsford City won 5-4 on penalties) - City through to Quarter Finals of BBC Essex Senior Cup after shootout success, Great Wakering Rovers, Hornchurch, Billericay Town, Maldon & Tiptree & Tilbury also through to complete Quarter Final line up

BBC Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round, Tuesday 18th November

I was over at The Len Salmon Stadium on the penultimate Tuesday evening in November to watch one of the six Fourth Round ties in the BBC Essex Senior Cup as fourteen sides looked to progress and join Aveley & Hashtag United in the Quarter Finals of the competition, those two booked their place in the Last Eight last week & the Quarter Final line up would be finalised on this evening.

More on the other five ties later, but for now let's concentrate on the tie between Bowers & Pitsea & Chelmsford City, one of the home sides coaches, Dan Blewett, had asked me to come over and watch so of course I agreed to this and it was nice to see him again after some time, and it was nice to get back over to watch a Bowers side who were not doing so badly this term, sitting seventh in the Isthmian North, six points outside the play off places.

They were though going to be severely tested in this County Cup tie against a Chelmsford City side who were climbing that National League South table and embarking on a very successful FA Cup run too, they are currently sitting ninth in the second tier of Non League and only one point outside the play off zone, so with them playing well right now and two levels above their opponents this evening, most thought that the visitors would get the job done.

The visitors had also gone pretty strong too, starting with six first team players and pretty much the side who had exited the FA Trophy on penalties against Hemel Hempstead at the weekend, so they were certainly not taking it lightly, and unsurprisingly it was the visitors who dominated the ball in the first half and had the bulk of the play, Bowers to their credit though did battle well and stand up to their opponents, but they were powerless to prevent a cracking opening goal ten minutes before half time when Archie Tamplin rifled home a superb strike from outside the box, and the visitors went into the break a goal to the good.

Despite City's domination of possession and play, they only had one goal to show for it, Bowers did show some flashes of attacking play in that first period and were very much still in the contest, and as the half went on and the score line remained the same, the hosts were always still well in the contest, both sides made changes, the visitors bringing on some younger players to give them some experience of first team football and a useful run out, but whether of not this helped the hosts gain more confidence as the half went on who knows, but they were beginning to threaten.

And with twelve minutes left, they found a leveller, Elvis Tettey received the ball on the left hand side and he cut inside onto that left foot of his before firing a lovely effort into the bottom corner, and the game was now for the taking with just over ten minutes to go, could one of the sides claim a late winner and prevent the tie going to penalties?

Bowers finished the game strongly and could easily have won it, but they had to remain wary of throwing too many players and not get caught on the break by a dangerous visiting attack, however, with neither side managing to find a winner, the contest did indeed need spot kicks to see who would prevail and send themselves into the Quarter Finals.

The hosts went first and saw their spot kick saved, not the ideal start, and with the remaining penalties scored by both sides it left the visitors with a match point with their fifth penalty, they duly dispatched this and so it was the National League South outfit who took their place in the next round, although well done to Bowers on such a good showing against a very decent outfit indeed.

Full time Bowers & Pitsea 1 Chelmsford City 1 (Chelmsford City won 5-4 on penalties)

So, well done to Chelmsford City on progressing, who else would join them, Aveley & Hashtag United in the Last Eight, let's find out:-

Great Wakering Rovers 3 Heybridge Swifts 0 (Essex Senior League side Great Wakering Rovers saw off Isthmian North Swifts to take their place in the last eight of the competition, Shaun Gittleson's 16th minute goal had the hosts a goal up at the break and second half goals from Harrison Topliss & and own goal from Joshua Parker completed a superb evening for the home side)

Hornchurch 4 Grays Athletic 0 (National League South leaders Hornchurch saw off Isthmian North Grays at Bridge Avenue to progress, Myles Weston gave the hosts a 26th minute lead before they doubled that lead early in the second period through Charlie Ruff.  A George Marsh own goal soon after that made it three for the home side and the scoring was completed with just under fifteen minutes to go when Darren McQueen netted for The Urchins)

Little Oakley 1 Billericay Town 2 (Isthmian Premier Billericay were made to work hard by high flying Essex Senior League side Oakley to take their place in the final eight of the competition, Ollie Parsons netted late in the first half to give Town the lead before Liam Nash doubled their advantage twelve minutes after the break. Oakley did saw Louis Arnold pull one back late on but it wasn't enough to prevent The Blues from progressing)

Brentwood Town 0 Maldon & Tiptree 3 (Isthmian North high flyers Maldon & Tiptree stunned high flying Isthmian Premier Brentwood to win through to the next stage of the competition. Macauley Bonne gave the visitors the lead on the quarter hour mark before Courtney Senior doubled their lead five minutes before half time, and they sealed their passage into the next round when Terrell Egbri netted a third early in the second period)

Tilbury 1 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (Kieran Jones 22nd minute goal proved enough for Isthmian North Tilbury to see off Essex Senior League side Harwich & Parkeston to take their place in the Quarter Finals of the competition)

There you have it then, the final eight sides left in the competition are as follows:-

Aveley (Isthmian Premier)

Billericay Town (Isthmian Premier)

Chelmsford City (National League South)

Great Wakering Rovers (Essex Senior League)

Hashtag United (Isthmian Premier)

Hornchurch (National League South)

Maldon & Tiptree (Isthmian North)

Tilbury (Isthmian North) 

Well done to all the sides above, the draw will be made soon for the Quarter Finals.  That completes my latest blog, hope you enjoyed!!!

Old Southendian 2 Old Chelmsfordians 3 / Old Southendian A 1 BKS Sports Reserves 8 - OCs win five goal thriller in Essex Olympian Premier, whilst Lucas Phillips nets six as BKS smash eight in BBC Essex Saturday Junior Cup

Saturday November 15th

I was over at Garon Park today for a double header of football on a dank cold misty mid November afternoon, there was a big clash in the EOFL Premier Division as Old Southendian hosted last years champions Old Chelmsfordians, who snatched the title away from their hosts in the process last season, and then their was an Essex Saturday Junior Cup tie between Old Southendian's A side and BKS Sports Reserves, so an action packed afternoon was in store.

First up was that EOFL Premier tussle, let's see how that went:-

Essex Olympian Premier Division

Old Southendian Vs Old Chelmsfordians

It had been a mixed bag for the hosts this season compared to the last two at least, they sat sixth in the division having only won five of their ten league games thus far, but only losing two in the flip side, OCs, who were the current champions of the division were having a better season having won seven of their thirteen matches and only losing a couple, although they were eleven points behind leaders Catholic who are threatening to run away with the division as it stood.

They were the leaders closest challengers mind along with Corinthians & Shenfield AFC, so the visitors knew they needed to keep winning and hope Catholic would lose a few, OS on the other hand were miles off the pace and defeat today and defeat today would see them fall further off the top places, somewhere they have occupied for the last two seasons at least, and also they were keen to get one over there opponents who miraculously stole the title from under their noses last season.

It started well for the hosts as well, nine minutes were on the clock when they were gifted the lead, a stray pass from the visitors sent Reece Munro clean through on goal, and he applied a lovely finish past visiting keeper Taylor Ellis to give the hosts a decent start, and hope of a decent win over their opponents, but in the 26th minute the visitors were to restore parity when a lovely strike from range by Joe Murphy saw hosts keeper Max Seymour get finger tips to it but only push it onto the bar and in, 1-1.

The visitors were now in the ascendancy and turned the match around six minutes before the break when a nice ball from Connor Jones found Jonny Waskett who provided a decent finish across keeper Seymour into the far corner, Jones did look offside from the original ball to him but this wasn't given and the visitors now had the lead.

Things might have been different had visiting keeper Ellis not produced three brilliant saves in the first period, the latter one of those the best of the lot when he somehow tipped a deflected effort from Nathan Elgie wide of the post, but the visitors after a slow start had improved and were good value for their slender lead at half time, could the hosts fight back and try and win this one, or could the visitors stamp more authority on the contest after the break.

Well, the second half was only six minutes old when OCs increased their lead, it was sloppy from the hosts too, caught out by a quick free kick over the top allowing Josh Brown to fire across Seymour and into the far corner, and now the hosts had a mountain to climb, although it was a mountain they certainly did their best to scale, that's for sure.

OCs did hit the bar from close range but despite this most of the pressure came from the home side as they pushed their opponents back, the visitors showed their grit and determination to keep them at bay, that was until the 63rd minute when Mitch Ali sent in a cross for Jordan Faulkner to apply a looping headed finish perfectly beyond Ellis, it was certainly game on, could the hosts find another?

They certainly tried but failed to find that killer moment, OCs did play on the counter and look dangerous, it was a superb game of football from start to finish, a game decided by 'moments' which is often the case in these battles, OCs though managed to hold on and secure a big win, a win that takes them into second spot, albeit still eleven points behind the leaders.

For the hosts it was a disappointing loss, they could easily have grabbed something from it, but defeat sees them slip down to eighth now and ten points off OCs and a massive twenty one off the leaders, it appears the cups, especially the Premier Cup, will be there best shot at success this season, but they certainly played their part in a wonderful contest, one that was very enjoyable to watch and cover.

Full time Old Southendian 2 Old Chelmsfordians 3

    

So, a superb first game of the day, as expected, how would Part Deux go, let's find out, there wasn't a lot of time between games so it sure was a quick turnaround!!!

BBC Essex Saturday Junior Cup 2nd Round

Old Southendian A Vs BKS Sports Reserves

This pitted EOFL Division Four South East Vs Division Three South East, OS's A side were not having the best season, sitting second bottom having only grabbed five points in nine games, and they were up against a BKS side who were a level above and also having a decent season too, sitting fourth in their division and only five points off the leaders.

Therefore you expected a comfortable away win although this isn't always the case when a higher level opponent plays someone from a lower level, however, on this occasion it was certainly to go the way of the higher league visitors, who grabbed a 17th minute lead when a long ball saw striker Lucas Phillips run onto it and round the on rushing keeper and calmly slot home, this was to be theme of the afternoon as well for the visiting striker who was to certainly fill his boots as the day went on.

Phillips was on hand to double the visitors lead just past the midway point of the first half, it was a typical poachers goal too, prodding home at the back post after the hosts could not clear their lines, and then seven minutes before half time it was three for BKS when Lewis Judge managed to burst into the box before producing a finish under the keeper, and as expected the visiting side went into the break in total control of this cup tie.

And then came a fifteen minute spell after half time that was truly remarkable and saw the visitors totally dismantle their opponents, in the 48th minute Phillips completed his hat trick by nipping in to round the keeper once again and slot home whilst off balance, and then two minutes later another clinical finish from that man Phillips made it five for BKS and four from the striker.

Another two minutes went by before BKS made it three goals in five minutes, Jamie Chapman, who actually ran the line in the first half (club linos of course) for BKS, came on as a sub at half time and netted their sixth, firing across the keeper into the far corner, and then it was seven just past the hour mark when you know who grabbed his fifth of the contest when firing emphatically across the keeper into the far corner.

And in the 63rd minute it was eight for BKS, Phillips once again firing a powerful, and clinical, finish beyond the keeper into the bottom corner, he has six and BKS had eight and there was still twenty seven minutes left, you really did feel for the hosts and feared for them, as at this stage BKS looked likely to reach double figures as this had turned very ugly for the home side.

To OS's credit though they actually then played some decent football thereafter and kept on going despite that horror spell after half time, and they were rewarded by grabbing a late consolation in the 87th minute when Spencer Ali, son of first team manager Altan, struck a powerful effort from outside the box which deflected home to at least see them end the contest on a positive note.

They had been well beaten though and it was BKS who cruised into the next round of the competition, Round Three, where they face another away trip, this time to Fleet, who ironically knocked out BKS Sports first team today, so a very weird occurrence where a side welcome a first team and then a reserve team of the same club in consecutive rounds, mad eh!!!

Full time Old Southendian A 1 BKS Sports Reserves 8

Not a good day for Old Southendian then, both teams losing to their respective opponents, but congratulations to both Old Chelmsfordians & BKS Sports Reserves on their wins, it was a very enjoyable day indeed, even if it was tad cold by the end of it!!!

That concludes today's blog, thanks again for reading, it's always appreciated!!!

 

Rayleigh Town 5 Cannons Wood 0 - Rayleigh Town net another five in the Thurlow Nunn South as they saw off ten man Cannons Wood to move ever closer to the play off spots, there were also wins for Coggeshall Town, Burnham Ramblers, Newbury Forest, Southend Manor & Hutton

Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Saturday 8th November

 It was the turn of Step Six and the Thurlow Nunn South for my coverage in the second weekend of November, and it pitted play off chasing Rayleigh Town against a Cannons Wood side who were trying to get themselves away from the danger zone at the bottom of the division, and it certainly was an intriguing contest and one that had the potential to produce plenty of goal mouth action.

The hosts came into this contest off the back of a 7-0 demolition of AS London last weekend, a result that saw AS London boss Frankie Sinclair stand down as manager, so Rayleigh were looking to continue that form into this game against a Cannons Wood side who started the day two points above the drop zone but had netted eight goals in their last two games, both away from home, and had picked up four points too.

Town started the day six points off the top five but found it tough going in the first half against a dangerous visiting attack, and on nine minutes Wood had the chance to go in front when they were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box, however, Emmanuel Osilaja saw his spot kick saved by Josh Hudson, who got down well to his right to tip the ball away, a golden chance spurned by the visitors, and one Rayleigh capitalised on.

That is because after eighteen minutes had elapsed, Rayleigh took the lead, a decent ball in from the right by Louie Watkins found Tommy Sykes who glanced a wonderful header into the far corner, giving visiting keeper Sam Heard no chance whatsoever, and the hosts had a fortunate lead if truth be told based on the balance of play, Wood were certainly having the better of it and even saw a looping header find the net too, but this chalked off for offside.

The booming voice of hosts boss Rob Hodgson was regularly heard from the dugout, he was less than impressed with their performance in the opening half, but it was to end on a very positive note for them when they doubled their lead in first half stoppage time, skipper Ben Baxter sending a cross into the area, finding Kofi Goodrum totally unmarked to squeeze an effort beyond Heard, and Rayleigh would go into the break 2-0 up despite being way off their normal standards, and the visitors would have probably wondered how they were two goals behind.

However, it soon became apparent whatever Hodgson had said in the dressing room at half time certainly raised his sides levels, and twelve minutes into the second period came the home sides third, a ball over the the far side of the six yard box saw centre half Matt Bumpus send a looping header back towards the goal, it went over keeper Heard and full back Damien Siemienczuk was on hand to turn home from pretty much on the goal line, no one really knew who had scored it as no one was sure if the original header from Bumpus had gone over the line prior to Siemienczuk touching it home, but whatever happened, it was a three goal cushion for the home side.

A few minutes later and things went from bad to worse for the visitors, Siemienczuk was involved again but in a flashpoint which ended up with him being booked and visiting player Keanu Hill being sent off, although I wasn't sure he was even involved in the flashpoint, but anyway, he was giving marching orders and soon after that, in the 64th minute, Rayleigh all but ended the contest by adding a fourth when Watkins managed to convert from close range.

To Cannons Wood credit that kept going and tried to find a consolation goal, but they just were not destined to find the net in this one, and if truth be told Rayleigh could and should have added more in the second period, they were much more improved from the first half and were certainly the better side in the second forty five minutes, and they were to cap a good afternoon with a fifth goal in stoppage time.

This was after they were awarded a penalty for a foul inside the box, and substitute Dylan Jones duly stepped to thump the spot kick past Heard and make it 5-0, a score line you didn't really see coming at half time, but that's twelve goals without reply in two games now for the home side which does wonders for their goal difference!!! No doubt Hodgson and co would have been happy at how their side improved after the break.

It was an afternoon to forget in the end for Cannons Wood although they certainly showed why they have been scoring goals of late and can certainly take positives from that first half display especially, but it's keeping them out at the other end which they will need to address, but they showed enough today to suggest they can win games going forward and climb away from the bottom three.

Full time Rayleigh Town 5 Cannons Wood 0

Right, lets see what else happened this weekend in the division, and how it effects all the sides in the table:-

Barkingside 1-4 Coggeshall Town (Friday) (Josh Ambrose, James Long, Todd Hollocks & Joe Borein were all on target for visitors Coggeshall as they continued their fine form with a comfortable victory at Cricklefield, it leaves the visitors three points off the top five whereas Barkingside remain second bottom and two points from safety)

Burnham Ramblers 3-1 May & Baker (Stuart Zanone, Tom Franks & Oli Wells all netted for Ranblers as they saw off ten man Bakers at Leslie Field, Ramblers are in ninth and five points off the top five, Bakers poor away form continues as they are now down in 15th)

Clapton Community 2-2 FC Baresi (Clapton Community fought back from two goals down at the break to earn a point in this one, goals from Sertan Kirman & Kuba Ollivierre had Baresi two goals up but second half goals from Fred Taylor & Lewis Owiredu made sure the game ended all square.  Clapton Community remain in the play off zone, Baresi are down in 12th)

FC Romania 2-2 NW London (NW London fought back from a two goal deficit at half time to earn a point, Ekow Amaquandoh & Samir Sedaoui both netted to put the hosts 2-0 up at the break, but the visitors fought back to earn a share of the spoils, leaving FCR three points above the drop zone and the visitors in tenth)

Hoddesdon Town 2-2 Brimsdown (Bailey Eden's 94th minute leveller salvaged a point for bottom side Hoddy, the hosts did lead through Blue Gallagher but then saw Matas Machovas & Max Montgomery score to put the visitors ahead, however, Eden's late goal made sure Hoddy extended their unbeaten run to three games, and denied Brimsdown an important three points as they remain in fourth)

Newbury Forest 5-0 Enfield Borough (League leaders Forest thrashed Enfield Borough for the second time in less than a week, Eben Mbona netted a brace & there were further goals for Tarique Jones, Prince-Manuel Commodore & Reon Reid as the hosts are eight points clear at the top, whereas Borough remain in the bottom three)

Southend Manor 3-0 Dunmow Town (Despite all the dramas at Southchurch Park this week, Manor pulled off a superb win against Dunmow Town thanks to goals from Ole Richards, Ruben Philip & Jude Morgan to take them six point above the bottom three and only three points behind their opponents now who are in 13th)

Stansted 1-3 Hutton (Hutton are up to second after they netted victory at Hargrave Park against fellow promotion chasers Stansted, Hutton lead 2-0 at the break and although Freddie O'Brien pulled one back late on, a stoppage time goal from the visitors sealed the win and leaves The Airportmen in eighth and five points off the play off zone now)

That completes my blog from the Thurlow Nunn South today, hope you enjoyed reading and many thanks for taking the time to read it, it's very much appreciated!!!

Buckhurst Hill 4 Benfleet 1 - A Harry Lusher brace plus strikes from Tyler Dolan & Dimitri Nicolaou hand Buckhurst Hill victory over Benfleet in their Essex Senior League contest at Roding Lane

Essex Senior League, Saturday 1st November

On the first day of November I headed over to Roding Lane in Buckhurst Hill to check out Hill against a Benfleet side who were punching well above their weight this campaign and were harbouring hopes of an outside chance of getting into the play off hunt, especially if results went their way this weekend and they grabbed a positive result here.

They sat in ninth spot at kick off and just the five points off the top five and were up against a Buckhurst Hill side who were down in 15th spot and some eight points behind their opponents although the ones in the know, know, that the hosts are a much better side than the table suggests and would certainly give Benfleet a good competitive game on their own patch.

Well, nobody predicted the start of this one, as the hosts found themselves three goals up inside ten minutes, after a bonkers start which saw the visitors defend in a totally uncharacteristic way, the game was around fifty seconds old when the first goal went in, Harry Lusher pouncing on some really shoddy defending to allow him to get in to slot past Flo Gislette, and the game was barely three minutes old when Lusher fired a superb effort across goal into the far corner, 2-0 and Benfleet didn't know what had hit them.

And when Tyler Dolan strolled behind a static Benfleet backline to finish beyond Gislette for 3-0 after just eight minutes, the visitors were just totally bemused with their start and we were all bemused at how this game had begun, nobody saw it coming but already the visitors had a fairly large mountain to scale, at least the game was only eight minutes old, but it didn't get any better for the visitors when Hill added another just past the half hour mark.

It came when after excellent work by Dolan down the right, his ball in saw Dimitri Nicolaou run onto the ball to send a first time effort thundering past Gislette and into the visitors net, 4-0 after 32 minutes, wowsers, but fair play to Benfleet, they soon had a goal back to at least have one positive of the first period, it was excellent work from Toby Dickinson down the left, and he stretched out to send the ball across the box for Max Jobson to fire home past Christian North, 4-1, that is how it remained till half time meaning Hill still had a three goal cushion heading into the dressing and leaving us all to having a breather after a rather mad first forty five minutes.

What would we get in the second period? It was a much more competitive second half that's for sure, and in fact Benfleet were much better in the second half and at times did put their opponents under pressure, had they got a second goal back quickly enough it may have made a difference you never know, but they just could not test keeper North that much despite this, and in fact as the half went on it was visiting keeper Gislette who prevented further goals from the hosts, making some decent stops.

It was a strange one though, the opening half hour really decided this game, and if Benfleet hadn't started so slowly they may well have got something out of the game, but kudos to Buckhurst Hill who played brilliantly in that first half, especially the opening half hour, and as a result run out 4-1 winners to give their season a boost, Benfleet's afternoon didn't end well either when they saw Billy Purdy sent off for a poor challenge deep into added on time to end the game with ten men.

It took the hosts up a place to 14th and only five points off now tenth placed Fleet, who themselves are still only six points off the playoffs but will no doubt have an enquiry into how they started the game, it was very unlike them indeed, but Hill punished them to the full for that slow start so should be applauded for that.

Full time Buckhurst Hill 4 Benfleet 1

Right, that wasn't the only action in the ESL this weekend, their were nine other games that took place, starting on Friday night, let's see what happened in those games shall we:-

Friday

Hackney Wick 1 Halstead Town 3 (The Humbugs got back to winning ways with a superb win at Spa Road against Hackney Wick, Kane Gilbert's 15th minute penalty put the visitors ahead before Joel Older netted just past the half hour mark to make it two. Leo Lopate redcued the arrears just before half time, but Halstead saw Older grab a second mid way through the second period)

Saturday

Barking 1 Romford 3 (Romford stunned landlords Barking and ended their 100% home record with a superb win at Mayesbrook, Christian Adu Gyamfi handed the visitors the lead on eleven minutes before Flynn Hamilton doubled their lead midway through the first half. Tyreece Robertson reduced the arrears ten minutes after the break to give Barking hope, but a 99th minute goal from Kevin Musimami sealed a morale boosting win for Romford)

Frenford 1 Basildon United 2 (The Bees continued their good recent revival after they heaped more misery on bottom side Frenford at The Drive, Jadon Yamoah gave Bas the lead on 22 minutes before Kegan Caull netted a second for the visitors twelve minutes after the break. Jake Barlow did give the hosts brief hope when netting in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for the hosts as Bas grabbed all the spoils)

Hullbridge Sports 1 Athletic Newham 5 (In the big game towards the bottom of the division, Athletic Newham netted five as they recorded a big win against Hullbridge at Lower Road. Kevin Akpoedafe netted after just three minutes to give the visitors the lead before Akiljo Balliu added another on the half hour, Billy Willis did immediately reduced the arrears but George Rankin added a third for the visitors just before the break. Carter Ford then added another before half time to send his side into the break 4-1 up, before Bridge were reduced to ten men when substitute Billy Boag was dismissed with thirteen minutes to go, and a late goal from skipper Jonathan Ogunsanya completed the rout)

Little Oakley 1 Sporting Bengal United 0 (Match abandoned at half time due to floodlight failure) (The match at The War Memorial was abandoned at half time with Oakley 1-0 up after the lights failed, Louie Arnold's seventh minute goal had the hosts ahead, but they will both have to go again after this one could not finish)

Soul Tower Hamlets 2 Great Wakering Rovers 0 (League Leaders Soul continued their great season and bounced back from defeat to see off Great Wakering Rovers at Mile End, Shomari Barnwell handed the hosts a 3rd minute lead before Georges Kebi added a second early in the second half to hand the hosts a ninth league win of the campaign)

West Essex 1 Saffron Walden Town 1 (Struggling West were moments from recording a huge win against in form Walden but conceded late on, Reece Simpson gave West a 16th minute lead and this looked like enough to record victory, that was until goal machine Kaleel Green netted three minutes into added on time at the end of the game to salvage a point for the visitors) 

White Ensign 1 Ilford 4 (The Foxes continued their excellent league form from October to record a thumping win against White Ensign at Burroughs Park, Daniel Izekor netted the opener on 17 minutes before adding a second eight minutes later, Joel Appiah then made it three in the 39th minute before Maksym Trush made it 4-0 early in the second period.  Daniel Guy was then sent off late on for the hosts before they did add a late goal through George Godfrey, but Ilford were home and hosed well before then)

Woodford Town 3 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (Woodford Town kept up the pressure on the league leaders after they netted a home win, David Gokou-Siakouri gave the hosts the lead mdiway through the first period, before he netted again five minutes before the break, and Marko Protic then added another six minutes into the second half to seal the points)

Let's have a look at the updated table following this weekend's results:-

Soul Tower Hamlets have a three point lead at the summit after they bounced back today, that is ahead of Woodford & Halstead who both won this weekend too, all the other teams below them failed to win but it is still really tight at the top, Ilford are now up to eighth after four wins from five league outings, and only four points off the play offs now.

Athletic Newham's big win at Hullbridge sees them out of the bottom two and up to 17th, the bottom three as it stands now failed to win, Frenford are now four points from safety after they suffered another defeat, four of the bottom half sides won to maintain their positions, with Buckhurst Hill & Romford pulling off rather surprising results against higher placed teams, showing how competitive the league is. Still, only four points separate 14th to 19th, so tight down the bottom as well.

Anyway, that is all for this blog, thanks for reading as always!!!