Burnham Ramblers 1 Harwich & Parkeston 2

Thurlow Nunn League Division One South, Saturday April 16th

I was over at Leslie Field on Easter Saturday to see goals from Declan Kama and Joe Boreham-Knight hand Harwich & Parkeston victory over Burnham Ramblers and severely dent the hosts chances of a playoff spot in the process.

The hosts had occupied the final play off spot in the division and had spent a lot of the season inside that top five, however a devastating 4-2 loss at Halstead Town last time out had seen the Humbugs replace Ramblers in that final spot, but Ramblers knew that a win today of any kind would see them go back above Halstead on goal difference with one game remaining for both on Monday, leaving things in Burnham's hands.

Anything less than that though and Halstead would be in the driving seat going into Monday's season finale in the division, and it would not be an easy task for the hosts today as they were up against a Harwich side who on their day are a match for most in the division, and they had beaten Halstead a few weeks ago too, and came into this contest after ending a run of two losses with a thumping win over Coggeshall United.

Saying all that though the hosts should have been confident enough to get the result they needed here, their form prior to that loss at Halstead was very good, six games unbeaten, five wins and netting ninteen goals in those games too, whereas in the same period Harwich been very up and down, netting big wins against Newbury Forest, Cornard United and Coggeshall United, but suffering heavy losses to Holland, Wivenhoe Town and AFC Sudbury Reserves.

So, would Burnham take control of this encounter and ease the nerves that were apparent around the ground and amongst the home side, well sadly this never really happened and hosts certainly looked nervous and this really affected their performance somewhat, but also the visitors snuffed out most of Ramblers play and really did not allow them to get a foothold on the ball.

And seven minutes before the break disaster for the hosts arrived when Harwich got their noses in front when a cross from the left took a deflection off a defender and was heading towards the far corner, but just before it got their Kama was on hand to help the ball over the line just to make sure and give his side the half time lead.

The hosts cut a very frustrated outfit as they trudged off down the tunnel and into the dresssing room, no doubt a few choice words and frank discussions were had, they needed to find some sort of spark to turn this one around as they needed the three points so desperately, but Harwich had other ideas and continued to put in a very decent showing, frustrating and stifling anything Ramblers wanted to try and achieve.

Things got worse for the hosts with just under fifteen minutes remaining when Levi Griffiths was shown a straight red card after a high challenge which left his opponent with a very swollen left eye, it was certainly a dangerous challenge although clearly not intended so many were surprised to see the red card brandished, but maybe the referee felt he had no choice but it certainly appeared it would not be Ramblers day.

This was confirmed with 89 minutes on the clock when Harwich doubled their money to seal this contest when after a free kick, which by the way should have been awarded the other way in my view, was swung into the box by Steven Polley and found Boreham-Knight to nod a downward header into the corner and cap a fine performance from the visitors.

There were still several minutes of stoppage time to follow though, and six minutes into this Burnham won a penalty after Adebolu Adeyemi was brought down just inside the area, and Samir Ali stepped up to convert the spot kick but sadly for the home side it wad far to little to late, and soon after the referee blew to end proceedings meaning back to back defeats for the hosts at the absolute wrong time of the season.

It all means that Halstead will clinch the final play off spot if they avoid defeat at home to Coggeshall United, whereas Burnham will hope they lose that one and they win at Cornard United on the final day on Monday, it's not over yet as they say but Halstead are favourites to claim it now you would think. Still whatever happens it's been a superb season from the hosts and after a few tough years at the club they are now certainly heading in the right direction once again.

Harwich will welcome newly crowned Champions Ipswich Wanderers to their Royal Oak ground for the final game of the season on Monday, they can certainly build on their last two outings and try and end the season with three straight wins and end the campaign by handing the Champions a rare loss, that's surely something they can aim towards no doubt and finish their season on a high.

Full time Burnham Ramblers 1 Harwich & Parkeston 2

 

Redbridge 1 Little Oakley 1 / Woodford Town 1 Cockfosters 1

Essex Senior League, Good Friday (15th April)

Good Friday of 2022 saw me take in two Essex Senior League contests and saw Redbridge's hopes of the play offs severely dented after a late Oakley penalty, whilst my first visit to Ashton's saw Woodford denied all three points after a stoppage time volley from Cockfosters.

Redbridge 1 Little Oakley 1

Game one of two came from Oakside as 1pm as The Motormen were in search of maximum points in search of that coveted second spot they were now battling Saffron Walden Town for the play off spot they needed to achieve to keep the dream of promotion to the Isthmian League.

The Motormen started the day in third and behind Walden on goal difference, so a win was really a must for the hosts who were on a three match winning streak coming into this one as well with all of those wins being 3-1 and against some big sides like Stansted (who have now dropped out of the race for second), Enfield and then Stanway Rovers.

These two had actually met on the opening day way back in July 2021, and you guessed it, Redbridge won that fixture 3-1, seems to be a rather popular score line doesn't it, and another success of that nature would have done Redbridge no end of good in their pursuit for second, however Oakley have shown this season they are not an easy nut to crack.

They sat in sixth prior to kick off after a more that solid campaign and are one of very few sides to not only beat champions Walthamstow this season but also keep a clean sheet in doing so and that was in the midst of a superb run from January 8th to March 26th where they went on an eleven match unbeaten run of which ten of those were wins, and at that point were certainly dark horses for second.

Two defeats in three since ended those faint hopes, although the one game they did win they stuck eight past a sorry Sporting Bengal United, and they probably should have beaten Walden last time out but after taking the lead saw their lead slip as they fell to a 2-1 loss, so Redbridge would have to be on their guard in this game that was for sure.

Warm conditions and a concrete like surface greeted both sets of players, although the playing surface was looking in good nick for so late in the season, and The Motormen could not have asked for a more ideal start too as they took the lead after just three minutes when after a Tim Ogunrinde effort had been blocked, Michael Pindy was on hand to turn the loose ball home, and Redbridge now had something to build on.

And they really should have built on it too, and probably should have been three or four goals up but could not take the chances that came their way, whilst Oakley did have occasional moments themselves but it was the hosts who were creating the best opportunities, but whilst the game remained at 1-0 it would only take a moment to see that lead evaporate.

Oakley spent a lot of the game frustrated, this was not one of their best performances of the season although Matt Carmichael did say to me before the game they had quite a few players missing for various reasons so this was very much a patch up job for his side, so maybe that had something to do with it, who knows.

It looked like things would get worse for them just before the hour mark when after attacker Mason Lumley had been fouled, he said too much to the referee and was duly sin binned meaning his side would have to play the next ten minutes with a man light, but Redbridge could not take advantage of this and once he came back on and the game got closer to it's conclusion, Oakley started to put more pressure on the hosts who were getting deeper and deeper.

The question was this, could Redbridge hold on or even seal it on the counter, or would Oakley find a late leveller and really harm the hosts play off aspirations? The answer came in the 89th minute when a free kick floated into the box saw Harry Mann adjudged to have been brought down in the box and a penalty awarded (I felt the penalty award was a little soft but you cannot give the referee a decision to make so can see why he gave it as well).

Mann himself picked himself up and slammed the spot kick emphatically into the bottom corner, and Oakley had managed to get out of this one with a point that they probably did not deserve, but they dug in and battled hard and would have been delighted with their efforts and result in the end, and you have to commend them for that.

The Redbridge this was a bitter bitter pill to swallow, it's a game they should have won but did not, and the point really hands the advantage over to Walden now for second place and the play offs, yes the hosts are now second and a point ahead of their rivals, but they have now played a game more and Walden take on relegation threatened Sawbridgeworth Town at Catons Lane on Saturday knowing a win really puts them in the driving seat with a game to go. 

The Motormen will now hope Sawbo can do them a favour in that one, but whatever happens George Christou and his side can be very proud of what they have achieved this campaign, it's been a superb one for sure and far exceeded most peoples expectations.

Full time Redbridge 1 Little Oakley 1

Woodford Town 1 Cockfosters 1

My second game of Good Friday's double header saw me at Ashton's Playing Fields for only my second time, but my first time visiting the main stadium, as the time before I saw a Sunday game on one of the back pitches, and it happened to be Town's last home game of the season as well, so I got here in the nick of time!!!

So what of the ground, I have heard many comments of it being too far away from the pitch, the stand being too low, the noisy supporters being irritating etc etc, well yes the pitch is a little too far from the viewing area, but apart from that I didn't find it too bad, and the support only added to the atmosphere so fair play to them, and the staff in a very nice clubhouse were friendly and the two ciders prior to kick off certainly helped on a warm early evening.

Now when I saw the reverse fixture of this one back on the opening day of the season, Cockfosters dismantled Woodford that day 6-1 although it could easily have been double figures for the rampant hosts, but since then Shane Baptiste and his staff have done a super job of turning things around.

They had managed to reach 51 points so far in their campaign, sitting 15th in the table but miles clear of Ilford one place below them, and only a handful of points away from the top ten, so a very commendable effort from the hosts who many had written off after a terrible start to their campaign.

Cockfosters season probably hasn't turned out quite how they would have liked after that electrifying start, many of us had them finishing top six for sure, but even after saying all that, they still were inside the top ten and a strong finish could see them get very close to that top six, so all in all not a bad season at all for the North London visitors.

So what of the game then which ultimately didn't have anything riding on it, well the hosts form had not been great of late, their last win came on the 4th March, so that was six winless games and four defeats, whereas Fosters had been on a seven match unbeaten run in all competitions which included reaching a cup final too, however that run was ended last time out when they fell to a surprise loss at Sawbridgeworth Town.

Sadly the game didn't really get going until late on, the first half saw both sides have their moments in attack, but neither side could find a breakthrough in a goalless opening forty five minutes, and the second half was pretty much the same for the majority, Fosters did force a decent stop from hosts keeper Eddie Allan's legs, whilst the hosts somehow fired over from close range down the other end.

But with ten minutes remaining the game finally had a goal and something to cheer about when Town full back Montel McKenzie ran onto a loose ball and fired an effort into the far corner despite a despairing dive from keeper Neo Donoghue, and that cued mass celebrations between players and fans in front of the far end of the stand where they all congregate, and it looked like it would be enough for the home side to end that winless run.

But, just as it looked as if Cockfosters were falling to a second successive defeat, up popped substitute Bailey Stevenson, volleying home superbly four minutes into stoppage time to rescue a point for the visitors. Stevenson had been heavily involved after coming on just past the hour mark, so the goal capped a decent showing from him.

This didn't damper the atmosphere though, and all in all a rather inept game ended in exciting fashion, so as they say, all good things come to those who wait!!! That point also sees Cockfosters rise a place to eighth in the standings whilst Woodford remain 15th as their home campaign ends for the season.

Full time Woodford Town 1 Cockfosters 1

Sungate 2 Woodford East 0

BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup Final, Wednesday April 13th

Wednesday evening saw me over at New Lodge for the first Premier Cup final since 2018/19, and it saw Essex Olympian Premier side Sungate lift the trophy after seeing off Essex Alliance Senior outfit Woodford East in front of 448 in Billericay.

It had been 1,437 days since Buckhurst Hill had won the last competition played, but their long reign of the Premier Cup would finally come to an end here as Sungate and Woodford East did battle to try and get their names on what is a very prestigious competition for the top Junior sides in Essex.

Sungate sit in mid table of the Olympian Premier division having had a mixed campaign league wise, eleven wins, one draw and seven losses, although they did come into this one off the back of a 6-0 victory over Springfield, so that was certainly a good way to warm up for this big final, although they were only in the final thanks to an administrative error from fellow Olympian Premier side Catholic United who did beat Sungate 2-1 in the semi final, only to be then thrown out, meaning Sungate took their spot in the final instead.

Woodford East themselves were having a very good first season at Step Seven level in the Alliance Senior division, a league that had been awarded that status for the first time this season, and they had lost just the one game so far and were still well in title hunt after big wins over Lymore Gardens and fellow title challengers Chadwell Heath Spartans in the last week, so could they put in one more big performance in what had been a huge week to get their names on the cup.

East had seen off Middlesex County Premier leaders Clapton CFC in the semi finals, and if you would like to see a review of the four semi finalists path to the last four then check out my blog here to get an idea of the finalists road to New Lodge http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/02/bbc-essex-saturday-premier-cup-20212022.html

Anyway back to the final, and a superb crowd of 448 turned up to cheer on their sides, friends, etc etc, and East probably had the bigger backing and certainly the more vocal for sure, and they probably should have been celebrating early on when Will Letchford had a great chance from close range but saw Gate keeper Stefan Lemacq make a decent stop, but after that early chance it was Gate who had the better openings for the remainder of the period.

They saw an effort bounce back off the bar but then had a golden chance to take the lead just past the half hour mark when Lee Samways was fouled inside the box and a penalty was awarded, however James Smith, who had annoyed East after a rather over zealous challenge earlier in the half, sent his penalty wide of the post, bringing cheers from that large East contingent behind the dugouts.

Smith was to have an inspired game though despite those two moments in the first period, he was involved in all of Gate's attacking play and seemed to be popping up all over the pitch, although after an hour his side were still locked at 0-0 despite having the better of the contest, and they could easily had fallen behind too after the break when East saw Connor Brathwaite in the clear but lob over the bar when it looked like it would find the net. That was to be the only chance East would create of note for the rest of the game though.

On 63 minutes came the breakthrough, and it went to Sungate, as Smith was unsurprisingly involved again, picking the ball up and passing to Samways, and he then laid in strike partner George Johnson who curled a delightful effort beyond Alfie Watts into the top corner of the net, and it cued large celebrations from the Olympian side, maybe it was relief mixed with joy as they may have felt it wasn't going to be their day, especially after the penalty miss.

Smith made way as Sungate made some changes, and two of the substitutes combined to seal the contest with seven minutes remaining as after Thomas Drayton had seen an effort blocked, Arif Mustapha, who had been heavily involved after coming on, picked up the loose ball and fired a left footed effort into the net, and hand Sungate a deserved win and Premier Cup glory for 2021/22.

So the Olympian dominance continues in the competition, East just never really got their game going in this contest, and maybe in the second period the two tough games they had building up to this final caught up with them as I feel tiredness maybe crept into the performance somewhat, but whatever happens this season East should be more than proud of what they have achieved and they still have things to play for this season, so once they are over this disappointment they can turn their attentions to those.

Congratulations to Sungate though who were the better team on the night and deserved their win, and they can enjoy some silverware for this campaign and now have nine games of the league season left to see how high they can finish in the table so will be looking for a strong finish to confirm a top six position at least, this performance this evening will certainly give them the confidence to do that.

Full time Sungate 2 Woodford East 0

Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

Essex Alliance League Senior Division, Saturday April 9th

Saturday saw me over at Hackney Marshes for a huge top of the table clash in the Essex Alliance Senior Division, and it saw first half goals from Callum Maltese and Connor Braithwaite enough to secure Woodford East another huge win in their quest for the title with victory over league leaders Chadwell Heath Spartans.

This was a massive game in the title race, Woodford East had kept their hopes alive after winning at Cricklefield against Lymore Gardens on Wednesday evening (blog on that one can be found here http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/04/lymore-gardens-2-woodford-east-4.html ) to go nine points off leaders Spartans with three games in hand, so a win here for the hosts would see them cut that gap to six and knowing they would overhaul them if they won those games in hand.

Spartans on the other hand knew if they could inflict only East's second loss of the season here then they would take a huge stride towards the title themselves and send a dagger to the heart of East's title aspirations, and with Spartans hosting second placed DTFC next weekend, these two games would surely define the visitors season, it was huge.

The venue was Hackney Marshes on the show pitch there in front of the main building on the grounds, and amazingly this was my first ever visit to the original home of football, so nice to have finally ticked this one off my list, and conditions were bright if a little breezy, but after Wednesday nights conditions in Seven Kings, this was like a summers day!!!

So how would this one go? East had a tough game Wednesday night so would this affect their fitness as the game went on, and with a big Premier Cup final to come for the hosts, maybe they would have one eye on that too with the game only four days away?

Spartans didn't start to badly and fired an early effort straight at Callum Drummond, but just before the quarter hour mark came the breakthrough, and it was a gift from the visitors, as visitors skipper Janel Alexander, who has had a superb season to date, slipped, allowing hosts striker Maltese to nip in and slot beyond Lewis Edwards, and East had the advantage and set the tone for the first period.

Spartans didn't seem to be at it and East were looking much the more dangerous side, and just past the half hour mark doubled their advantage with a truly fantastic team goal, as after some lovely one touch passing had seen them slice through the visitors, Braithwaite finished off the devastating attack by firing an effort in off the post from the edge of the box, and the hosts were in total control and two goals to the good. 

Spartans did have their moments in the first period, a couple of crosses caused hosts keeper Drummond some concern, and Thomas Callagher fired a free kick off target from a decent position, but the hosts were the more likely to add to their tally but Spartans managed to get to the break just the two goals behind but knew they needed a big second half improvement if they were to get back into this contest.

East though should have put the game to bed early in the second period, seeing a close range effort from Braithwaite saved by Edwards before a wonderful cross from Maltese saw Braithwaite somehow head over from point blank range, but thereafter though Spartans started to get a bit more of a foothold in the contest and their second half from that point on was much improved.

James Odukoya fired a lovely ball across the hosts goal but no one gambled on it so the ball went away and out of danger, and another cross saw Aaron Hunwicks, player boss of Spartans of course, head down but wide of the far post as the visitors desperately tried to find a route back into the contest, and with six minutes to go they did just that when Aaron Hunwicks curled a corner into the six yard box, and the wind took the ball and caught out keeper Drummond who could only help the ball on it's way into the far corner, setting up an intriguing final few minutes.

There was a strange moment after that though as East attacked and looked to seal the game and were awarded a penalty after an infringement, only for the assistant's flag to go up on the far side and give offside prior to the foul, so free kick Spartans, however skipper Alexander talked to much, obviously upset at the award of the non penalty and was sin binned meaning Spartans would end the game a man light.

And East managed to see out the remainder of the contest to earn another huge three points and keep their title hopes alive for another week, whilst defeat for Spartans means next weekend's game against DTFC is a must win now, although they cannot keep East below them if the hosts win their games in hand.

A deserved win for East ultimately, they were superb in patches and took advantage of an off colour Spartans, especially in the first period, and they go into Wednesday's final in good spirits, Spartans would have been disappointed but whatever happens this season they can be very proud of their achievements, both sides can, as they have both had superb campaigns.

Full time Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

So, how has today's results affected the title race? Let's have a look...

Results

Blue Marlin 3 Lymore Gardens 1

Chigwell Town 2 Rapid Chingford 3

FC Baresi 1 CSM London 1

Jolof Sports 2 Kit Out London 2

Tower United 1 DTFC 4

Woodford East 2 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1

Table

With Spartans losing and DTFC defeating bottom side Tower United, it means DTFC now lead the way by a point over Spartans with a game in hand ahead of their showdown at Chigwell Hall next weekend, you would say if DTFC win that one they are almost certainly going to win the league, however, a Spartans win would be good news for them and also for Woodford East who would still be right in the hunt.

These are the games each title contesting side have left to play...

DTFC

Chadwell Heath Spartans (a)

FC Petrocub (H)

Kit Out London (H)

Chadwell Heath Spartans

DTFC (H)

Rapid Chingford (H)

Woodford East

FC Petrocub (a)

Jolof Sports (H)

FC Baresi (H)

Rapid Chingford (H)

CSM London (a)

Next weekend's game is pivotal in the title race at Chigwell Hall, although even if Spartans do win that game and their final game, and East win out, which isn't guaranteed anyway, you expect DTFC to win their remaining two home fixtures at Harlow Town and take the title, but pressure does funny things doesn't it, so who knows??? Could be a fascinating month ahead.....