Southend Manor 0 Great Wakering Rovers 6 - Brown & Talbot shine as Rovers net six at Southchurch Park against local side Manor in their latest pre season outing

Pre Season Friendly, Thursday 18th July

Some rare Thursday night football saw me over at my very local side Southend Manor as they continued to build up to their Thurlow Nunn One South campaign, and they were up against near neighbours from down the road in Great Wakering Rovers who were also preparing for another season in the Essex Senior League.

Both sides league campaigns begin in a week on Saturday, so only nine days away, so both sides were now entering their final runs in pre season as the serious stuff gets going soon, therefore finding their best formulas and players was now becoming more and more important, and when these two play each other, it's always a battle as neither side wants to lose to the other even if it was a friendly.

It was soon apparent though that the visitors were a step above their opponents and were a goal up inside two minutes when a defensive error at the back from the hosts saw the visitors pounce and fire home into the net, and then with only ten minutes gone Rovers cut through the Manor backline with ease and allowed Harry Brown in to fire across the keeper and into the far corner.

The third goal was just freakish and not one that the home keeper would want to remember, as with the clock on just twenty minutes a harmless ball into the box bounced off the rock hard surface and caught out the keeper who was seemingly coming to claim an easy bouncing ball, but instead he misjudged the bounce and could only help the ball on it's way into the net.

Manor to their credit did try and get themselves back into the contest but were just being punished by a ruthless Rovers side who made it four from the spot on thirty three minutes when Harry Talbot emphatically dispatched from twelve yards after a foul inside the box, and five minutes later Rovers were awarded another penalty, and this time Brown thumped home the spot kick and saw the visitors head into the break with a five goal cushion.

Talbot then added another five minutes after the break when Manor just sat off him and gave him too much time to drive at the area before firing a lovely effort into the far corner for a really good goal, this did prove the final goal of the contest though to everyone's surprise, as both sides made plenty of changes on what was a very pleasant evening weather wise.

Manor did have their moments but found their opponents a yard or so quicker all over the pitch in every way, this will no doubt be a learning curve for the home side and one that they were surely take a lot of information going forward, they do say you learn a lot from such games, and they won't play many sides as good as Wakering are this season in their division that's for sure.

For GWR, it was a decent run out and some more minutes in the legs too as they prepare for another tough season in the ESL, and with players like Brown & Talbot in their side, they will certainly be a danger to sides in that division this season, a season they hope that will end with promotion no doubt.

Full time Southend Manor 0 Great Wakering Rovers 6

Annan Athletic 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 - First half header from Tommy Goss proves enough for Annan to get their Scottish League Cup campaign off to a winning start against Caley Thistle at Galabank

Premier Sports Cup Group D, Saturday 13th July

My second game of the 2024/25 season was actually a competitive fixture and not a pre season friendly, and it saw me make the six hour journey to just over the border in Bonnie Scotland for a Scottish Cup tie, known as the Premier Sports Cup, for a Group D clash between Annan Athletic & Inverness Caledonian Thistle. This was also only my second ever game in Scotland too, so that was nice as well.

This did also mean a 6am start too as me and two others, Martin Berry & Kerry Fairless, who I'd like to thank for allowing me to join them on this epic voyage, were heading there and back in the same day, madness for some, pure excitement for us!!! I can never turn down a trip to Scotland either, it's a beautiful part of the world as is the scenery you pass through to get there. Simply stunning, even if we drove through a lot of rain!!!

Annan is only twenty miles north of Carlisle, so it's only just over the border and just west of Gretna, and it's a lovely typical small Scottish settlement, and we found a nice café/chippy that served some nice grub, so after scoffing that for lunch we made our way to the ground, and what a lovely little ground it is too. 

There is a lovely clubhouse with a bar, and also before you get to the turnstiles there is a portacabin which sells all the club merch you wish to want, entrance fee was either £18 for a seat in the very neat stand on one side of the pitch, or £16 to stand either behind the goal in the nice big covered terrace, or on the side on either side of the stand, if you are an away fan then you can either sit at one end of the stand, or stand behind the goal at the opposite end, which is an uncovered terrace.

The other side of the pitch has no stand as it is now just a three sided ground, apparently there used to be a terrace on that side too behind the dugouts, but since the upgrade to 3G, they got rid of that so that side is now just for the benches. Despite this, it's still a lovely little facility and more than enough for a club of Annan's size. 

There is also a nice tea hut that serves quite a bit in terms of food and drink, and a nice area with picnic benches and tables for you to sit at and enjoy those, thankfully it had stopped raining by this point so we were able to do this without getting drenched, the rain did in fact stay away for the rest of the day so that was a bonus considering the forecast was for it to rain for the entire day. What do they know!!!

We managed to find a spot on the home side of the stand, and it wasn't a bad view, even if it was towards on end of the ground, but hey it was still a nice spot to watch a football match at, how would this contest go between two sides who would be playing in the same division this season, something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

That division would be the Scottish League One, the third tier of football in the country, Annan only just stayed in the division last season after drawing their huge relegation clash with second bottom Stirling Albion on the final day to survive on goal difference, whereas Inverness, who not that long ago won the Scottish Cup whilst being a Premiership side, fell out of the championship after finishing second bottom in it last season. They are now managed by Duncan Ferguson no less.

This was a new season though, and right now it was Scottish League Cup glory up for grabs and to see who could take the points and get their campaign off to a winning start, the first real chance fell to the hosts but saw an effort cleared off the line, before the visitors got in down the right but saw an effort dragged across goal and wide of the far post.

The deadlock was to be broken though just before the mid way point of the first period when Annan got their noses in front, it came after what looked like a free kick for the visitors in the middle of the park wasn't given, and after the ball was eventually played out to the right, Ryan Muir sent in a lovely cross for centre forward Tommy Goss to apply a lovely downward header into the far corner, cuing dance music being played over the PA system and the majority of the 427 crowd bursting into life to cheer their sides lead.

How would Caly Thistle respond? They should have levelled eight minutes after going behind when they got in behind the hosts defence, but keeper Jamie Smith, who had a brilliant game throughout, made a superb stop to deny them, before it was visiting keeper Jack Newman's turn to make a superb save to deny the hosts from going two goals ahead before the break.

So, Annan had a slender lead at the break, and tbh how they still had that lead early in the second half was beyond most of us as the visitors somehow failed to level when they struck the bar before the rebound struck the post and somehow stayed out, Jamie Smith then made another couple of decent stops to keep the visitors at bay, he really was having a superb game, as was hosts centre forward Goss, who almost scored a brilliant individual goal himself but was eventually denied at the near post by Newman.

Both sides were still playing on the front foot which was great to see, none of thos tippy tappy stuff you get at the top level, it was proper football this, Thistle missed another great chance when heading across goal and wide when it looked easier to score, Annan looked to put the game to bed themselves but were thwarted by a solid Thistle back line.

It had been a very good battle between two sides who looked to play football on the beautiful flat 3G surface, but that Goss goal in the 21st minute proved decisive in the end and handed Annan a terrific three points and a very hard earned win over their opponents who probably felt they should have got something from this game.

A very enjoyable visit though to the Galabank, a lovely club and hopefully they can go on and have a terrific campaign, I also wish Inverness all the best for the season ahead and hope their financial issues that have blighted them over the last few years do not see them fall further down the pyramid, so I wish them all the best too.

It was a superb day all round, a long one at that, as I eventually arrived home at 11pm, SEVENTEEN HOURS after leaving in the morning, but it was well worth it I can tell you, great company and a decent game too, what's not to love eh!!!

Full time Annan Athletic 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Rayleigh Town 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2 - Essex Senior League visitors comeback from two goals down to earn draw against Thurlow Nunn South newboys in a decent contest at London Road

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 9th July

My first game of the 2024/25 season was an intriguing pre season contest between Senior Football new boys Rayleigh Town, who had earned their first ever season in Step Six of the non league pyramid after winning the Olympian Premier last season, and last season's FA Vase runners up and Essex Senior League side Great Wakering Rovers at London Road.

Both had begun their pre season schedules at the weekend, Town earning a 1-1 draw against another local ESL side in the shape of Hullbridge Sports, whilst Rovers had been defeated 3-0 at Isthmian Premier Bowers & Pitsea, and this contest was sure to prove another stern test of both sides squads as they continued to find the right formula and players to begin their campaigns in around three weeks time.

Rayleigh drew first blood six minutes before the break after the striker was quickest to react to the loose ball on the byline, and he cleverly managed to cut back onto his right foot before firing inside the near post and hold a slender half time lead, and then eight minutes after the break they doubled their money when they managed to react quickest to a ball into the box, and it ended with a close range finish going in despite a defenders best efforts to clear off the goal line.

It looked as if the Step Six hosts would record a very satisfying win over their Step Five visitors, but Rovers had other ideas, and with eleven minutes remaining grabbed a goal back when a ball laid back across goal was side footed home, and then with four minutes left of the contest a mistake at the back allowed Rovers to nip in but before they could get an effort on goal a challenge came in resulting in a foul and a spot kick, which was emphatically converted, meaning the match would end in a draw.

Rayleigh looked good and at 2-0 up certainly had plenty of positives to look at, but no doubt the late comeback from Rovers would have disappointed them, but on the other side for Rovers they showed some character to stay in the contest and then battle back into it late on to at least show themselves they can do such a thing.

A good contest it was though and a very enjoyable first outing for the new season, it was good to be back after two months off!!!

Full time Rayleigh Town 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2

Pre Season Fixtures 2024/25 - Non League (Involving sides in Essex/London area)

I have once again devised a list of Pre Season fixtures ahead of the 2024/25 season involving clubs in the area I normally cover, so the Isthmian North, Essex Senior League & Thurlow Nunn First Division South, and also sides from Essex through all the Senior Leagues in the non league pyramid in the Vanarama National Leagues, and the Isthmian Premier and others.  Have also included some Junior sides in the Olympian League and Alliance League, below are the latest fixtures I have found through socials, I will add anymore that I come across too as more sides release/update their schedules, I hope you find it useful.

Thursday 27th June

Stanway Rovers Vs Stanway Rovers U23s

Saturday 29th June

Estudiantes London Vs Stansted

Hackney Wick Vs Elizabeth Allen

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Colney Heath 

Whitton United vs Stanway Rovers

Tuesday 2nd July

Athletic Newham Vs Concord Rangers

Bishop's Stortford Swifts Vs Harlow Town

Brimsdown Vs Soul

Buckhurst Hill Vs Barkingside

Cornard United Vs Stanway Rovers

Little Oakley Vs Maldon & Tiptree 

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs St Margaretsbury (Neutral Venue)

Takeley Vs Redbridge

Wingate & Finchley Vs Sporting Bengal United

Wednesday 3rd July

Enfield Vs Benfleet 

Hackney Wick Vs Lewisham Borough

Hutton Vs White Ensign

Springfield Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Thursday 4th July

Erith Town Vs Sporting Bengal United

Friday 5th July

Barking Vs AS London 

Billericay Town vs Hutton

Saturday 6th July

Athletic Newham Vs FC Romania

Bishop’s Stortford vs Hornchurch

BKS Sports Vs Southend Manor

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Hackney Wick

Brimsdown Vs Frenford Development

Burnham Ramblers Vs Shenfield AFC

Chatham Town Vs Grays Athletic

Clapton CFC Vs Waltham Forest Borough

Coggeshall Town Vs Maldon & Tiptree 

East Thurrock CFC Vs Canvey Island 

Enfield Borough Vs Soul Tower Hamlets

FC Baresi Vs Sawbridgeworth Town

Frenford Vs Concord Rangers

Harlow Town Vs Buckhurst Hill

Harold Hill vs Romford

Holland vs Thorpe Athletic

Ilford Vs Tilbury

Little Oakley Vs Harwich & Parkeston (Norman Mann & Tim Gooch Memorial Trophy)

London Colney Vs Cheshunt

Newbury Forest Vs Basildon United

Old Southendian Vs Benfleet

Rayleigh Town vs Hullbridge Sports

Saffron Walden Town Vs Dunmow Town

Stansted Vs Witham Town (Neutral Venue)

Stanway Rovers Vs Felixstowe & Walton United

Takeley Vs Wormley Rovers

Toby Vs Cannons Wood

White Ensign Vs Barkingside

Whitton United Vs Enfield

Woodford Town Vs Colney Heath 

Monday 8th July

Aveley Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Tuesday 9th July

AFC Sudbury Vs Chelmsford City

Barking Vs Basildon Town 

Benfleet Vs Hashtag United

Billericay Town Vs Brightlingsea Regent 

Buckhurst Hill Vs Basildon United

Colchester United XI vs Grays Athletic

Frenford Vs Redbridge

Harlow Town Vs Fisher

Heybridge Swifts Vs Burnham Ramblers

Hornchurch Vs Leyton Orient

Hullbridge Sports Vs Concord Rangers

Little Oakley Vs Kings Park Rangers

Needham Market Vs Braintree Town

Rayleigh Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Saffron Walden Town Vs Witham Town

Snodland Town Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Stanway Rovers Vs Walthamstow (game will be moved to Monday 8th July if England make Euro Semi Finals)

Takeley Vs Cockfosters

Toby Vs Welling Town 

Woodford Town Vs Clapton CFC

Wormley Rovers Vs Sawbridgeworth Town 

Wednesday 10th July

Enfield Vs Bowers & Pitsea 

Hackney Wick Vs Heavy Hitters

Hutton Vs Stansted

Shenfield AFC Vs Barkingside

Tiptree Heath Vs Stanway Pegasus

Thursday 11th July

Cheshunt Vs FC Romania

Hullbridge Sports Vs Catholic United

Saffron Walden Town Vs Brentwood Town

Thetford United Vs Stanway Rovers

Saturday 13th July

Amersham Town vs Brightlingsea Regent

AS London Vs Fisher 

Athletic Newham Vs Welling Town

Aveley Vs Billericay Town

Barking Vs Cockfosters 

Basildon Town Vs Catholic United

Benfleet Vs Burnham Ramblers

BKS Sports Vs Hutton Reserves

Buckhurst Hill Vs Cambridge City

Canvey Island Vs Bishops Stortford

Cockfosters Vs Waltham Abbey

CSM London Vs Brimsdown

Dulwich Hamlet Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Eastbourne Borough Vs Hashtag United

East Thurrock CFC Vs Hashtag United 

Enfield Borough Vs Camden United

Enfield Town Vs Tottenham Hotspur XI

FC Baresi Vs Soul Tower Hamlets

FC Clacton Vs Harwich & Parkeston (Kevin Beattie Memorial Trophy)

Frenford Vs Hutton

Grays Athletic Vs Corinthian Casuals 

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Southend United

Hadley vs Sporting Bengal United

Haringey Borough Vs Cheshunt

Harpenden Town Vs Ilford

Hertford Town Vs Chelmsford City

Heybridge Swifts Vs Springfield

Holland Vs Woodbridge

Holmesdale Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Hullbridge Sports Vs Leigh Ramblers

Independiente de Vallecas Vs Clapton CFC

Jolof Sports Vs Fairlop Rovers

Little Oakley Vs Hadleigh United

London Colney vs Hoddesdon Town

Long Melford Vs Stanway Rovers

Lymore Gardens vs Shenfield AFC

Margate Vs Concord Rangers

Meridian Vs Witham Town

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Colchester United 

Rayleigh Town Vs Old Southendian

Redbridge Vs Dunmow Town

Runwell Sports Vs Galleywood

Saffron Walden Town Vs Haverhill Rovers

Sheppey Sports Vs Barkingside

Sungate Vs Romford

Stanway Pegasus Vs Stansted

Takeley Vs Harlow Town

Toby Vs Hashtag United 

Waltham Cross Vs Hackney Wick

Waltham Forest Borough Vs Sawbridgeworth Town 

Walthamstow Vs Enfield 

White Ensign Vs Southend Manor

Woodford Town Vs Wormley Rovers

Monday 15th July

Hoddesdon Town Vs Sawbridgeworth Town

Tuesday 16th July

Aveley Vs Redbridge

Basildon Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Billericay Town Vs Chelmsford City

Benfleet Vs Southend United U21s

Benfleet Vs Grays Athletic

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Tilbury (Essex Thameside Trophy Quarter Final)

Brimsdown Vs London Colney

Canvey Island Vs Southend United

Edgware & Kingsbury Vs Barkingside 

Enfield Town Vs Arsenal U21s 

Fisher Vs Witham Town

Frenford Vs AS London 

Glebe Vs Sporting Bengal United

Harlow Town Vs Cockfosters

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Brantham Athletic

Hornchurch Vs Sutton United

Hullbridge Sports Vs Hashtag United

Ilford Vs Wembley

Little Oakley vs East Bergholt

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Colchester United U21s

Rayners Lane Vs Cheshunt

Runwell Sports vs Herongate Athletic

Saffron Walden Town Vs Basildon United

St Margaretsbury Vs Stansted (Neutral Venue)

Southend Manor Vs Springfield

Stanway Rovers Vs Holland

Takeley Vs Cannons Wood

Wingate & Finchley Vs Brentwood Town 

Woodford Town Vs Walthamstow

Wormley Rovers Vs Dunmow Town

Wormley Rovers Vs Romford

Wednesday 17th July

Barking Vs Brentwood Town 

Buckhurst Hill Vs Tilbury

Catholic United Vs Concord Rangers

Enfield Borough Vs Baldock Town

Ipswich Wanderers Vs Barking 

Shenfield AFC Vs Halstead Town U23s

West Essex Vs Hackney Wick

Thursday 18th July

Hullbridge Sports Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Friday 19th July

Barking Vs Brentwood Town 

Saturday 20th July

Athletic Newham vs May & Baker

Aveley Vs St Ives Town

Barking Vs Cockfosters

Benfleet Vs Hutton

Barton Rovers Vs Ilford 

Billericay Town Vs Boreham Wood 

Brantham Athletic Vs Stanway Rovers

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Hashtag United

Buckhurst Hill Vs Harrow Borough

Canvey Island Vs Concord Rangers

Catholic United vs White Ensign

Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs Brimsdown

Cheshunt Vs Harlow Town (Cheshunt Community Cup, Match Two, 2.30pm)

Cheshunt Vs Clapton Community (Cheshunt Community Cup, Match Three, 4.15pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs West Ham United

East Thurrock CFC Vs Grays Athletic 

Enfield Vs Woodford Town

Enfield Borough Vs Rising Ballers Kensington

FC Baresi Vs Lewisham Borough

Fisher Vs Redbridge

Frenford Vs FC Romania 

Haverhill Rovers Vs Stansted

Harlow Town Vs Clapton Community (Cheshunt Community Cup, Match One, 12:30pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Kings Park Rangers

Heybridge Swifts Vs Bishop's Stortford

Holland Vs Barkingside

Hornchurch Vs Braintree Town

Hutton Reserves vs Shenfield AFC

Leighton Town Vs Basildon United

Letchworth Garden City Eagles Vs Hoddesdon Town

Needham Market Vs Maldon & Tiptree 

Old Southendian Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Old Southendian Reserves Vs BKS Sports

Rayleigh Town Vs Welling Town

Royston Town Vs Chelmsford City

Runwell Sports Vs Cannons Wood

Saffron Walden Town Vs Arlesey Town 

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Baldock Town

Sheppey United Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Southend Manor Vs Wakering Sports

Stowmarket Town Vs Hullbridge Sports

Sungate Vs Fairlop Rovers

Takeley Vs Ware

Tilbury Vs Romford 

Toby Vs AS London 

Waltham Forest Borough Vs Cuffley Town

Welwyn Garden City Vs Enfield Town

West Essex Vs Walthamstow

Witham Town Vs Hackney Wick

Woodbridge Town Vs Little Oakley

Monday 22nd July

Chelmsford City Vs Barnet

Hoddesdon Town Vs Stansted

Tuesday 23rd July

Arlesey Town Vs Enfield 

Barking Vs Southend United 

Billericay Town Vs Witham Town

Brimsdown Vs Haringey Borough U23s

Canvey Island Vs Aveley

Cheshunt Vs Ware (Herts Charity Cup Quarter Final)

Concord Rangers Vs Colchester United U21s

Dulwich Hamlet Vs Hornchurch

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Brentwood Town 

Halstead Town Vs Basildon United

Harwich & Parkeston vs Thorpe Athletic

Hashtag United Vs AFC Sudbury

Hayes & Yeading Vs Enfield Town 

Horley Town Vs Hackney Wick

Long Melford vs Holland

Needham Market vs Brightlingsea Regent

Runwell Sports Vs Barkingside

Saffron Walden Town Vs Cambridge City

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Letchworth Garden City Eagles

Southend Manor Vs Wivenhoe Town

Stansted Vs Dunmow Town

Tilbury Vs Grays Athletic (Stan Veness Trophy)

Walthamstow Vs Leyton Orient 

West Essex Vs Redbridge 

Wormley Rovers Vs Harpenden Town (Herts Charity Cup)

Wednesday 24th July

Chelmsford City Vs Milton Keynes Dons

Enfield Borough Vs Romford

Rayleigh Town Vs ACD United

Thursday 25th July

Brook House Vs Hoddesdon Town

Sittingbourne Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Friday 26th July

Braintree Town Vs Cambridge United

Concord Rangers Vs Hashtag United

Saturday 27th July

Aveley Vs Colchester United XI

BKS Sports Vs Corinthians

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Erith Town

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Enfield 

Catholic United Vs Concord Rangers

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Tottenham Hotspur U21s

East Thurrock CFC Vs Pitsea Athletic 

Enfield Town Vs Hendon (FSA Cup)

Halstead Town U23s Vs Fairlop Rovers

Hanworth Villa Vs Billericay Town

Haringey Borough Vs Woodford Town 

Harlow Town Vs St Margaretsbury

Herne Bay Vs Tilbury 

Heybridge Swifts Vs Canvey Island

Hornchurch Vs Barnet

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Bishop's Stortford

Meridian Vs Sporting Bengal United

Phoenix Sports Vs Basildon United 

Ramsgate Vs Brentwood Town

Rayleigh Town Vs Chadwell Heath Spartans

Runwell Sports Vs Basildon Town

Southend United Vs Gillingham

Sungate Vs Woodford Town Reserves

Toby Vs Herongate 

Waltham Forest Borough Vs Bermondsey Town

Walthamstow Vs Ashford United 

Ware Vs Grays Athletic

Wroxham Vs Cheshunt

Monday 29th July

Redbridge Vs Newbury Forest

Tuesday 30th July

Aveley Vs Hashtag United

Basildon United Vs Basildon Town

Canvey Island Vs Tilbury 

Coggeshall Town Vs Runwell Sports

Enfield Town Vs Billericay Town

Grays Athletic Vs Potters Bar Town 

Hertford Town Vs Cheshunt

Walthamstow Vs Walthamstow Reserves

Witham Town Vs Chelmsford City (Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup Final)

Wednesday 31st July

Herongate Vs Catholic United

Toby Vs White Ensign 

Saturday 3rd August

Billericay Town Vs Hornchurch

BKS Sports Vs Catholic United Reserves

Brentwood Town Vs Hashtag United (Essex Thameside Trophy)

Canvey Island Vs Brightlingsea Regent

Chelmsford City Vs Southend United

Cheshunt Vs Aveley

Concord Rangers Vs Bedford Town

CSM London vs Catholic United

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Leyton Orient

Frenford Alliance Vs Shenfield AFC

Hadley Vs Basildon United

Harrow Borough Vs Walthamstow 

Heybridge Swifts Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Lymore Gardens Vs Lymore Gardens U23s

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Enfield

Old Southendian Vs East Thurrock CFC 

Runwell Sports Vs Canning Town

Sungate Vs Sawbridgeworth Town U23s

Toby Vs Ongar Town 

Waltham Forest Borough Vs Bishops Stortford Swifts

Ware Vs Enfield Town

Woodford Town Reserves Vs Fairlop Rovers

Monday 5th August

Cheshunt Vs Leyton Orient U21s

Saturday 10th August

BKS Sports vs BKS Sports Reserves

Hinton vs Fairlop Rovers

Sungate Vs Ongar Town

Waltham Forest Borough Vs Rotherhithe FC

Fixtures are obviously subject to change, so please check with clubs involved before attending re this and also kick offs times and venues

List last updated 21/06/2024

Essex Senior League - Cup Final double header - Stanway Rovers dismantle Saffron Walden Town to net Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy/Woodford Town take Reserve Shield after penalty shoot out success over Grays Athletic

 (Stanway Rovers lift their second piece of silverware this season after winning the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy following a 5-1 success over Saffron Walden Town)

Sunday saw me over at Rosemary Lane, home of Halstead Town, as they hosted both the Essex Senior League Reserve Shield & The Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Finals as the season was finally headed towards it's climax following what has seemed a very long season that's for sure.

First up at midday was the Reserve Shield Final between South Division winners Grays Athletic and North Division Runners up Woodford Town, let's see what happened in that contest:-

Essex Senior League Reserve Shield Final

Grays Athletic Vs Woodford Town

This was a match up between two decent sides, Grays had won the Reserve South Division by nine points having won thirteen of their sixteen league games, and they had seen off West Essex Development, Billericay Town and Romford to reach this final, Woodford, who had finished runners up to Hashtag United in the North Division, had overcome Barking U23s, Heybridge Swifts & Takeley.

Woodford were also competing in their second of three cup finals in five days, they had won the divisional cup on Friday night and were back in action just two days later at this one, before another final on Tuesday night, they had won Friday's one so were looking for a second piece of silverware in forty eight hours!!! Grays were of course going for a league and cup double, who would get what they wanted in this one?

Well, after twenty minutes of the contest disaster struck for Grays when they literally handed Woodford the lead as a routine pass back from Reiss Hatwell to keeper Kevin Manuel saw the latter allow the ball to go under his foot and roll into the net for a very unfortunate own goal, not a moment he will want to remember in a hurry!!!

However, the unfortunate Hatwell was to find the net at the other end of the pitch seven minutes before the break when a ball in was allowed to find him at the back post, and after the ball bounced into his path he looped a header over keeper Callum McEvoy and into the net and see the sides go in level at the break.

Woodford though regained their lead just past the hour mark as the brilliant Tom Cottle-Wood persistence paid off down the left, disposing the ball from Hatwell on more than one occasion before firing a ball into the near post where Phorell Brooke, on as a second half substitute, converted first time in at the near post.

Grays though managed to find another leveller in the 89th minute to take the final to extra time when skipper Stephan Richard-Kingson applied a lovely first time finish from inside the box from a corner swung over from the left, meaning two already exhausted sides would have to go again for another thirty minutes in the warm temperatures in North Essex.

Grays started extra time the stronger and they got their noses in front eight minutes into it when Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson fired an effort into the bottom corner, and you felt maybe Woodford's Friday night endeavours were catching up with them now, however, not a bit of it, as in the 107th minute they levelled the contest up once again when Jacob Richards, another second half substitute, fired home a loose ball inside the box, and it meant penalties would be needed to decide this one.

Woodford stopper McEvoy, the skipper, was to be the hero in the shootout, saving the first two penalties from Grays, and with his side netting their first two, they had a big advantage, McEvoy almost stopped the third one too, but could only palm it into the corner, and although Woodford missed their third, McEvoy saved his third penalty in four meaning they had the chance to win it, and they duly converted meaning a 3-1 shoot out win and a second cup success in two days!!!

Full time Grays Athletic 3 Woodford Town 3 (aet; Woodford Town won 3-1 on penalties)

Congratulations to Woodford Town then, but commiserations to Grays who more than played their part in a wonderful final in very warm conditions, how would the second final of the day go, it had a lot to live up too that was for sure!!!

Essex Senior League Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Final

Saffron Walden Town Vs Stanway Rovers

This was ninth against seventh in the league table, so both had finished in the top ten of the ESL for 2023/24, both had finished the season in pretty fine fettle too, and had a cup final to finish their seasons, for Stanway this was a second cup final of the month after they had thrashed now FA Vase winners Romford in the Errington Challenge Cup Final over at Heybridge Swifts earlier in May.

They were going for a cup double then, but they had a very physical and tough Walden to contend with, and also in front of a fine crowd of over 300 at Rosemary Lane in beautiful warm sunny conditions, who would come out on top in this one, it was a hard one to call although predictions amongst us slightly leaned towards a Stanway win as their form in the second half of the season had been tremendous.

Walden;s path to the final saw wins over Frenford, Athletic Newham, an away walkover win against FA Vase runners up Great Wakering Rovers and then a Semi Final win over Barking, whereas Stanway had seen off Little Oakley, Sporting Bengal United & Woodford Town, the same side they had seen off in the semi finals of the Errington Challenge Cup on route to winning that, a good omen perhaps?

The opening twenty five minutes saw the sides feeling each other out, but once Rovers went in front after twenty seven minutes, they never looked back, a long range effort from Tom Maycock was beaten away by Walden keeper Jarvis Monk, but into the path of Nat Mardell who applied the killer finish, and then ten minutes before the break Rovers doubled their lead.

Mardell, who was causing all kinds of issues for the Walden back line, ran onto a ball over the top of the defence to apply a finish across Monk and into the far corner, and three minutes before half time the contest was all but over when Mardell turned provider, teeing up Harry Thomas who fired home from inside the box, Rovers were now cruising.

They did give Walden a sniff of hope though deep into first half stoppage time when Stan Leech was bundled over inside the box for a penalty, which Olly Miles converted, and it meant Walden went into the break still two goals behind but with some hope of a comeback perhaps.

The opening exchanges of the second half were crucial then, although Walden's cause was not helped in the 55th minute when striker Leech was sin binned for ten minutes for something he said, and although his ten minute period off the pitch didn't cost them too much, they conceded again with twelve minutes remaining when a free kick swung in by Maycock found the head of centre half Joe Debell who found the net, and that really wad game set and match.

And Rovers really rubbed salt into the wounds of Walden by adding a fifth in the 85th minute after Freddie Cooper, who had literally just come on to replace skipper Reece Conway, was played in by the superb George Okoye to rifle home and put the icing on the cake for Rovers.

It was a very bad day at the office for Walden which was compounded in stoppage time when Jamie Riley was given a second yellow for committing a foul, it just about summed up their afternoon/evening in Halstead, and they were out out of their misery soon after when the whistle sounded.

Rovers were superb once again and had added the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy to their Errington Challenge Cup success, two pieces of silverware in one season, not bad eh!!!

Full time Saffron Walden Town 1 Stanway Rovers 5

A superb day then, twelve goals, superb hospitality and plenty of laughs and fun throughout the day, and well done to Woodford Town Reserves and Stanway Rovers on your success today!!!