(Action from West Essex Vs Enfield at Wadham Lodge, here substitute keeper George Edgeworth saves a stoppage time spot kick from West's Zak Oliver to deny the hosts a replay and send Enfield through, photo courtesy of Enfield FC (@EnfieldFC))
The famous old competition got underway this weekend as 442 sides got their campaigns underway, that's 221 ties across the weekend, nineteen of those ties involved Essex Senior League sides, twenty of them all raring to go and see if they could make a decent cup run and make some money along the way, well let's see how they all fared....
Friday 2nd August
Stansted 0 Biggleswade 0 (Att: 434)
The Airportmen were trying to build on their midweek point away at Little Oakley after such a poor start to their campaign last weekend, and they were up against Southern League One Central (Step Four) side Biggleswade who were yet to start their season, well there were no goals forthcoming in the tie over ninety minutes in front of a very decent crowd at Hargrave Park, the hosts did very well to earn another crack at higher league opposition as they will replay on Monday evening in Biggleswade. For highlights of this game please click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5d36QQx1Q and many thanks to Ashley Hanson (@AshleyJHanson) for these highlights.
Saturday 3rd August
Barton Rovers 1 Saffron Walden Town 1 (Att: 115)
This was always going to be a tough trip for Walden, up against a Step Four outfit in the shape of Barton Rovers who were playing in the Southern League One Central (Step Four) this season, yes the hosts hadn't started the season as yet, and Walden were two league games in and coming into this one off the back of a 2-0 success at Buckhurst Hill and bouncing back from a surprise loss to Athletic Newham on the opening day, but the task was made even tougher seven minutes before the break when keeper Jake Anderson was sent off (he was replaced by sub keeper James Bransgrove) & when Cousins put the hosts ahead early in the second period, you felt that maybe they would go on and record victory. But no, Walden battled gamely and once the hosts were reduced to ten men with fifteen to go after Watkins Clark was sent off, Walden seized their moment as with time running out Emmanuel Okunja levelled to see this one go to a replay at Catons Lane.
Benfleet 3 Woodford Town 1 (Att: 342)
These two knew each other very well after they met last weekend at the same ground in the opening weekend of the league, Woodford took a narrow 1-0 win on that occasion even though they played half the game with ten men, so could Benfleet, who were making their very first appearance in the famous old competition, gain revenge for last weeks defeat and build on their terrific 6-3 win over Ilford in midweek. Well, they made the first move in this game when Rhys Fatt beat the offside trap to slot the hosts ahead just before the half hour mark, although Woodford then levelled through Elo Benoit just six minutes later, however, Benfleet were not to be denied and retook the lead seven minutes before half time when Max Jobson, fresh from his hat-trick in midweek, slotted home, and then three minutes before the break Mason Shave netted to hand the hosts a three one half time lead. And with no more goals forthcoming, the majority of the 342 inside Woodside went home very happy indeed. For highlights of this game please click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-W_uGweujs&t=6s and many thanks to Ashley Hanson (@AshleyJHanson) for these highlights.
Biggleswade United 2 Frenford 2 (Att: 184)
Frenford came into this one having won their opening game last weekend against Sawbridgeworth Town before they lost at home to White Ensign in midweek, and they were against Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five) side Biggleswade United who had drawn their opening two league games against Tring Athletic & Colney Heath, so this one was expected to be a close one although the hosts may have had the edge as the game is being played at their Verdant Stadium. The visitors drew first blood in this one when Jordon Elongo gave them a 26th minute lead, although they were pegged back five minutes into first half stoppage time when Scott Metcalfe levelled, Elongo though restored Frenford's lead just past the hour mark and that looked likely to be enough for the visitors to progress, but in the 98th minute the hosts saw Kevin Owusu level from the spot and earn a replay in dramatic style.
Chipstead 0 Athletic Newham 2 (Att: 65)
It's been a decent start to the season for Athletic Newham, they shocked Saffron Walden Town on the opening day at Catons Lane before they held Romford at Mayesbrook Park in midweek, Chipstead will be plying their trade in the Combined Counties Premier South (Step Five) this season and were yet to begin their campaign, so would this be an advantage to the visitors who will be more than confident of progression in this one. And they duly progressed through to the next round too as after Anderson Silva Baro had put the visitors ahead seven minutes before the break, Abdul Khamis netted a second with eleven minutes to go to seal their passage into the next round.
Colney Heath 1 Takeley 2
Takeley have begun their season having kept two clean sheets in the league in two games so far, they opened up with a 1-0 success against Ilford before they drew 0-0 at Great Wakering Rovers, so not a bad start, their opponents were Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five) Colney Heath, who have also played two games in the league so far and also have one win and one draw, so this could well be a decent match up that could have gone either way. Takeley grabbed an early lead through a Jordan Westcott penalty but saw the hosts level with seven minutes of the first half to go through Joseph Caffrey. A replay then looked on the cards, that was until Westcott popped up to net a second penalty of the afternoon in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game and send the ESL visitors into the next round.
Eynesbury Rovers 2 Romford 2 (Att: 126)
Romford have began life under new management and quite a few new faces in general pretty decently indeed as their midweek draw with Athletic Newham came after their opening day thumping over one of the title favourites Stanway Rovers meaning they are unbeaten with four points from two games so far, their opponents are tenth in the standings of the United Counties Premier South (Step Five) after bouncing back from an opening day defeat to Hinckley AFC by beating Yaxley in midweek to grab their first points of the season. Well, the visitors edged ahead after just three minutes in this one courtesy of a Jonny Hall goal, and when Victor Osobu added a second for the hosts six minutes before the break, Romford had a mountain to climb. But, the managed to reduce the deficit with eighteen minutes to go when Shermandin Artmeladze converted from the spot, and with ten minutes to go Artmeladze netted again to see the visitors earn a replay.
FC Clacton 0 Leighton Town 6 (Att: 116)
This was always going to be a tough season for the hosts, they almost didn't even make the start of this season and could easily have been out of Senior Football altogether due to issues off the field that saw their entire playing staff and management depart, so they are building from scratch this season and the opening two league games unsurprisingly ended in defeats to Barking & West Essex without scoring a single goal. This task against Southern League One Central (Step Four) Leighton Town would be a very hard contest for sure, and so it turned out, Kyle Boyce giving the visitors a seventh minute lead before a Sam King double on 14 & 22 minutes had the Bedfordshire side cruising. Lynton Goss then made it four on the half hour mark before Boyce added a fifth in first half stoppage time, and all the hosts could do now was prevent an embarrassment, well they did only concede one more goal in the second half, a Charlie Pattison goal just before the hour mark, but by then the game was done as a contest as Leighton cruised through.
Great Wakering Rovers 2 Redbridge 2 (Att: 150)
Rovers welcomed back a familiar foe in the shape of Isthmian North side Redbridge who were an ESL side only two seasons ago, Rovers have started the season with two clean sheets and four points from two games, opening up their campaign with a 2-0 win at West Essex before they drew 0-0 at home to Takeley in midweek, Redbridge of course are a Step Four side now and grabbed the perfect start when taking the lead after just a minute through Tendi Quamina, but Rovers recovered to level through Harry Brown after twenty five minutes but then fell behind again with thirteen minutes remaining when Charlie Stimson scored. Rovers though managed to fight back again to earn a replay at Oakside when James White netted with nine minutes to go.
Harpenden Town 3 Halstead Town 1 (Att: 155)
Halstead travelled to Hertfordshire this weekend having only picked up one point from their opening two games in the ESL, they opened with a 1-1 draw at White Ensign before losing 4-2 at home to Hullbridge in midweek, Harpenden have played three games already this season, they lost in the Herts Charity Shield to Wormley Rovers before they won their opening league game in the Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five) at Shefford Town & Campton, and they took on Wormley again, this time in the league and played out a goalless draw in midweek. Harpenden grabbed a seventh minute lead through Ben Spaul but The Humbugs levelled through Asa Cansdale just three minutes later. Kyle Raho restored the hosts lead just before half time before Ryan Plowwright sealed the deal with just over twenty minutes to go.
Little Oakley 3 Dunstable Town 1 (Att: 99)
Oakley are the only side in the ESL to have drawn their opening two fixtures, they were two goals up in their opener at Buckhurst Hill before being pegged back, and they also led against Stansted until their opponents netted with ten minutes to go to deny them in that one too, so holding onto a lead seems an issue so far this season. Their opponents though have lost both their games in the Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five), losing to Colney Heath before falling to Winslow United in midweek, so Oakley certainly fancy progressing here as they did have home advantage too. The hosts led 2-0 at the break after Luke Hipkin's 20th minute goal was added to by Darren Mills with nine minutes of the first half remaining, but when Ayo Akinbobola reduced the arrears eight minutes after the break, Oakley must have been thinking, oh no here we go again, but after the visitors saw Luke Lodder sent off with nine minutes remaining, Oakley sealed their passage into the next round when Adrian Cant netted in stoppage time.
Newport Pagnell Town 3 Ilford 3
The Foxes haven't started the season how they would liked after a 1-0 loss at Takeley on the opening day of the season was followed up by a 6-3 loss at newbies Benfleet which saw them reduced to ten men late on as well, not ideal, and they travelled to the outskirts of Milton Keynes for this cup tie against a Newport Pagnell side who have won and lost in their opening two outings in the United Counties Premier South (Step Five), thrashing Yaxley 5-1 in their opener before losing narrowly 2-1 at St Neots Town in midweek. I expected the hosts to prevail in this one though but it was The Foxes who opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark through Michael Olatunji but thereafter for a time it was the hosts who took control, levelling just two minutes later through Abraham before goals late on in the first half from Connor & Henson had the hosts 3-1 to the good. The game remained 3-1 with four minutes of the ninety remaining, but Ilford then reduced the arrears Greg Akpele before the unthinkable happened as Ilford earned a replay thanks to a 95th minute header from Mo Nur Habib, sparking wild celebrations from the visitors who looked dead and buried at one stage.
Potton United 1 White Ensign 3 (Att: 131)
Ensign have began this season well, they followed up a 1-1 draw with Halstead on the opening weekend with a fine 4-2 victory at Frenford largely thanks to an Ellis Deveraux hat-trick, could he fire again against a Potton United side who lost their opener in the Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five) at London Lions before bouncing back to defeat Baldock Town in midweek and send his side through? Well, it didn't start well for the visitors as Chris Manangu 11th minute goal had the hosts ahead, but Ensign are full of confidence right now and levelled through skipper Nathan Wilson after twenty one minutes before that man Deveraux gave the Southend side the lead with just under twenty minutes remaining. And Jon Evans added a late third to make sure of Ensign's progress as their good start to the season continued.
Sawbridgeworth Town 0 FC Romania 5
These two actually played each other in league games last season as both competed in the Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five) in what was a rather disastrous campaign for the home side, they have been transferred back to the ESL for this season but have begun this one with two defeats from two without scoring, suffering 2-0 losses to both Frenford & Woodford. FC Romania did not start the season well after losing their opener 3-0 at home to MK Irish, but they did bounce back by winning 3-0 at Arlesey Town and I felt they would win through in this tie as well and progress into the next round. And so it turned out, and rather comfortably too, Jesse Friend opening the scoring on the half hour mark before Riley Horne-Haynes doubled that lead in first half stoppage time, Flavio Gyawukyem made it three in the 72nd minute, and an Ezekiel Williams penalty with eleven to go plus a late Alex Awobimpe goal capped a decent day for the Cheshunt based outfit.
Stanway Rovers 0 Maldon & Tiptree 0 (Att: 170)
Rovers have been installed as favourites along with Saffron Walden Town to win the ESL this season but their start hasn't been what they expected, as after losing 4-1 at Romford on the opening day they conceded late on at Barking to draw 1-1, meaning no wins from their opening two games, and they welcomed Isthmian North (Step Four) side Maldon & Tiptree to their Hawthorns ground hoping to shock their opponents who haven't as yet started their season. This could have been quite the game & could maybe have kick started the hosts season into life, but as it turned out neither side could find the net in what was a goalless encounter, so it means both will have to go again at Maldon's Park Drive to see who can progress into the next round.
Tilbury 4 Buckhurst Hill 1 (Att: 223)
This was an ESL league game last season as the hosts went onto win the division and gain promotion back to Step Four and the Isthmian North at the first time of asking, however, Buckhurst Hill were the only side for some time to beat Tilbury, smacking them 4-0 at home to end their long unbeaten run, so maybe Hill would look to that to try and cause a surprise. Their league start has seen them pick up one point from two games so far, fighting back from two goals down to draw with Little Oakley before losing to Saffron Walden 2-0 in midweek, yes Tilbury hadn't started their season yet, but I felt they would have the edge in this one. The hosts were stunned though after just two minutes when George Thompson netted from the spot to put Buckhurst Hill ahead, and it remained that way until nine minutes from half time when Sam Bantick levelled, and in first half stoppage time Tilbury led thanks to a Alex Akrofi goal. Hill were then dealt a further blow when Ethan Daniels was sent off just eight minutes into the second half, and Bantick then added further goals on 84 & 95 minutes to finally break the visitors resolve and add some gloss to the score line for the home side.
Tring Athletic 1 Barking 1 (Att: 192)
Barking began life in the 2024/25 season with four points from their opening two games in the ESL, thumping FC Clacton 3-0 before netting a late leveller to draw with Stanway Rovers 1-1 in midweek, their opponents Tring Athletic have also picked up four points from their opening two games this season in the Spartan South Midlands Premier (Step Five), a 1-1 draw with Biggleswade United followed by a 2-1 win over London Lions, although I did fancy a Barking win in this one. Well, after Sam Edwards had fired The Blues ahead just before the hour mark it seemed that would be the case, that was until the won a spot kick deep into added on time and saw Gregory Deer convert the penalty to mean a replay at Mayesbrook Park is forthcoming.
West Essex 0 Enfield 1
Wadham Lodge played host to ESL Vs Southern One Central (Step Four) at the weekend, West's season began with a 2-0 loss to Great Wakering Rovers before they netted a 3-0 success over FC Clacton in midweek to bounce back from that opening day disappointment. They were up against an Enfield side who won promotion from the ESL two seasons ago although have been moved from the Isthmian North to their current league this season, and it's a league that is yet to begin, so West would at least have that advantage over them although it was going to be a tough assignment against a side in a league above them, it turned out to be a battle that was for sure!!! Robert Clark gave Enfield the lead just past the half hour mark, but West were given the chance to level from the spot but saw this saved by Lamar Johnson, the keeper was then sent off after giving away another spot kick, this time deep deep into stoppage time, but sub keeper George Edgeworth saved that one too!!! Enfield were to end the game with nine men after Benjamin Wyss was given his marching orders deeper into a heep of added on time, but the visitors managed to come away with the win and progression into the next round.
Sunday 4th August
Grays Athletic 5 Hullbridge Sports 1 (Att: 290)
This tie put ex Hullbridge Sports manager Darren Manning against his current side in Grays Athletic who of course play in the Isthmian North (Step Four). Manning was of course manager when Sports won promotion to the Isthmian North a few seasons ago so this will be one he is wanting to win no doubt, however, Hullbridge have started the season on fire, netting a 5-0 win over Stansted before they won 4-2 at Halstead in midweek, that's nine goals in two games and eight of those coming in the first half of those matches, Grays haven't yet started the season but would need to start it right if they are not to be swallowed up by the visitors attacking power. It was billed as a potential cracker this one, and it was Hullbridge, just like in their two league games thus far, who made a quick start when Charlie Morris tapped home following a break down the right, but Grays fought back to level after twenty minutes when Elliott Sartorius drilled home. And Grays then took the lead just six minutes later when Alejandro Machado let fly from thirty yards out to see the hosts go into the half time break 2-1 ahead. And barely a minute after the restart Grays had increased their lead when winger Bobby Unwin cut inside onto his left foot before firing home Machado then added his second and Grays fourth of the afternoon with seventeen minutes go to, and there was still time for the hosts to seal a wonderful performance when Matas Skarna added a late fifth to send the home side into the next round.
So, well done to Benfleet (who win on their debut in this competition), Athletic Newham, Takeley, Little Oakley & White Ensign who all made it through to the next round in two weeks time, these are their matches in the Preliminary Round.....
Benfleet Vs Haringey Borough
Lancing Vs Athletic Newham
Little Oakley Vs Berkhamsted
Stotfold Vs Takeley
White Ensign Vs Brantham Athletic
And eight sides managed to earn replays in the next few days, these are those ties....
Monday August 5th
Biggleswade Vs Stansted (winner at home to London Lions)
Redbridge Vs Great Wakering Rovers (winners at home to Tring Athletic or Barking)
Tuesday August 6th
Barking Vs Tring Athletic (winners away to Redbridge or Great Wakering Rovers)
Frenford Vs Biggleswade Town (winners at home to Enfield)
Maldon & Tiptree Vs Stanway Rovers (winners away to Tilbury)
Saffron Walden Town Vs Barton Rovers (winners away to Walthamstow)
Wednesday August 7th
Ilford Vs Newport Pagnell Town (winners at home to AFC Dunstable)
Romford Vs Eynesbury Rovers (winners away to Brightlingsea Regent)
Good luck to all of those sides competing in the replays this week, how many more will get through and join the five who progressed at the weekend.....
