Essex Senior League Round-Up
By Pete Dudley
Burnham Ramblers 4 Sporting Bengal United 1
Ramblers are out the bottom four after stunning Sporting Bengal United at Leslie Field as they made it ten goals in two games with an emphatic victory. Sporting have now slipped to eighth place following another defeat.
Enfield 1893 3 Barkingside 1
The hosts climbed a place to 19th after defeating Barkingside at the Harlow Arena. The visitors took an early lead on two minutes but saw the hosts level seven minutes later through Jones before Trivanhu netted on 16 minutes to put the home side ahead. And seven minutes before the break it was three for the hosts when O’Brien netted and see Barkingside drop to twelveth as a result.
Hackney Wick 1 Clapton 2
Clapton won the derby against Hackney Wick at a packed Old Spotted Dog to climb into the top ten of the division. Chobblah rolled The Tons into the lead after the Wick keeper came for a loose ball & was completely bamboozled by the bounce, and they doubled their lead from the spot through Nalbani. Wick did grab one back late on however their latest defeat sees them fall into the bottom four.
Hullbridge Sports 1 FC Romania 4
FCR are up to seventh now after an emphatic second half performance saw them defeat a struggling Hullbridge at Lower Road. The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half when Florin Pop came off the bench to dance through the Bridge defence and score and they doubled their lead just past the hour mark when a lose pass in midfield from the hosts saw another substitute Ioan Petresc onto it and lob keeper Merralls. Hullbridge were given a lifeline four minutes later when Howard Wright latched onto a ball and slotted home, but barely a minute later the visitors restored their two goal cushion when Pop netted his second. And just another two minutes had elapsed when Petresc got past Aaron Hunwicks and lobbed Merralls again for his second and the Romanians fourth and seal the points in this one. Sports slip to second bottom following this latest defeat.
Ilford 2 Takeley 0
The Foxes remain in ninth following a second win on the spin after they inflicted Takeley’s second straight defeat with victory at Cricklefield. James Peagram gave the hosts the lead before Paul Oshin doubled their advantage and it was an advantage they kept and took the points here. Takeley stay fifth after this loss.
Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town (2017) 3
Matt Frew netted a stoppage time leveller to help The Robins salvage a draw at home to Woodford Town at Crofters. Frew put the hosts into a seventh minute lead but Asare then levelled for the visitors two minutes before the break. A Grosvenor own goal just after the break put the hosts back in front but Mantovani then levelled just before the hour mark. Woodford thought they had a third straight game where Kessel netted an 87th minutes goal, but Frew popped up minutes later to deny the Goffs Lane side all three points.
Southend Manor 0 Redbridge 3 (match abandoned after 80 minutes, serious injury)
The match at Southchurch Park between Manor and the Motormen was abandoned with ten minutes left due to a serious leg injury sustained by host keeper Liam Pitts. Prior to this incident Redbridge went ahead in the 34th minute when Poku buried a one on one and just past the hour mark Coxi-Sebastfao scored from close range to double the visitors’ lead. And Redbridge were cruising to a seventh straight win when Hutchinson tucked home a rebound after Pitts had denied Brian Moses. But soon after play was halted as Manor keeper Pitts suffered a serious leg injury after he came together with Moses, and it resulted with an ambulance being called to take the stricken keeper away. The decision was taken to call an end to proceedings ten minutes from time and all our thoughts are with Liam who we hope makes a full and speedy recovery.
Stansted 0 Basildon United 1
The Bees are second only on goal difference with a game in hand after they came away from Hargrave Park with all three points. Ash Blackburn grabbed the only goal of the game right on half time and defeat sees Stansted remain in thirteenth place.
Waltham Forest 0 Great Wakering Rovers 2
Rovers remain top on goal difference after claiming all three points against a struggling Forest side at Kitchener Road in Walthamstow. Woodhouse gave the visitors a 34th minute lead before Gordon sealed the points with a second and leave the hosts down in 14th position.