Essex Senior League - Saturday 16th December Preview

Essex Senior League – Saturday 16th December Preview

Written by Scott Lanza in Local sport👁 2,353

Saturday 16 December 2017, 12.02pm

ESL

Essex Senior League

The midweek programme was decimated by snow, rain and frost which continued to cause problems as Friday evening’s game between Woodford Town 2017 and Sporting Bengal United was lost to the elements. Clapton’s pitch has taken a battering over the last few days meaning their Saturday encounter with Takeley was called off on Friday evening too.

Hopefully the weather behaves itself and allow the ESL to get on with the football! A mouth-watering encounter sees bottom-placed Hullbridge Sports host leaders Redbridge. Before immediately plumbing for a Motormen away win it has to be remembered that Hullbridge are on a winning run of three – two of those games being in cup competitions. Hullbridge could be in a bit of a false position, after all how they can be the only Essex Senior League team left in the FA Vase and also be the team currently at the foot of the table? Redbridge will have to be wary of Darren Manning’s resurgent Hullbridge. Should Redbridge win they will at least maintain their four point lead at the top. Hullbridge need the points just as badly and a win for them would see them off the bottom; Redbridge stay top regardless of the result but will certainly not be looking at things that way.

FC Romania will want to keep the pressure on Redbridge so need to beat Great Wakering Rovers at Theobalds Lane. Great Wakering are fifth and a win for them would move them closer to the top. The Wolves have won four and drawn one from their last five, with the last three games bringing in a healthy sixteen goals. Great Wakering have a seven game winning run in the league and did have enough about them to have beaten FC Romania in an FA Vase encounter in November. The oringial game finished 2-2 with Wakering winning the replay 1-0. That suggests that either side can win this one and that it could be a tight affair.

Tower Hamlets take on fourth-placed Basildon United who also want to be picking up all the spoils at Mile End Stadium so as to keep the pressure on the leaders. The Bees have won their last three and have been buzzing around the top of the table for most of the season, even occupying pole position in early November. Tower Hamlets haven’t fared so well against the top teams this season and lost the corresponding fixture 3-0 in September.

Sawbridgeworth Town sit third from bottom but will be hoping that free-falling Barkingside continue their losing run when they visit Crofters End. The visitors are on a six game losing spell which has seen them plummet down to seventeenth. A win for the Robins would see them fly above Barkingside in the table. Waltham Forest look to continue their move away from the bottom end of the table with a home game against mid-table Southend Manor. Burnham Ramblers entertain Wadham Lodge with both teams having managed to claw themselves out of the relegation mire into safer mid-table waters.