Premier Division Round-Up
By Peter Dudley / Photo by Sherry Cumming
FC Romania 2 Barkingside 0
The hosts remain second after seeing off Barkingside at Theobalds Lane. Laurentiu Teleoaca opened the scoring in the 15th minute and then just before the half hour a second was added via Cosmin Anton. That was enough to see off Barkingside and the Wolves remain seven points behind leaders Redbridge. For the visitors it’s another defeat, their eighth straight in the league, and it sees them remain in the bottom four.
Great Wakering Rovers 0 Basildon United 2
The Bees have opened up a four point cushion on fifth placed Rovers after they defeated them at Burroughs Park. Jack Adlington headed the visitors in front early on before Marcus Bowers slotted home right on half time to double his sides advantage and make up for an earlier penalty miss. Skeels was sent off for the Bees in the second period but it did not stop them from claiming all three points.
Hackney Wick 1 Waltham Forest 1
Wick sunk to the foot of the ESL despite picking up a point at home to Waltham Forest at The Old Spotted Dog. Wick did lead at the break courtesy of a Shunsuke Sasaki strike but Forest equalised when a Mo Sagaf cross found the net meaning the visitors took something from the contest, leaving them in fifteenth spot.
Hullbridge Sports 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 1
Three goals in eight second half minutes were enough for Hullbridge Sports to grab the points against Sawbridgeworth Town at Lower Road. The Robins missed plenty of openings and were made to pay when Jimmy Cox lofted an opportunist effort over a surprised Matt Ponter eight minutes into the second half, and they quickly doubled their lead through a good finish from Joe Pattinson, before adding a third in eight minutes when Rob Hodgson converted at the back post. Billy Skinner did reply with a penalty soon after however the damage had been done and Sawbo left empty handed and scratching their heads. Hullbridge move off the bottom as a result whilst Sawbo remain in sixteenth.
Southend Manor 1 Burnham Ramblers 2
Ramblers are up to eleventh and have leapfrogged their opponents in the process after they came from behind to win at Southchurch Park. Manor took lead after twenty minutes via Mohamed Kargbo but the visitors levelled on the hour mark through Connor Tyrell before netting the winner through Bill Howard, leaving Manor a place below in twelfth place.
Takeley 4 Stansted 1
Hosts Takeley had to come from behind to eventually comfortably see off Stansted at Station Road and remain in third spot in the ESL. The visitors took a surprise lead in the 33rd minute when Nick Brown finished off a tidy move from the Airportmen however the hosts managed to level before the break when hosts centre half Matt Gill scored. The hosts were a much better side in the second half, with Gill quickly netting in the 47th minute to lead before two goals in the final twenty minutes – one from Carl Mullings, the other from an own goal, capped a fine second half display from Marc Das’s side. Stansted have now lost nine straight and are still in the bottom four.
Tower Hamlets 0 Woodford Town (2017) 2
Woodford are into the top ten after they netted two first half goals to see off Tower Hamlets at Mile End. Ricardo Shaw put the visitors ahead before Ola Ogunwamide doubled Woodford’s lead before half time. Woodford keeper Nick Wilson had to make two decent saves to keep Hamlets out in the second period and help see his side take the points and end a run of defeats. Hamlets remain in eighth.
Wadham Lodge 2 Sporting Bengal United 2
Wadham Lodge and Sporting Bengal ended the year with a point a piece after they played out a draw in Walthamstow. The hosts took the lead as early as the 5th minute through Brian Simpson. Ashaan Siddik levelled up in the 45th minute but Lodge re-took the lead early in the second half with a Mario Gnijaj strike. However Steven Carvell notched the equaliser in the 75th minute and with no further goals meant both teams shared a point. Lodge end the year in fourteenth place, one place and five points below Sporting Bengal United in the table.
West Essex 0 Clapton 1
A fifth minute goal from Steven Sardinha was enough for The Tons to defeat West Essex at Mayesbrook Park to end their interesting year on and off the field in sixth spot. Defeat for West Essex ends a decent week or two and sees them end the year a place and five points below today’s opponents.
