Essex Senior League Round-Up
By Peter Dudley
Premier Division
Barkingside P-P Wadham Lodge
Today’s match at Cricklefield was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Great Wakering Rovers 1 Takeley 0
Wakering took the points in a real battle at Burroughs Park. Substitute Neil Richmond’s late penalty ended up giving the hosts the win though they really had to work for it as Takeley had chances of their own in a match played in difficult conditions. Wakering grabbed their sixth straight league victory and in the process gained ground on second-placed side FC Romania.
Hullbridge Sports P-P West Essex
The match at Lower Road was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Redbridge P-P Basildon United
The match at Oakside was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Sawbridgeworth Town 1 Enfield 1893 3
Enfield grabbed a marvellous victory at Crofters against a Sawbridgeworth side that have now lost two straight. The visitors went ahead in the 19th minute when a great ball in by Barrett found Ben Bradbury at the back post who duly converted, however the hosts levelled in similar fashion in the 29th minute through Billy Skinner, meaning the sides went into the break level. But just before the hour mark the visitors retook the lead when Bradbury netted with a superb solo effort, and then in the 73rd minute sealed the win when Joe Johnson curled home delightfully from range and give the visitors a vital three points.
Sporting Bengal United 2 Southend Manor 3
Steve Carvell and Tanvir Ahmed both netted for hosts Sporting Bengal United, however they could not follow up their superb midweek win with another three points as they fell to a narrow defeat against Southend Manor at Mile End Stadium. The visitors had to battle for the win though in tough conditions, although Rhys Fatt fired Manor into the lead in the 20th minute and then a minute later keeper Klinton Makayabo kicked the ball from his own area that ended up sailing over his counterparts head and landing in the back of the net. Carvel was able to pull one back before the break, but Alfie Lindfield looked like he had secured the points when he scored in the 70th minute but Sporting Bengal pulled one back five minute later. However Manor went on to take a welcome three points, but the win was marred by two bad injuries which won’t help their cause going forward. Sporting Bengal on the other hand may be looking over their shoulders again after this defeat.
Stansted 2 Clapton 3
Clapton edged a thriller at a muddy Hargrave Park against Stansted to climb into fifth spot after Takeley lost at Wakering. Jay Morris put the visitors ahead with a superb free kick before Dylan Ebengo doubled the Tons lead. Stansted pulled one back through Ryan Ramsey before Jeffrey Cobblah restored the visitors two goal cushion. Jack West was then sent off for the hosts for a second yellow and the hosts missed a spot kick too. Stansted then set up a grandstand finish when pulling another back through Julien Lloyd; however the Tons held on to inflict only Stansted’s second defeat in seven since the turn of the year.
Waltham Forest 1 FC Romania 1
Elias Siligato scored on his debut for Waltham Forest as they held high flying FC Romania to a draw at Kitchener Road in Walthamstow. Vlad Sighiartau levelled the scores in the 52nd minute. Despite this result the gap to the bottom four is now only two points after Enfield’s win at Sawbridgeworth, whilst FCR remain second, three points behind Redbridge but only a point ahead of third placed Great Wakering Rovers.
Woodford Town (2017) 5 Burnham Ramblers 2
Braces from De’juane Taylor-Crossdale and Gamel Nfodjo plus a brilliant free kick from Andrea Mantovani saw Woodford Town hit five at home to Burnham Ramblers at Goffs Lane. Karl Swanborough and Robert Bagnell notched the Burnham replies. The hosts remain 10th but for the visitors it’s six defeats on the spin and they are now just a point above the bottom four after an alarming 2018 so far.
