Prokit UK Essex Olympian League
May & Baker E.C. have the chance to return to the top of the Premier Division table if they can pick up an away win at Rayleigh Town. The hosts sit 12th but have an eight point lead over Basildon Town. That means whilst they are out of deep relegation danger, they still can help themselves by putting a few more points on the board to make them mathematically safe. The corresponding fixture ended in a 2-2 draw, but May & Baker will be going all out to make sure that their game in hand over Frenford results in them leading the table once more.
Basildon Town have five games left to play and need to pick up maximum points from all of them if they want to avoid dropping back down to Division One after only a season in the higher Olympian League tier. Therefore every game is a must-win and that means by the close of play on Saturday afternoon the bottom-placed outfit have to have registered a victory over Bishop’s Stortford Swifts.
Frenford put aside league business and turn their attention to the Senior League Cup. They entertain White Ensign, who currently sit 3rd in the Premier Division. The hosts lead the Premier Division table and are chasing a possible Olympian League and Cup double, which they pulled off in 2012/13. The visitors have enough quality to upset those plans if Frenford don’t turn up for duty. Either way the winners of this one will have booked a Semi Final berth, placing them a step closer to landing the silverware. Springfield are also shooting for a Semi Final place, hosting Newham United from Division Two. The visitors sit mid table but have had a good run in this competition and have nothing to lose going into this one. Springfield are 5th in the Premier Division and go into this one as favourites. Cup football is all about shocks though; if Newham United win this one it will cause ripples in the Olympian League.
Catholic United have a BBC Essex Premier Cup Semi-Final with Old Southendian coming up. They lie 4th in the Premier Division table and with games in hand could go top if they were to win those. On Saturday they continue their Anagram Records Trophy campaign with a Quarter Final tie against Sporting Hackney, who currently sit 9th in the Middlesex County League Premier Division. It’s real toss up as to who could win this one, but Catholic United do have home advantage and are in good form going into this one.
Saturday 24th February
Prokit UK Essex Olympian League
Premier Division
Basildon Town v Bishop’s Stortford Swifts
Leigh Ramblers v Kelvedon Hatch
Rayleigh Town v May & Baker E.C.
Senior League Cup Quarter Final
Frenford v White Ensign
Springfield v Newham United
Anagram Records Trophy 3rd Round
Catholic United v Sporting Hackney
