Essex Senior League Round-Up
By Peter Dudley
Burnham Ramblers 3 Woodford Town (2017) 1
Ramblers climbed up to fourth bottom and are now level on points with fifth bottom Stansted after they grabbed a vital win over Woodford Town at Leslie Field. The hosts took an early lead through Karl Swanborough, heading home a Bagnall cross powerfully at the back post and it was two for the hosts on 26 minutes when a Charlee Hughes free kick fell to Bradley Morgan inside the box and he turned home to put Burnham in dreamland. However almost immediately Woodford pulled one back when a free kick found Jack Grosvenor who looped a header over French into the net. The visitors then went down to ten men in the second period after a melee involving a number of players, and the hosts managed to seal the points for their first win in 2018 when after the visitors pressed for an equaliser, a ball upfield saw Swanborough onto it and he finished well to make sure Burnham grabbed a huge three points in their battle against the drop. Woodford remain 12th following this defeat and are ten points above the bottom four, so despite this setback should be ok.
Clapton 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 3
Sawbridgeworth Town are up to 8th after they inflicted the Tons sixth straight loss by winning comfortably at the Old Spotted Dog. The Robins held a slender lead at the break thanks to a Joe Wright goal and then doubled their lead early on in the second period when Aaron Thomas netted his fifth goal in three games. And it was three when Terrell Hunter grabbed one to seal a terrific three points for the Robins. It was also a special day for 16 year old James Askew, who made his debut in goal for the visitors and kept a clean sheet, meaning Clapton failed to score again and remain in 6th spot.
FC Romania 4 Sporting Bengal United 1
Hosts FCR closed the gap to the top two to just two points after they thumped Sporting Bengal United at Theobalds Close. Sporting gifted their hosts an own goal in the 52nd minute and that opened up the flood gates as Mihai Botosan, Cosmin Sandhu and Sergiu Pitaru then all found the target in the second half. Kai Parkinson scored the Sporting Bengal reply and it means that his team, after two heavy defeats, are now right back in the relegation mix as they slip down to 15th and are just four points above the bottom four.
Tower Hamlets 1 Hullbridge Sports 3
Hullbridge Sports are up to 14th and are still five points clear of the bottom four after they recorded another victory, this time at Mile End against Tower Hamlets. It was a terrific start from the visitors as they took the lead in the 6th minute when a Matt Dicks corner was headed home by Luke Hornsley, and it got even better for the visitors in the 19th minute when Adebola Sotoyinbo netted a superb individual goal when running at the defence and slotting home. And it was three midway through the half when Dicks crossed for Sotoyinbo to grab his second and put the visitors in total control. The hosts then saw Wale Odedoyin pick up a second yellow a minute before half time to cap a half to forget for the Mile End outfit, however a rather quiet second period followed and it did end with Harry Matthews netting a consolation for the ten men of Hamlets, however its three wins in a week for Hullbridge as they continue to move in the right direction. Hamlets themselves slip to 10th and are in danger of seeing their top ten finish disappear, as they are only four points ahead of the chasing pack now.
Postponed games from the weekend:-
Friday – West Essex vs Hackney Wick
Saturday – Basildon United vs Redbridge
Ilford vs Wadham Lodge
Southend Manor vs Barkingside
Stansted vs Enfield 1893
Takeley vs Great Wakering Rovers
