Premier Division Round-Up

By Peter Dudley

The opening weekend of the Essex Senior L eague Premier and Eastern Senior League South Division took place this weekend and so here is a round-up of the opening weekend’s results:-

Premier Division

Woodford Town 4 Leyton Athletic 1

Clapton 1 Tower Hamlets 0

Hullbridge Sports 0 Barkingside 0

Ilford 0 Stansted 3

Redbridge 1 Saffron Walden Town 1

Southend Manor 2 Enfield 0

Stanway Rovers 1 Takeley 5

Walthamstow 2 Hoddesdon Town 2

West Essex 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 3

The Premier Division began on Friday night at the Harlow Arena as Woodford Town thrashed Leyton Athletic.  Ola Ogunwamide put the hosts ahead before Chinua Phinn-Archer doubled his sides lead and when Ethan Kessel made it three just before the hour the game was done.  Ogunwamide did add a fourth for the hosts and although Leyton netted a consolation through Dwade James late on it was too little too late for the Walthamstow side.  Onto Saturday’s action and a stoppage time strike from Jeffrey Cobblah saw The Tons edge past Tower Hamlets at The Old Spotted Dog, whilst at Lower Road Hullbridge Sports and Barkingside played out a goalless draw in their opening game of the season.  Ex-Ilford striker Carl Mullings came back to haunt his old club, netting two first half goals for his current club Stansted as they took a 2-0 half time lead into the changing rooms, and Sam West netted a third in the second period to see the Airportmen leave with a opening day victory at Cricklefield.  Southend Manor defeated Enfield at Southchurch Park to get their season off to a good start, with the goals coming from Alfie Linfield and Charlie Burns in the final twenty minutes of that one.  At The Hawthorns Stuart Zanone struck a hat-trick as Takeley laid down an early marker by thrashing Stanway Rovers 5-1 with the other goals coming from Mitchell Das and Bryn Thorpe as the Station Road outfit went top of the table on goal difference, and at Kitchener Road Walthamstow were held by Hoddesdon Town.  James Peagram put the hosts ahead however Hoddesdon turned it around to lead 2-1 thanks to Scott Hayes and then another free touch from a corner, however the hosts did find a leveller through Christian Owusu to pick up a point in their opener.  And finally at Mayesbrook Park Sawbridgeworth Town claimed all three points after they won an entertaining encounter against West Essex.  Josh Knight had put the Robins ahead only for Greg Frederick to level, but Lewis Roberts then restored the visitors lead once again before Tom Macleod levelled for the hosts once again; Roberts then added his second and Sawbo’s winner with just over twenty minutes remaining to give the visitors an enjoyable journey home.

Eastern Senior League  South Division

Burnham Ramblers 2 Lopes Tavares London 2

Frenford 2 Newbury Forest 2

Halstead Town 2 May & Baker 2

Harwich & Parkeston 3 White Ensign 3

Holland 3 Braintree Town Reserves 0

Little Oakley 3 Hashtag United 2

Wivenhoe Town 1 Wormley Rovers 1

Burnham Ramblers came from two goals down at half time to salvage a draw against Lopes Tavares London at Leslie Field, whilst at Rosemary Lane Halstead blew a two goal lead to draw at home to May & Baker.  Jake Brown had given Halstead the lead on his 100^th appearance and Jordan Pavett doubled their lead, but the visitors managed to comeback to earn a late draw.  Over at Royal Oak an entertaining encounter saw Harwich and Ensign share six goals, Locke put the hosts ahead early on before Heath levelled, only for Ensign to retake the lead through Sorrell after a defensive error.  And when Hillard gave the visitors a two goal cushion just before half time, you thought they were the side in control.  But there was time for Harwich to reduce the deficit before the break when Palmer struck home a low effort, and the hosts were only one goal behind at the break.  Ensign’s Barnby was then shown a red card in the second period, and the hosts took advantage to level the contest up when Richardson scored a brilliant long range effort, which meant the game ended all square in the end.  At Eastcliff Holland got their season off to a flyer with a 3-0 win over Braintree Town Reserves, and Little Oakley came from behind to defeat Hashtag United thanks to goals from Harry Mann, Stephen Polley and Sam Eldridge.  Hashtag had lead and had also missed a penalty prior to the hosts comeback but it’s a terrific win for the hosts that.  Finally Wivenhoe Town and Wormley Rovers played out a 1-1 draw, George Smith had put the hosts ahead with a low shot from outside the area but the visitors levelled thanks to a close range header.

Here are next week’s fixtures:-

Monday 6^th August

Premier Division

Barkingside vs Sporting Bengal United

Enfield vs Redbridge

Tuesday 7^th August

Premier Division

Clapton vs Ilford

Saffron Walden Town vs Stanway Rovers

Sawbridgeworth Town vs Hoddesdon Town

Takeley vs Stansted

West Essex vs Walthamstow

Woodford Town vs St Margaretsbury

South Division

Brightlingsea Regent vs Halstead Town

Coggeshall United vs Little Oakley

Harwich & Parkeston vs Holland

Hashtag United vs Hackney Wick

Newbury Forest vs Lopes Tavares London

White Ensign vs Burnham Ramblers

Wednesday 8^th August

Premier Division

Leyton Athletic vs Tower Hamlets

Southend Manor vs Hullbridge Sports

South Division

Benfleet vs Frenford

Braintree Town Reserves vs Wivenhoe Town

Saturday 11^th August

The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Barkingside vs Leyton Athletic

Burnham Ramblers vs West Essex

Eastbourne United vs Hackney Wick

Hullbridge Sports vs Gorleston

Norwich United vs Takeley

Redbridge vs Long Melford

Southend Manor vs FC Romania

Sporting Bengal United vs Ilford

Walthamstow vs Walsham Le Willows

Wivenhoe Town vs Brantham Athletic

Wodson Park vs Hoddesdon Town

Woodbridge Town vs Clapton

Eastern Senior League South Division

Braintree Town Reserves vs Fire United Christian

Brightlingsea Regent vs Wormley Rovers

Frenford vs Coggeshall United

Halstead Town vs Benfleet

Holland vs Newbury Forest

Little Oakley vs Lopes Tavares London

May & Baker vs Harwich & Parkeston

White Ensign vs Hashtag United

Sunday 12^th August

The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

St Margaretsbury vs Enfield

Stansted vs Sawbridgeworth Town (at Bishops Stortford FC)

Tower Hamlets vs Stanway Rovers (at Stanway Rovers FC)