The latest round of ESL fixtures starts on Friday evening when Woodford Town entertain Takeley. The visitors are once again setting their stall as being one of the Division’s top teams. They need to capture all the points off the Woods as they currently sit 4th and having lost to the leaders recently need to make sure that the eight point gap is reduced by the close of play.
Hullbridge Sports have set the early pace and go into Saturday’s game against Redbridge having put Saffron Walden Town’s unbeaten league run to the sword on Tuesday evening. Darren Manning’s side now take on a Redbridge outfit that have not found the form that saw them lead last season’s table for long periods. Having had promotion snatched from them the Motormen have had a bit of a hangover this season and have lost two home games on the spin going into this one. Hullbridge are managing to beat teams at a canter, as well as grind out results. That means they could have enough about them to come away from Oakside with all the points.
Stansted will be hoping that Hullbridge fail on their excursion, but need to make sure that their trip to the Old Spotted Dog also brings home some points. The Airportmen, just like Hullbridge Sports, are having a complete turnaround from last season’s battle against relegation. A newly assembled squad, plus some new found belief has seen Stansted win six from eight league games which has propelled them to second. Clapton have blown hot and cold this season, but they have shown themselves to be a decent outfit if they are on their game. The Tons are certainly not in the lower regions of the table either; they are currently 8th and a win on Saturday would place them in a higher league position. Stansted have shown firepower in recent games though and that could be the difference.
Ilford entertain Walthamstow in a local derby with both teams having made a decent start to the campaign. Ilford are 6th and need to attest a winless streak of two if they want to keep in touch with the leading pack. Walthamstow, featuring former Ilford forward James Peagram in their ranks, have also had a turnaround from last season’s struggles. Ryan Maxwell has guided his team to a current 3rd-placed berth and they will no doubt want to keep as close to the leaders as they can. They need to therefore win this encounter – but then Ilford do too if they want to remain at the top end of the table: it could be an interesting affair.
Barkingside meanwhile have to find a way to beat Leyton Athletic as defeat here would keep them bottom and starting to get cut adrift. Leyton sit 18th, with three points separating the two teams. It could become six points if Leyton Athletic pick up a win here. They did pick up a useful point in a 2-2 draw with local rivals Walthamstow last Saturday, but have also shipped 15 goals in their previous three league defeats. Barkingside don’t bring much firepower to the table at the moment; they have failed to score in seven of their nine league games so far this season. More worryingly that inability to score has also seen Barkingside post a mere three points on the board and go into this game still looking for their first win of the season. Leyton Athletic may just have enough to eke out a win here; whatever the result it could have some bearing on the relegation issue come the season’s end.
Friday 5th October
Woodford Town v Takeley
Saturday 6th October
Clapton v Stansted
Enfield v Stanway Rovers
Ilford v Walthamstow
Leyton Athletic v Barkingside
Redbridge v Hullbridge Sports
Saffron Walden Town v Hoddesdon Town
Southend Manor v West Essex
Sporting Bengal United v Sawbridgeworth Town
St Margaretsbury v Tower Hamlets
