Barkingside met Woodford Town on Friday evening to start off the weekend’s Essex Senior League action. Barkingside sit bottom and the 6-1 defeat means Leyton Athletic can pull further away from the bottom two if they can leave Takeley with all three points. The hosts were tipped to be amongst the front runners but have faltered so far this season. Could Leyton Athletic follow up their midweek Cup win over Hoddesdon Town with another three points posted to the table.

Southend Manor are drifting into the relegation zone and host Saffron Walden Town who are circulating near the top end of the table. The Bloods have goals in them and will want to win to keep themselves within touching distance of the leaders. Southend Manor are winless in five and need to attest that run of form pretty quickly because they are sinking towards the foot of the table.

It certainly couldn’t be tighter at the top; goal difference currently separating leaders Stansted from second-placed Hullbridge Sports. Both teams have taken it in turns to have the leadership in recent weeks and both have home games against opponents travelling from the London Borough of Redbridge. Ilford travel to Hullbridge Sports; while Redbridge travel to leaders Stansted. The top two should have enough to secure maximum points here. Both no doubt keeping an ear out on how the other is doing, which does become obsolete unless they take care of their own business.

And of course fourth placed Walthamstow can keep close to the summit if they manage to overcome Sporting Bengal United in the East London derby. Imrul Gazi’s side have scored a goal or two in recent games and are capable of getting a result that moves them higher than their current seventh placed berth. Ryan Maxwell’s team have a lot more resolve this season and will need all of it if they want to get a result here, which would keep them within touching distance of the top two.

Clapton meanwhile have Errington Challenge Cup business to attend to with Enfield providing the opposition. The game pits two teams that sit mid-table in the league so are still in the hunt for some silverware if they can keep their run going after their game at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium goes their way tomorrow morning.

Friday 26^th October

Essex Senior League

Barkingside 1 Woodford Town 6

Saturday 27^th October

Errington Challenge Cup 2^nd Round

Clapton v  Enfield

Essex Senior League

Hullbridge Sports v  Ilford

Sawbridgeworth Town v  St Margaretsbury

Southend Manor v  Saffron Walden Town

Stansted v  Redbridge

Takeley v  Leyton Athletic

Tower Hamlets v  Hoddesdon Town

Walthamstow v  Sporting Bengal United

West Essex v  Stanway Rovers