Report by Peter Dudley / Photo by Neil Hunwicks

Hoddesdon Town 1 Takeley 2

Takeley are up to 5th after a late goal helped them see off Hoddesdon Town at Lowfield.  Mitchell Das put the visitors ahead just before the half hour mark before Courtney Clay levelled it up three minutes into the second period.  A draw looked likely until Mos Oguntuga netted a 90^th minute winner that sees the hosts slip to 8^th.

Ilford 1 West Essex 2

West Essex are now level on points with 10^th-placed St Margaretsbury after they grabbed all three points at Cricklefield against Ilford.  The visitors went in front on twenty minutes when Tanvir Ahmed nodded home a Samraj Gill in-swinging cross, and they doubled that lead five minutes later when Hakim Medfai capitalised on an error in the hosts’ defence to apply a decent finish.   The hosts knew they needed the next goal and they grabbed it early in the second period through Callum Maltese to reduce the arrears, but they could not find a leveller and saw the visitors take the spoils, leaving the home side in ninth and only a point above their opponents.

Saffron Walden Town 4 Clapton 0

Walden are now just four points off the leaders after they thrashed Clapton at Catons Lane.  Lee Sawyer put the Bloods ahead from the spot on 19 minutes before he was involved in their second goal when he passed to Dan Trendall whose ball in found Lewis Francis who applied a decent finish six minutes before the break.  Jamie Solkhon then made it three ten minutes into the second period before the scoring was completed with just over ten minutes remaining when Craig Calver netted the fourth, leaving the Tons well beaten and now down in 13^th after their seventh defeat of the season.

Southend Manor 2 Barkingside 0

Manor picked up an important win against fellow strugglers Barkingside at Southchurch Park. Mohamed Kargbo netted the opener seven minutes before the break before Charlie Barlow then netted a few minutes later to send the hosts into the break two goals up.  With no further goals in the second period Manor picked up the points but remain third bottom, whilst for Side it’s another defeat and another week without a win, as they remain rock bottom and eight points from second bottom Leyton.

St Margaretsbury 1 Hullbridge Sports 2

Hullbridge came from behind early on to take all three points against an in-form St Margaretsbury side at The Recreation Ground to take top spot once again in the ESL Premier.  The Bury boys took the lead after just eight minutes through Connor Scully’s low strike but Hullbridge levelled on the half hour when Luke Hornsley blasted home from eight yards out.   And with eleven minutes remaining the visitors netted the winner as Okunja’s initial effort fell to Michael Salako, the attacker beating the offside trap to slot home and send his team to the summit of the league.  The hosts remain in 10th after this setback.

Stansted 2 Tower Hamlets 3

Tower Hamlets stunned Stansted at Hargrave Park to make it back to back wins in all competitions and stay out of the bottom three.   Hamlets took a surprise lead through Dominic Weston in the 17^th minute before doubling their lead through Luke With four minutes later, but the hosts managed to pull one back to reduce the arrears thanks to a Jack West header in first half stoppage time.  Jack West then brought the hosts level midway through the second period but Hamlets were not to be denied all three points as Amon Walton-Owen netted a 76^th minute winner, which meant the hosts slip to 2nd and one point behind leaders Hullbridge.

Stanway Rovers 1 Redbridge 2

The Motormen made up for the recent loss at Stanway in the cup to succeed in this league affair and go 14^th as a result.  Michael Ogboin put Redbridge ahead three minutes into the second period and then saw Ayodesi Adelekan double their lead two minutes later.  And although Rovers then pulled one back immediately through Gaz Dauti, the hosts could not conjure up a comeback and fell to defeat, leaving them in 12^th spot.

Walthamstow 1 Woodford Town 3

Woodford are up to 7th after they defeated Walthamstow at Kitchener Road. The visitors took the lead five minutes before half time through Jack Grosvenor, and the visitors doubled that lead five minutes later through Temi Babalola to cap what had been a brilliant first half display from Woodford.  Dwade James pulled one back for Stow with twenty minutes remaining but any thoughts of a comeback were quashed when substitute Samir Ali netted an 88^th minute penalty to seal the deal for the visitors.  Stow slip down to sixth following this defeat.