Report by Peter Dudley / Photo by Andy Wilkins
Friday
Premier Division
Tower Hamlets 2 Ilford 1
Hamlets came from behind to defeat Ilford at Mile End, climbing a place to 16th and pulling out a twelve-point gap to the bottom two in the process. Callum Maltese had put The Foxes ahead but Flavio Juno levelled for the home side before Wale Odedoyin netted the winner, and defeat for Ilford sees them 11th.
Errington Challenge Cup Quarter-Final
Barkingside 0 Saffron Walden Town 4
Walden cruised into the Semi-Finals of the Challenge Cup after they thrashed Barkingside at Cricklefield. Dan Trendall netted the opener eight minutes before the break before Charlie Portway netted a penalty right on half-time to double their advantage, and a minute into the second period it was three when Portway netted his second of the evening. And three minutes after that new signing Scott Pethers announced himself to his new squad by sending a brilliant overhead kick into the net and seal his sides passage into the last four and an away tie at either Walthamstow or Stansted.
Saturday
Premier Division
Enfield 3 Southend Manor 1
Hosts Enfield built on their brilliant performances at Takeley and Walthamstow by defeating Southend Manor at The Harlow Arena. Ben Bradbury gave the home side a sixth minute lead before Ernold Haxhiu doubled their advantage four minutes into the second period, and although Manor pulled one back through Grant Francis midway through the half, Jimmy Cox netted his second goal for his club in two starts to clinch the contest with just over fifteen minutes remaining, taking them into 13th, whilst Manor remain third bottom and six points above the bottom two.
Leyton Athletic 2 Sporting Bengal United 6
Curtley MacIntosh netted four as Sporting hit six at bottom side Leyton Athletic to go back into seventh spot in the division. Reside Coxi-Sebastfao also netted a brace as the visitors put the struggling hosts to the sword. Stanley Green and Okwute Izuchukwu netted the goals for the home side, but this latest set-back leaves them bottom, seven points off third bottom Manor with eleven games remaining.
Errington Challenge Cup Quarter-Final
Hoddesdon Town 2 Clapton 4
Jacob Kromann netted a brace as Clapton hit four as they defeated Hoddesdon Town at Lowfield to reach the Semi-Finals of the Challenge Cup. Connor Bolton had given the hosts an ideal start, giving them a second minute lead, but The Tons saw Kromann level a minute into the second period from the spot, before he then gave the visitors the lead three minutes after that. Bryan Kyangu then extended that lead further still on the hour mark, and although Oliver Gnandi pulled one back for the hosts in the 72nd minute, Giovanni Palmer sealed the visitor’s passage into the last four by netting with fifteen minutes left to set up a home tie with either Sporting Bengal United or West Essex in the Semi-Finals.
Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Semi-Finals
Stansted 1 Walthamstow 0
Stanway Rovers 0 St Margaretsbury 4
It will be a Stansted vs St Margaretsbury final on Easter Monday at Leslie Field, Burnham Ramblers FC, after those sides defeated Walthamstow and Stanway Rovers respectively in their last four encounters at the weekend. The Airportmen gained revenge for their league defeat at Wadham Lodge Stadium last weekend after Callum Ibe’s 32nd minute goal was enough for them to take the win at Hargrave Park, whilst a Charncey Dash brace helped St Margaretsbury to a thumping four-goal win at The Hawthorns against Stanway Rovers to reach the final. Lowen and Scully netted the other goals as the visitors cruised into the Easter Monday showdown against Stansted.