Report by Peter Dudley @Ped1980 / Photo by Neil Hunwicks @ABridgeTooFar16

Friday

Woodford Town 0 Hoddesdon Town 1

Hoddesdon Town netted in the 96^th minute as they edged a fairly poor encounter against Woodford Town at a foggy Harlow Arena.  After the visitors had missed a second half penalty, seeing Joss Lillis spot-kick saved by James Scammell, the game seemed destined to end goalless, until Ollie Gnandi rose to head home a free-kick deep deep into added on time and hand the visitors all three points.

Saturday

Clapton 2 Barkingside 1

The Tons came from behind to defeat Barkingside, a result which sent the visitors back to the foot of the table on goal difference.  Clapton had the chance to take a first minute lead but saw Ryan Karrar save Jacob Kronmann’s effort, and then Side were awarded a penalty of their own in the second period which Dan Jones managed to convert to hand the visitors the lead.  But Giovanni Palmer fired home from the left to bring Clapton level before Andy Greenslade won it late on to give the hosts all three points.

Hullbridge Sports 3 Takeley 1

Bridge came from behind to defeat Takeley at Lower Road to deal a big blow to the visitor’s title hopes whilst keep their own hopes well alive.  A Mitchell Das corner found George Powell who nodded the visitors ahead after 14 minutes, but the hosts levelled on the hour mark when after Greg Frederick was fouled inside the box, Ollie Sotoyinbo levelled from the spot.  And just three minutes later the same thing happened again, Frederick fouled and Sotoyinbo converted the penalty, and the hosts now led.  Things were made harder for the visitors when they saw Jason Todd dismissed for two bookings with twelve minutes left, and in the 93^rd minute Sports sealed a massive three points when Joe Wright set up Dan Okah to tap home, leaving them four points behind Stansted with two games in hand.  For Takeley they are now eight points behind the leaders having played the same number of games.

Ilford 2 St Margaretsbury 3

The Bury Boys grabbed victory at Cricklefield to remain in eighth place in the division, Balogun and Wilson-Ferreira goals had given the visitors a two-goal half time lead, and after Ilford had pulled one back through a Musa Manneh header, the visitors added a third through Ungudi.  Ilford netted a late second through Lauric Diakiesse but this defeat leaves them in 12^th.

Leyton Athletic 0 Enfield 0

Hosts Leyton are off the bottom of the table on goal difference after they battled to a goalless draw against an in-form Enfield at Wadham Lodge Stadium.  It means they are seven points behind third bottom Southend Manor with a game in hand, whilst Enfield, who are now unbeaten in five with three clean sheets, go up a place to 11^th.

Redbridge 4 Southend Manor 1

Taylor Tombides and Dan Gilchrist netted braces for hosts Redbridge as they blew Southend Manor away at Oakside to almost certainly take themselves out of the relegation battle.  Tombides put the hosts ahead in the 12^th minute before Gilchrist added a second five minutes before the break, and although Manor pulled one back early on in the second half through Dylan Jones, Tombides and Gilchrist added a -quickfire double with twenty minutes left to seal this one, leaving Manor third bottom still and seven points above the bottom two.  Redbridge meanwhile are now in 16^th, some fifteen points above Leyton Athletic in second bottom.

Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Walthamstow 2

Stow continue to keep the pressure on the top four after they netted victory at Crofters against Sawbridgeworth Town.  The visitors took the lead though a Dwade James penalty after Crilley was bundled over inside the box, and they sealed the points when a through ball from Luke Stanley saw James get the wrong side of his marker, before he was clattered by the keeper but saw the ball bounce into the empty net.  It means Stow are in fifth still, ten points behind the leaders with a game in hand, and six behind second having played a game more still.  The Robins themselves have now dropped to 15^th.

Stanway Rovers 2 Sporting Bengal United 2

Hosts Stanway fought back from two goals down to earn a point at home to Sporting Bengal United, the visitors took the lead from the spot through Kaleem Luther before doubling that lead when Steve Carvell set up Jason Ngandu to tuck home.  The hosts did pull one back when route one football worked and saw Scott Kemp finish well, before a good finish into the bottom corner by Tyler Kemp earned the hosts a share of the spoils.

Tower Hamlets 0 Saffron Walden Town 1

Walden kept themselves in the promotion hunt after they saw off Tower Hamlets at Mile End.  The only goal of the game came in the 25^th minute when Lewis Francis netted, and it means the visitors remain third, six points behind leaders Stansted with a game in hand, and just two behind second placed Hullbridge Sports having played a game more.  Hamlets themselves slip back to fourth bottom, twelve points above the bottom two, so they are probably safe anyway.

West Essex 0 Stansted 1

Leaders Stansted battled to a hard-earned victory at Mayesbrook Park to maintain their four-point lead at the top.  The only goal of the game came just past the hour mark through Jack Mitchell’s, and it was a goal that was enough for the Airportmen to take a very important three points.