Essex Premier Cup
Buckhurst Hill and Catholic United are in this season’s Final after beating Hutton and Kelvedon Hatch respectively – setting up a re-run of last season’s Final. The Premier Division leaders beat Kelvedon Hatch 4-0 but it took until the 56th minute for the deadlock to be broken and when it was it was via a rocket from Steve Townsend. Nathan Sollosi then went on to close the show in some style as he bagged a hat-trick in the final ten minutes to book the holders a successive second Final appearance in a row. Tom Hollingsworth scored both Catholic United goals in their 2-1 win over Hutton booking his side’s fourth Final appearance in five years. Twice runners-up, then a victory over Harold Wood Athletic in another Final which was then overturned due to a player illegibility , Catholic United won’t rest it seems until they have finally lifted the Essex Premier Cup. The Final on Wednesday 10th April at Billericay Town promises to be a cracker.
Premier Division
Sungate’s four game winning run was snapped by Springfield, who perhaps needed the points a bit more urgently to keep them away from the drop zone. The 3-1 win certainly did that and one more point is now required to keep them free from relegation. Sungate’s goalscorer was Dan Candy, but their four game winning run had pretty much dispelled their relegation fears and they sit tenth, Springfield are twelfth, whilst one place further back is Manford Way who occupy one of the relegation spots. They at least posted a point on Saturday after their game with Canning Town ended in a 2-2 draw. Alfie Walker scored both Manford Way’s goals, but the visitors replied through Sulaiman Massaquoi and Ricardo Texeiria. Manford Way have eleven points to make up over Springfield and need to win all their remaining games to avoid the drop.
Division One
The top two both won at a canter as leaders Shenfield AFC and second-placed Snaresbrook scored 7 and 5 respectively that keeps their promotion charge on track. Shenfield AFC scored their goals via a Mitch Day hat-trick, with Ronnie Hobbrough and James Bigmore scoring a brace each in the 7-2 win over Rayleigh Town Res. Snaresbrook scored five without reply at Ongar Town with Scott Hill scoring a hat-trick. John Blount and Ryan Barker-Francis were their other marksmen. Basildon Town meanwhile lost some ground in their promotion push as they were on the wrong side of a 4-2 result at home to Ramsden Scotia.Brodie Horne and Sener Suavi scored the Basildon Town goals, who do have games in hand on the top two but do have at east five points to make up if they want to end the season in the promotion zone. Ramsden Scotia meanwhile are fourth and not totally out of the promotion hunt after winning this game. FC Hamlets were also big winners on Saturday as Charlie Heatly and Ishmael Carter both notched hat-tricks in their 7-1 win at Herongate Athletic. Darren Serrano-Ishmael was their other scorer. Galleywood were 2-0 winners over May & Baker E.C. Res. with Luke Osborne and Sam Donn the scorers.
Division Two
Toby closed off the season with a 2-0 win over Runwell Sports that keeps them top of the table for now – Runwell Sports have three games left to play and two wins plus a draw in those would effectively land them the title. Toby did their cause the world of good by beating their closest rivals; David Major and James Coleman scored the goals, and Toby now have to sit it out and see if results go their way in the final weeks of the campaign. Shoebury Town won’t be going into their final game with promotion still achivable after losing 5-4 at Ryan. The result does mean that Ryan have secured their Division Two status, sending Rochford Town down, with bottom of the table May & Baker E.C. ‘A’ also going down with them. Chingford Athletic had to see one of their players break a leg, resulting in an hour delay, before then going on to claim all the points with a late winner from William Gleeson over Beacon Hill Rovers. Alex Gordon was the other Chingford scorer in the 2-1 away win.
Division Three
Ben Jones scored twice for Westhamians but the Division Three leaders were gunned down by Old Southendian Res. who won the game 4-2. David Stubbs (2), Ben Franklin and Greg Smith were the Old Southendian scorers and they move up to fourth. Wakering Sports beat Leigh Town 1-0 which means they are now have the same number of points as Westhamians, with goal difference seperating the top two. Sam Lake supplied a hat-trick in Laindon Orient’s 6-1 win at Old Chelmsfordians Res. with Jason Purewal (2) and Michael Bottone the other scorers.
Essex Premier Cup Semi Finals
Hutton 1 Catholic United 2
Kelvedon Hatch 0 Buckhurst Hill 4
Premier Division
Manford Way 2 Canning Town 2
Sungate 1 Springfield 3
Division One
Basildon Town 2 Ramsden Scotia 4
Galleywood 2 May & Baker E.C. Res. 0
Herongate Athletic 1 FC Hamlets 7
Ongar Town 0 Snaresbrook 5
Shenfield AFC 7 Rayleigh Town Res. 2
Division Two
Ryan 5 Shoebury Town 4
Toby 2 Runwell Sports 0
Division Three
Leigh Town 0 Wakering Sports 1
Old Chelmsfordians Res. 1 Laindon Orient 6
Westhamians 2 Old Southendian Res. 4
Forthcoming Fixtures
Wednesday 13th March
Premier Division
Catholic United v Harold Wood Athletic
Saturday 16th March
Premier Division
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts v Leigh Ramblers
Catholic United v Sungate
Hutton v Rayleigh Town
Kelvedon Hatch v Harold Wood Athletic
Manford Way v Buckhurst Hill
Division One
Basildon Town v Ongar Town
Old Chelmsfordians v Snaresbrook
Rayleigh Town Res. v Ramsden Scotia
Division Two
Harold Wood Athletic Res. v Chingford Athletic
May & Baker E.C. ‘A’ v Rochford Town
Runwell Sports v Shoebury Town
Division Three
Academy Soccer v Leigh Town
Laindon Orient v Westhamians
Old Southendian Res. v Hutton Res.
