Stanway Rovers 5 Takeley 0

Essex Senior League

Saturday 6^th November

Stanway Rovers put in a solid performance to brush aside Takeley 5-0 on Saturday. Goals from Ernest Okoh, Lewis Francis and Danny Nesbitt saw them in a commanding half time position, and further polish was applied by Sean Bartlett who scored a second half brace to make it a convincing win for the ESL title challengers.

Takeley came out of the blocks with purpose; inside the opening minute they were inside Stanway’s box with Kieran White having a shot tipped away by a returning Harry Aldridge – back from injury – and having to get down to goalkeeping business straight away. Stanway responded in the 3^rd minute when Bartlett poked an effort inches wide.

A talking point soon followed as Lewis Francis appeared to be hauled down in the box by Sam Souter, but the referee saw nothing wrong with the Takeley keeper’s challenge and dismissed the penalty claims.

But then in the 18^th minute another foul on a Stanway player in the box got a different response from the referee. This time he pointed to the spot and Ernest Okoh stepped up and drilled the penalty home.

Two minutes later and the hosts increased their lead as Francis curled a free kick beyond Souter to put his team in a very strong position.

The next moment came another talking point as Kieran Southgate was tackled by the byline, which the referee thought was a foul and duly awarded a penalty. Then after a discussion with the Assistant Referee, who had been a lot closer to the incident, the award was given to a corner, which was in fact the correct decision. But awarding a penalty before consulting his Assistant meant that the Referee had dug a bit of hole for himself. As it was the resulting corner was cleared by the Stanway defence, so the whole episode as far as Takeley were concerned was a bit farcical.

Souter and his defence had to cut out a few corners and crosses as the half wore on, then on 38 minutes Souter pulled off a great save to keep out a Francis free kick, but Nesbitt gobbled up the rebound to give his side a three goal cushion going into the break. Freddie Burrell placed a header just wide for Takeley in first half stoppage time, had that gone in it may have been a lifeline.

Takeley had to get a goal inside the opening ten minutes of the half if they wanted to try and get back into the contest. Instead they found themselves having to defend another dangerous free kick from the foot of Lewis, which was blocked. Takeley however did then create a very good opportunity, with Glenn O’Hanlon’s long ranger in the 56^th minute requiring Aldridge to pull off an excellent save.

Stanway were not over exerting themselves, but were in control nonetheless. Being 3-0 up midway as the game approached the hour mark meant that they had taken the foot of the peddle a little, but Takeley did have to defend a couple of crosses that were delivered with purpose from Bartlett and Francis.

It was a sublime cross from Francis that set Bartlett up in the 73^rd minute. Low, fast and right in front of goal: Barlett made no mistake as he slammed the ball past Souter.

Then in the 88^th minute Francis played in another ball right onto the path of Bartlett, but he was hauled down by Souter, which saw Stanway awarded another penalty. As Okoh, the scorer of the first penalty, had been substituted off meant that Bartlett decided to take the penalty himself;  and enacted his own justice by blasting the ball into the corner of the net to round up the scoring.

Stanway may have been knocked off the top of the table, but this win keeps them 2^nd and they remain one of the title challengers as we head into the winter period. As for Takeley they sit down in 12^th and never really got going here, such was Stanway’s dominance.

Stanway Rovers: Harry Aldridge, Daniel Smith (Kyan Gulliver 50′), Adie Cant, Jordan Barnett, Danny Nesbitt, Jack Clampin (Capt), Ernest Okoh (Ezequiel Franchi 64′), Harry Norman, Sean Bartlett, James Crisell (Max Sherlock 78′), Lewis Francis.

Scorers – Ernest Okah (18’p), Lewis Francis (22′), Danny Nesbitt (38′), Sean Bartlett (73′, 88’p).

Takeley: Sam Souter, Freddie Burrell, Tom Jelliman, Elliott Long, George Powell (George Frodsham 67′), Theo Campbell (Tommy Wilson 64′), Charlie Allum, Glenn O’Hanlon (Capt), Kieran Southgate, Carl Mullings (Alfie Anderson 60′), George Wappitt.

Friday 5^th November

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town 1 Little Oakley 2

Saturday 6^th November

Essex Senior League

Clapton 0 Walthamstow 4

Hoddesdon Town 2 Southend Manor 0

Redbridge 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

Saffron Walden Town 2 FC Clacton 3

Sporting Bengal United 0 Enfield 5

St Margaretsbury 0 Ilford 1

Stanway Rovers 5 Takeley 0

West Essex 0 Cockfosters 2

White Ensign 0 Athletic Newham 2

While Stanway were hitting five against Takeley, leaders Walthamstow made sure that they dealt with their own business in the East London derby at Newham Leisure Centre. Connor Scully, Samir Bihmoutine, Yemi Adelani and Courtney Homans did their bit, as did Amarildo Cekrezi who collected his eleventh clean sheet of the season as the Tons were beaten 4-0. Clapton remain in 18^th after this result. Redbridge remain 3^rd after a 2-0 win over Sawbridgeworth Town. Joe Elliott notched two minutes before the break, with Jack Roult adding a second for the Motormen in the 61^st minute. Redbridge’s win means they keep pace with the top two, with Michael Corderoy and his defence also making sure that they posted a win without conceding to keep them in the Stow slipstream. Sawbridgeworth Town continue to be amongst the relegation battlers down in 20^th, but it was also their first defeat after a unbeaten run of 3 games, which included that eye-raising win over then-leaders Stanway Rovers last weekend. It was also not such a good day for Saffron Walden Town who were beaten 3-2 at Catons Lane by FC Clacton. Gavin Cockman and Michael Toner scored for the hosts, but a brace from Mekhi McKenzie plus a goal from Charlie Collis snatched the points for the visitors. The defeat sees Saffron Walden Town drop down to 5^th, with Stansted moving up to 4^th due to now having a better goal difference – not bad going considering that they didn’t play a game over the weekend! Athletic Newham took only two minutes before taking the lead at White Ensign. Abdul Shobowale notched that one; it took until 75 minutes before the visitors scored their next one, which was supplied by Joel Appiah. Wilkonson Boateng kept White Ensign at bay as he earned his fourth clean sheet, and the win keeps Athletic Newham 6^th. FC Clacton remain 9^th because Enfield, who had started the day in 8^th also won on the road. This time the result was a bit more one sided as the E’s secured a 5-0 over Sporting Bengal United. Samrai Gebrai, Dwade James, Tony Barlow, Alex Warman and Louie Johnson scored a goal each, with James Bransgrove and his defence making it a complete shut out by not even allowing their hosts a consolation. Bengal’s goal difference must surely be a concern, that alone give the team above them an advantage. Southend Manor meanwhile are down in 19^th and lost to a Hoddesdon Town side who are now starting to move well away from the relegation positions. Simon Riddle and Terrell Sterling scored a goal in each half in the 2-0 win, with Alex Reed collecting a clean sheet. The Lilywhites are now up to 15^th, however only goal difference separates them and 16^th 

^{placed Ilford who also won without conceeding at St Margaretsbury. Lewis Kirwan put the ball into St Margaretsbury’s net, with Aires Ferreira keeping it out of Ilford’s to see St Margaretsbury tumble down to 17th. In total eight clean sheets were kept this weekend, the most impressive perhaps being that collected by Loris Marcimain who was making his debut for Cockfosters at their away fixture over at West Essex. Whilst he was keeping them out, George Beattie and Reece Monsanya were putting them in to win the game 2-0 for Cockfosters that sees them move up to 10th. The weekend started with Woodford Town entertaining Little Oakley on Friday evening which went the way of the visitors 2-1. Greg Rodger and Dan Rowe supplied the Oakley goals, with Richard Asamoah notching for the Woods.}