(Photo by Scott W)

Saturday 11^th December

Buildbase FA Vase 3^rd Round

Abbey Rangers 1 Athetic Newham 1

Tring Athletic 0 Saffron Walden Town 1

Essex Senior League

Cockfosters 0 Ilford 0

Enfield 2 Redbridge 2

FC Clacton P St Margaretsbury P

Hoddesdon Town 3 Takeley 1

Southend Manor 1 Walthamstow 8

Sporting Bengal United 0 Little Oakley 2

White Ensign 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

West Essex 3 Clapton 2

Any side that draws Athletic Newham in a cup competition better get the job done in normal time as they are proving to be penalty shootout masters. In midweek they progressed in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy after beating Cockfosters 7-6 in the penalty shootout, after the game had finished goalless in normal time. On Saturday they fell behind to a Daryl Cooper-Smith goal that gave Abbey Rangers the lead, but the host were unable to get a killer goal, which allowed Athletic Newham to level the tie deep into stoppage time: Chris Nguidjol’s equaliser coming on 97 minutes. Having salvaged the game in the dying moments, Athletic Newham then went on to win 4-2 on penalties. Saffron Walden had to contend with a very heavy pitch at Tring Athletic, and Lady Luck as well who seemed to be looking in the other direction as the Bloods hit the cross bar twice, had a number of efforts saved by the home keeper, before finally taking the lead just before half time when Gavin Cockman steered his shot home from just inside the box. The Bloods had a few chances to extend their lead, which they were unable to take, but at the other end they were able to snuff out anything Tring created, and so were able to book their place in the 4^th Round with a slender 1-0 win.

Meanwhile in the Premier Division, leaders Walthamstow turned on the goal taps at Southend Manor, but only after the hosts had taken an early lead via Andre Embalo. However when the full time whistle went the league leaders had scored eight themselves, with Jason Hallett leading the charge with a hat-trick. The other Stow marksmen were Callum Ibe, Charlie Edwards, Courtney Homans, Harrison Carnegie and an own goal. The win sees Walthamstow extend their lead to nine points as 2nd-placed Redbridge were held to a 2-2 draw at Enfield. James Barlow gave the Motormen a 37^th minute lead, but the E’s turned the game around inside three minutes starting with a Dwade James equaliser in the 72^nd minute. Three minutes later and the E’s were handed an own goal to put them 2-1 up. The Motormen were able to salvage a point in the final minute when Louis Hazelwood levelled up from the penalty spot, which means they remain 2^nd but losing ground on Walthamstow. Enfield end the day in 5^th, with 3^rd and 4^th occupied by Stansted and Stanway Rovers respectively, both of whom didn’t play yesterday, nor did FC Clacton whose game against St Margaretsbury was postponed. Harry Mann scored a brace at Mile End Stadium with the 2-0 Little Oakley win moves them up to 12^th, while Sporting Bengal United remain bottom of the table. Takeley needed only a minute to open the scoring at Hoddesdon Town. But after Theo Campbell’s early strike, the rest of the goals were then supplied by the hosts. Ethan Rookard levelled the game up in the 13^th minute, before an own goal put the Lilywhites in front. The full quota of points were duly delivered when Harry Andic added a third in the final minute. Hoddesdon Town end the day 15^th, with Takeley 11^th. Sawbridgeworth Town battled for a point at White Ensign, that game ended goalless, with the point moving Sawbo a step further away from the bottom two, who both lost. White Ensign end the day in 10th spot. Cockfosters and Ilford also played out a goalless draw which sees Cockfosters 8^th, with the Foxes further back in 16th. West Essex started the weekend with a Friday night local derby against Clapton, which saw the hosts race into a 3-0 lead as David Bell notched a brace, with Cameron Gray supplying the other goal inside fifteen minutes. Kirk McPhearson and Raphael Duyile were able to cut into that lead, but West Essex held on to win the game 3-2 which sees them end the weekend in 13th, while the Tons are on a losing streak which sees them sitting down in 18th.