By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm
Phoenix Sport
John Chubb
This week we had reports from two local football matches, one of which saw Southend United return to winning ways in the National League with a 2-0 win over Altrincham at Roots Hall, thanks to goals from Nathan Ralph and Matt Dennis.
The other was at New Lodge, where the Billericay Town revival continued as Jody Brown’s men won their third National League South game in a row, with a superb 3-1 win at home to promotion-chasing Oxford City.
Billericay are still bottom though, as 20th-placed Welling United stayed a point ahead of them after their 1-0 home victory against Chelmsford City, who slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat and are now in danger of relegation.
In the Isthmian Premier League, Hornchurch kept up their promotion bid with a 3-1 win at Merstham. But East Thurrock United are now at the foot of the table after losing 3-1 away to fellow strugglers Leatherhead, who moved off the bottom.
Aveley now top the Isthmian North after their 2-0 win at Felixstowe & Walton United, previous leaders Canvey Island having lost 2-1 away to Coggeshall Town. There were also wins in the North for Brentwood Town, Hullbridge Sports, Witham Town, Maldon & Tiptree and Tilbury.
In the Southern League Division One Central, Waltham Abbey got the better of local rivals Harlow Town in a 2-1 victory at Capershotts.
In Rugby Union, England’s dismal 2022 Six Nations campaign concluded with a 25-13 defeat against winners France, who completed a Grand Slam for the first time in 12 years, and there was a first Six Nations victory in seven years for Italy, who shocked hosts Wales by beating them 22-21.
Local Rugby Union saw a first defeat of the season for London 3 Essex table-toppers Dagenham, who were beaten 36-27 at home by Old Cooperians but who remain top of the league by an 18-point margin.
This week’s playlist:
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway – Back Together Again
Betty Boo – Get Me to the Weekend
AURORA – A Temporary High
Coldplay – Higher Power,
Badly Drawn Boy – Something To Talk About
Sam and Dave – Soul Sister Brown Sugar
Pretenders – Brass In Pocket
Kooks – Connection
Matt Johnson – Sunshine
Liam Gallagher – Everything’s Electric
John Legend – Tomorrow
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Black Summer
KC and the Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes
Jimmy Nail – Ain’t No Doubt
Genesis – Abacab
Jade – Don’t Walk Away
k.d. lang – Constant Craving
Jamiroquai – Too Young To Die
Purple Disco Machine
Brothers Johnson – Stomp
