Anagram Records Trophy
BOTH Olympian League teams crashed out of the Anagram Records Trophy on Saturday. Premier Division outfit Manford Way succumbed to a solitary goal at Loughton Manor. Meanwhile Galleywood from Division One lost 2-1 at home to Sandridge Rovers. Jamie Ricks provided the Galleywood goal.
Premier Division
The Premier Division title is still there for the taking although Hannakins Farm are very much in the driving seat at the moment. The league leaders picked up all three points at bottom-placed White Ensign, who were in need of the points for very differing reasons. Goals from Anthony Aylett and Dean Nevill sealed a 2-1 which now places them eleven points clear of second placed Frenford Senior. Frenford were on Senior League Cup duty so do have two games in hand but have a big lead to chase. Third placed May & Baker E.C. slipped up at home to Bishops Stortford Swifts. The Dagenham-based club now fall twelve points behind. Harold Wood Athletic have only played fifteen games so can supply pressure on Hannakins Farm if they pick up maximum points in all of those games. On Saturday they returned to winning way with a 2-1 home win over Canning Town that moved them up the table and involved in the top end of the table. Reiss Kingsley scored both the Harold Wood goals, Canning Town’s reply came via an own goal. The local derby between Leigh Ramblers and Rayleigh Town had added spice as both started the day a little too close to the drop zone; therefore both went a win and the game produced five goals. Ryan Lowe, Brad Williams and Justin Hazell supplied the Leigh goals that won it 3-2 in their favour, moving them towards more safer mid table waters. Only goal difference keeps Rayleigh Town out of the relegation zone for the time being, but they do have two games in hand over both Harold Hill and White Ensign.
Division One
Basildon Town open up a six point lead after a 3-2 home win over Runwell Sports. In what was a fiercely contested local derby Basildon Town had to come back from a 2-1 deficit, having taken the lead via a Marcus Bowyers strike. A second half brace from Jack Main ensured that the leaders won the game. Aaron Rix and Liam Sewell scored the Runwell Sports replies, in a game which saw both teams have a player sent off. Newham United find themselves in deep trouble after losing 2-1 at Hutton. It was a game Newham United needed to win as they may still two games in hand over the team that had started the day one place above the drop zone but also needed to close a three point gap. Goals from Jordan Williams and Matthew Price cancelled out Ade Cole’s goal for Newham and moves Hutton up to tenth with twenty-one points. London APSA also did their relegation battle no favours after losing at home to Newbury Forest. The visitors recorded a 3-0 win with Jason Reynolds-Blanche scoring twice; Bobby Wise notched the other goal. Snaresbrook were held to a 2-2 draw by Old Southendian that means that realistically they won’t be in the promotion chase as we come to the closing weeks of the season. With only three league games they need to win all three and then hope Catholic United fail to pick up any spoils in their remaining games. Old Southendian are probably happier with the point as it moves them six points further away from London APSA. Ryan Barker-Francis scored both the Snaresbrook goals in the drawn encounter.
Division Two
Herongate Athletic played out a 2-2 draw with fellow promotion candidates FC Hamlets on Saturday. Lee Atkinson and Ben Lambert scored the Herongate goals. Ashley King and John Gilroy scored for FC Hamlets who remain in the hunt as they have games in hand over second-placed Herongate Athletic and leaders Sungate. Toby, who sit third, also keep on the trail of the top two after inflicting a 6-0 defeat on Ryan. Jason Hounsell bagged a hat-trick and with his goal scoring accomplices, Idris Aminu, Junior Bammeke and Arron Watson-McNab providing a goal each. Old Barkabbeyans are now deep in the mire after losing 2-1 at home to Benfleet. Having only picked up one points from their last five games meant that Old Barkabbeyans had to pick up a win when they entertained Benfleet, fully aware that the reverse fixture had seen them on the receiving end of a 10-0 hammering. The score line wasn’t quite as bad as last time but the result was still a 2-1 defeat which leaves Old Barks perilously close to losing their Division Two status. Patrick Dsuma had fired Old Barks into the lead but Alfie Fletcher levelled with a header before Ben Foord despatched Martyn Lacy’s low cross. Ramsden Scotia are also in the relegation zone and had to settle for a point from their home encounter with Lakeside. A win would have seen them close the gap on the Rochford Town, the team that sit just above them. Four points now separates the two teams with Ramsden Scotia having played one game less. The 0-0 draw on Saturday helps a bit but a win would have helped their cause a lot more.
Division Three
It was a good day for teams battling against relegation as two promotion hopefuls were beaten by teams facing relegation woes. Leytonstone United may be bottom of the table but they picked up a welcome victory on Saturday against promotion candidates Harold Wood Athletic Res. The 5-2 score line in Leytonstone’s favour was only their third win of the campaign. Old Chelmsfordians Res. sit just above the drop zone but picked up a welcome three points after a Joe Scannell strike was enough to secure a slender 1-0 win over Rayleigh Town Res. Frenford Senior Res. are the other team in the relegation zone and they lost 6-3 at home to Roydon.
Anagram Records Trophy 3rd Round
Galleywood 1 Sandridge Rovers 2
Loughton Manor 1 Manford Way 0
Senior League Cup Ouarter Finals
Harold Hill 0 Kelvedon Hatch 2
Shenfield AFC 2 Frenford Senior 2 (aet Frenford Senior win 5-4 on penalties)
Springfield 1 Catholic United 2
Premier Division
Harold Wood Athletic 2 Canning Town 1
Leigh Ramblers 3 Rayleigh Town 2
May & Baker E.C. 1 Bishops Stortford Swifts 2
White Ensign 1 Hannakins Farm 2
Division One
Basildon Town 3 Runwell Sports 2
Hutton 2 Newham United 1
London APSA 0 Newbury Forest 3
Snaresbrook 2 Old Southendian 2
Division Two
Herongate Athletic 2 FC Hamlets 2
Old Barkabbeyans 1 Benfleet 2
Ramsden Scotia 0 Lakeside 0
Toby 6 Ryan 0
Division Three
Debden Sports 2 Hutton Res. 1
Frenford Senior Res. 3 Roydon 6
Leytonstone United 5 Harold Wood Athletic Res. 2
Old Chelmsfordians 1 Rayleigh Town Res. 0
