Essex Premier Cup
Catholic United make it through to the Final after goals from Aaron Comerford and Carl Read help them beat May & Baker E.C. 2-1. Kiel Chandler scored the May & Baker goal. However there won’t be a repeat of the 2014/15 season Final as Kelvedon Hatch lost out to Harold Wood Athletic. Ninety minutes and then extra time failed to yield any goals, meaning it had to be decided by penalties. Harold Wood held their nerve and won the shootout 6-5 setting up an all-Olympian Final.
Senior League Cup
A Darren Phillips goal was enough to get Basildon Town into the Semi Finals as they eked out a narrow 1-0 win at FC Hamlets. They now entertain Frenford Senior, while the other Semi Final pits Kelvedon Hatch against Catholic United.
Premier Division
Springfield held leaders Hannakins Farm to a goalless draw on Saturday but the table toppers extended their lead to twelve points because second placed Frenford Senior were on the receiving end of a 5-1 beating at the hands of relegation battlers White Ensign. A Luke Skinner hat-trick was added to by a Brett Munyard brace and at the close of play the win had moved White Ensign of the foot of the table and out of the relegation in one swoop. Neither Buckhurst Hill or Harold Hill and they now occupy the relegation positions although do have games in hand. Rayleigh Town occupy eleventh place but their 2-1 win at Bishops Stortford Swifts means they have a three point cushion against the teams in the drop zone. Peter Beaumont and James Blewitt scored the Rayleigh goals which cancelled out Rob Whitenell’s effort for the hosts. Manford Way beat Leigh Ramblers 3-1 courtesy of a Suley Zuhdu volley plus strikes from Ruben Duarte and Julian Lloyd. Justin Hazell scored the Leigh reply.
Division One
With the top two away on Cup business meant that there was a chance for some of the other teams near the top end of the table to chip away at the lead Basildon Town and Catholic United currently have amassed. Great Baddow weren’t able to field a side against Old Southendian, however Runwell Sports are now up to third after they were able to pick up all the points on offer at Newbury Forest. Aaron Rix, Liam Sewell and Connor Barmby were their scorers in the 3-2 win. Newbury Forest replied via Matt Connolly and Jason Reynolds-Blanche. Down at the bottom and Hutton picked up valuable points with a 3-1 win over London APSA. Jordan Williams scored twice with Lorenzo Ramsay also chipping in. The result opens up a big enough gap in terms of points to have them out of relegation woes for now and heading towards a safer mid table position. London APSA, who scored through Valdir Pina, occupy one of the relegation positions and are six points away from Old Chelmsfordians. The OCs drop down to eleventh due to Hutton’s win; add the win in lieu that Old Southendian gained and their own defeat at the hands of Shenfield AFC, who had started the day in the spot that the OCs now occupy and it’s safe to say that they probably didn’t enjoy Saturday that much. Shenfield were able to win the game 4-3 due to a Will Marlowe brace plus further goals from Sam Lock and Ben Absolon.
Division Two
The top two both lost, third placed Toby could only draw – it means that Benfleet are involved heavily in the promotion hunt after Mason Shave scored twice in their 2-1 success over table toppers Sungate. Reece Clarke scored the Sungate goal but the defeat was at least softened a bit as second placed Herongate Athletic also ended up empty handed on their travels. The promotion hopefuls met up with relegation battlers Ramsden Scotia. Ryan James and Luke Sands were the Ramsden marksmen that offers them a lifeline. Chris Carr scored the Herongate goal. Rochford Town are now right in the relegation scrap after their four point advantage was knocked away by the Ramsden win and the fact that they also lost their own game at home to Lakeside. A brace from Luke Quinton plus one from Keli Nutsugah meant that Lakeside won the encounter 3-1. Ashley Fell scored the Rochford reply but they now have to sweat it out as Ramsden also have a game in hand over them. The two sides also meet later on this month in a potential relegation decider. Ongar Town are not mathematically safe just yet but the 1-0 win they picked up at Ryan certainly helped their cause. Daniel Dow scored the very important goal that earned them three valuable points. Toby and Upminster meanwhile played out a goalless draw.
Division Three
Shoebury Town remain second after a 4-0 away win at Harold Wood Athletic Res. But the result has significance as it means they now have a four point advantage over third placed Rayleigh Town Res. It was a game Harold Wood also needed to win if they wanted to maintain a promotion challenge. The defeat means Harold Wood cannot now overhaul Shoebury Town, unless there are point deductions of course. May & Baker E.C. Res. almost have the title sewn up and Shoebury Town look like a shoe-in for the other promotion spot. Leytonstone United are scrapping for their lives down at the bottom of the table and they had to come from behind two goals down against Roydon on Saturday. James Medlock scored the goals that first reduced the arrears and then brought his side back on level terms. Leytonstone then took the lead via Tom Burke before Roydon equalised to make the game 3-3. There was no further scoring so both teams share a point.
Division Four
It’s very tight at the top with two promotion candidates clashing on Saturday and having to share the spoils. Old Southendian Res. met local rivals Southend Sports and played out a 2-2 draw. John Staines and Mark Hampshire scored for the league leaders but the point earned by Southend Sports moves them into second above White Ensign Res. who were on Reserve League Cup business. Toby Res. needed to return to winning way having not won in their last three games. That winless streak now stretches to four after they beaten 2-0 by Galleywood Res. Harry Bond and Tyler Tredget were the marksmen. While the wheels were coming slightly ajar at Toby at Manford Way they are back in the promotion chase after they picked up their first win after a two game losing run. They had caused a dent in their promotion wagon but the 2-1 win they registered at Runwell Sports Res. means they are only three points away from the promotion zone, plus with games in hand over all the top three. They just need to keep on this winning run. Andrei Bucalaw and Reece Tranter scored the Manford Way goals; Conor Cobb replied for Runwell. Lawrence Amadi opened up his scoring account for Harold Hill Res. in his debut appearance; bad defending meant that Leigh Ramblers Res. went into a 2-1 lead with Aaron Neal twice taking full advantage. Tom Hobbrough dug his side out of a hole though, equalising with a wonderful volley.
Division Five
Newbury Forest Res. beat Dagenham United 2-1 courtesy of goals from Alfie Egembah and Darnyl Stanley. Dagenham scored their goal through Bradley Woodward. Reece Bell and Ryan Culleton are the Springfield Res. scorers in the encounter with Southend Sports Res, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
U21
Lakeside open up a three point lead over Buckhurst Hill as well as add more goals to the goal difference after a 7-2 win over Old Southendian. Billy Brown led the goal scoring charge with a hat-trick; Matthew Vambe notched a brace with Sonny Brown and Mason Iley also putting their names down on the score sheet. Forest Glade rifle twelve goals past a young Westhamians side but they have a hat-trick hero in Dan Monroe, who scored all their goals in the 12-3 defeat. Southend Manor also unload a barrel-load on Frenford Senior. The 8-0 win includes a Dominic Locke hat-trick; a Matthew Hubbard brace plus goals from Samuel Burton, Jack Medland and Mitchell Keen. Collier Row complete the double over Redbridge after a 3-1 win on Saturday at Robert Clack School. Dan Reeve, Harry Quant and Jordan Lee scored the Collier Row goals. Redbridge scored their goal via Aaron Lewis.
Essex Premier Cup Semi Finals
Catholic United 2 May & Baker E.C. 1
Kelvedon Hatch 0 Harold Wood Athletic 0 (aet Harold Wood Athletic win 6-5 on penalties)
Senior League Cup Quarter Final
FC Hamlets 0 Basildon Town 1
Premier Division
Bishops Stortford Swifts 1 Rayleigh Town 2
Manford Way 3 Leigh Ramblers 1
Springfield 0 Hannakins Farm 0
White Ensign 5 Frenford Senior 1
Division One
Hutton 3 London APSA 1
Newbury Forest 2 Runwell Sports 3
Shenfield AFC 4 Old Chelmsfordians 3
Division Two
Benfleet 2 Sungate 1
Rochford Town 1 Lakeside 3
Ryan 0 Ongar Town 1
Toby 0 Upminster 0
Ramsden Scotia 2 Herongate Athletic 1
Division Three
Harold Wood Athletic Res. 0 Shoebury Town 4
Roydon 3 Leytonstone United 3
