Premier Division
Jermaine Purchas bagged a hat-trick for Bishops Stortford Swifts which helped them beat Manford Way 3-1, which knocks them off the top of the table. Sean O’Callaghan scored the Manford Way goal, who drop to fifth after this result. Chas Liddard meanwhile bagged five as Harold Wood Athletic took the pole position after an emphatic 7-1 away win at Rayleigh Town. Rob Whitenell and John Bradley also scored a goal apiece in the victory. Rayleigh Town scored their reply through Christopher Brown and hit the bottom position after this heavy defeat. Frenford beat Basildon Town 5-0 with Luke Woodward grabbing a brace with Danny Driscoll, Ashley Taylor-Forbes and Charlie Fairhead also getting the goals that provided Frenford with a nap hand. The win moves Frenford up to second and May & Baker E.C. are up to third after their 3-1 win over White Ensign. Henry Osei got the ball rolling for the visitors but Jon Wightman equalised for White Ensign. However May & Bakers retook the lead a minute after their hosts had levelled after some quick attacking play resulted in Joe Villiers playing in Lee Newton who finished with aplomb. Jamie Reddington sealed the win in the 93rd minute and the top three of Harold Wood Athletic, Frenford and May & Baker E.C. are only separated by goal difference having the same points tally. The clash between defending Premier Champions Springfield and their Division One winning counterparts Catholic United turned out to be a bit of a damp squid as neither side were able to find the net resulting in a goalless draw. The other game in the division also ended in a draw as Leigh Ramblers and Canning Town scored two goals each with Jack Deasy providing both of Leigh Ramblers’ conversions.
Division One
Buckhurst Hill may have been relegated last season but they are looking to make an immediate return and they remain top of the table after a 3-0 home win over Hutton. Steve Townsend opened the scoring after half an hour of play; Tyriq Solomon then made sure of the victory by scoring in the final minute and then added further polish when Josh Banfield added a further goal in stoppage time in a game that was a top of the table affair. Hutton now drop down to fourth. Sungate are up to second after a 2-2 draw with FC Hamlets who broke the deadlock after a defensive error. That spurned Sungate on who then found their feet and levelled up with a well taken Jake Clarke goal. Neither side could be separated in an entertaining game although it did look like the points were in the FC Hamlets bag when they took the lead for the second time with ten minutes remaining. However Sungate were able to claim a point and continue their unbeaten start to the campaign when Jake Clarke burst down the left wing and crossed to brother Reece who put the ball home and with it a share of the spoils. Great Baddow posted their first win of the season as Dan Gage scored twice with Grant Hill, Matt Crick and Max Johnson also snaring goals in the 5-3 win over Snaresbrook who scored via Daniel Tesfay (2) and Harry Brown. Siddy Clarkson and George Shelvey scored the Harold Hill goals in their 2-0 home win over Old Chelmsfordians while Galleywood drop into the drop zone after a 1-0 reverse at Shenfield AFC.
Division Two
It was top v bottom as leaders Ongar Town travelled to Rochford Town. In the end the leaders were able to leave with a 3-2 away win as Sean Green, Ross Adams and Peter Davies scored a goal apiece which cancelled out goals Oliver Green and Reece Papworth notched for the hosts. Ramsden Scotia move up to second after unleashing a blitzkrieg on Ryan that saw Ryan Leddra score five times; Jamie Auvache and Louis Smith scored a further six goals equally between them; a brace from Max Corrigan with a further goal from John Burnett completed the 14-2 demolition. Ryan, who scored both their goals via Krys Golebiowski, remain in the drop zone after this defeat. Herongate Athletic started the day in second place but drop down a place despite picking up a 4-1 away win over A1 Sports. Martin Llewellyn scored twice and was joined on the score sheet by Glen Jordan and Calum Palmer. Jake Stock came off the subs bench to chalk the A1 Sports consolation. Nick Read also scored twice in Newham United’s 4-1 win at Toby. Fabian Edogde and Richard Boah were the other Newham marksmen with Dan Cunningham scoring the lone Toby reply. Ben Foord laid claim to the matchball after his three goals helped Benfleet register a 5-1 win at Upminster. Sonny Hartman and Mason Shave provided the other goals with James Lakey preventing a total whitewash by scoring the Upminster consolation. May & Baker E.C. Res. eked out a slender 1-0 win over Rayleigh Town Res. with Max Owen converting to secure the win.
Division Three
Leigh Town continue their winning start to the season as they beat Harold Wood Athletic Res. 3-2. Brodie Horne and Alfie Phillips picked up yellow cards but also put their names down on the score column with David Milton also putting his name down and managing to keep out his name out of the referee’s book in the process. Sam Bissue was the source for both Harold Wood goals. White Ensign Res. also maintained their one hundred percent record after winning 3-1 at Frenford Res. Charlie Cooney, Chris Wall and Sam Irvine were the scorers with Frenford replying via Tyler Brodie. Shoebury Town are the other team in the division that have won all their opening fixtures as they made it three out of three after beating Hutton Res. 4-2. Scott Clark, Aaron Cooper, Lewis Sparrow and Jack Kindell scored a goal apiece in the victory that sees them sitting third. Keelan O’Donovan and Adam Player were the Hutton scorers. Meanwhile Old Chelmsfordians Res. finally got their campaign rolling after picking up their first win of the season at Roydon. Elliot Walker scored twice in the 3-1 success with Tom Jeapes also notching. Aymen Mekni scored the Roydon goal.
Premier Division
Basildon Town 0 Frenford 5
Bishops Stortford Swifts 3 Manford Way 1
Catholic United 0 Springfield 0
Leigh Ramblers 2 Canning Town 2
Rayleigh Town 1 Harold Wood Athletic 7
White Ensign 1 May & Baker E.C. 3
Division One
Buckhurst Hill 3 Hutton 0
FC Hamlets 2 Sungate 2
Harold Hill 2 Old Chelmsfordians 0
Shenfield AFC 1 Galleywood 0
Great Baddow 5 Snaresbrook 3
Division Two
A1 Sports 1 Herongate Athletic 4
May & Baker E.C. Res. 1 Rayleigh Town Res. 0
Ramsden Scotia 14 Ryan 2
Rochford Town 2 Ongar Town 3
Toby 1 Newham United 4
Upminster 1 Benfleet 5
Division Three
Frenford Res. 1 White Ensign Res. 3
Harold Wood Athletic Res. 2 Leigh Town 3
Roydon 1 Old Chelmsfordian Res. 3
Shoebury Town 4 Hutton Res. 2
