EOFL Premier Division plus Divisions One & Two

Starting with the Premier Division, we had four matches this week, three of them on 3G. The outlier was at Seymour Field where Old Chelmsfordians prevailed 3 – 0 over ACD Utd. Jonny Waskett, Dean Palmer & an OG accounted for their goals in a win which took them five points clear in sixth. Runwell Sports got arguably the result of the day as they powered to a 4 – 1 win at Catholic Utd to edge ahead in the race for a top three spot. Max Harrington netted twice here with Sam Harrington also getting a double to more than outdo Frank Craik’s reply for Utd, who drop to fourth. Matt Rose’s side are up to third, and have three matches in hand on second-placed Shenfield AFC – they are three points behind them still after Shenfield’s 3 – 1 win over Leigh Ramblers at St Martins. Freddie Madle’s two goals & a George Nash goal sealed another good win for AFC. Patrick Cannon netted for the Rams here who stay seventh.

In the other game this week, Old Southendian put in a high-energy performance to defeat Wakering Sports 3 – 0 at Garon Park 3G, in the match I attended this week. Matt Tonking, Ruben Philip & Mitchell Ali got the goals in this one to see OS maintain their eight-point lead at the summit. If you would like more on this game, my report is available here: https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2025/02/03/s24-25-match-report-old-southendian-3-0-wakering-sports-sat-1-feb-eofl/

In Division One this week, two promotion-chasing sides got big away wins. Starting with Corinthians who battled to a 2 – 1 victory at Basildon Town Res. Bailey Moss & substitute John Bolton-Smith goals were key here, with Troy Raymond on target for Bas. Nathan Dewberry’s side went back to the summit by virtue of conceding less goals, with Catholic Utd Res second now. Herongate Athletic got a big three points as they won 1 – 0 at strugglers Galleywood. Liam Barry again got an important goal here to see Herongate up to fourth. ‘Wood are still ten points adrift of third-bottom, with only six games left. May & Baker A got also got a priceless victory, after getting past Canning Town 3 – 0. Kane Messenger, Joel Oliver & Jacen Worboyes all scored here to elevate Bakers out of the bottom two and up to tenth.

Moving into Division Two, Rayleigh Town Res won 7 – 0 at beleaguered Shoebury Town. Dean Cole netted twice for Rayleigh here, with Adam Wright, Darnell Terry, Thomas Diss, Dan Beestone & Zachary Skillett all adding a goal each to fortify their fifth place & reduce the deficit to the top two to just two points. Shoebury remain second-bottom. Leigh Ramblers Res’ match at Belfairs with Epping Town was abandoned.

Cup Action

The Cup action this week starts with the EOFL Senior League Cup. Kelvedon Hatch edged a tight tussle with Harold Wood Athletic 4 – 2 on spot-kicks after a 1 – 1 draw at New Hall. Rhys Singh-McSween netted for Hatch, with Jay Knight on target for Wood but they went out.

In the EOFL Reserve League Cup, Catholic Utd Res comfortably progressed with a 5 – 0 victory over Shenfield AFC Res. Michael Clark again led the way with another fine treble, along with goals from Zachary Wing & substitute Ben Farmer which sealed the win. They are joined in the next round by Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Res, who prevailed 3 – 1 at Springfield Res. Liam England netted for ‘Field but the trio of Matthew Allen, Henry Harnack & Daryl Doolan sealed a good win for Swifts.

Next this week, we had four ties in the Essex Junior Cup. BKS Sports dealt with a tough tie with high-flying Broomfield (in D4 North West) as they emerged with a 4 – 0 triumph. Alex Godbold is one of their stars this term, he bagged a hat-trick here and Jamie Saunders also scored to seal the win. Hutton Res had to deal with a sending off but still battled to a 5 – 4 success at Sandon Royals. Will Marlowe & Kye Smith both got doubles here, along with a strike by substitute Ronnie Richardson-Cook. Royals made it tight, with the quartet of Ben Allen, Jamie Urch, Anthony Warner & replacement Chris Johnson on target for them. Condor continued to represent the Alliance League as they defeated Roydon 2 – 1. Evgheni Grigoreanu & Rusian Belicescu both scored for them to render Ezra Fields’ reply for the R’s a consolation. Finally, BKS Sports Res had Lucas Phillips to thank for a 1 – 0 victory over Leigh Town.

Finally for this section, there was one EOFL Frank Walton Cup tie, with saw Earls Hall Utd power to a 5 – 0 away win at Southend Collegians Res. Alex West, Michael Cronin, Alfie Lindfield, Alan Hesketh & replacement Nathan Cox all scored for Utd in this good win.

EOFL Divisions Four (North West & South East) & Division Five

With the action in Division Three postponed this week due to weather, we move directly to the only game in Division Four North West this week, which saw Old Chelmsfordians Res triumph 3 – 2 at Leytonstone Utd in the early match at Robert Clack Sch 3G. Omar Fakih struck twice & Jason Evans also netted to see the OC second side up to seventh. Utd remain second-bottom.

In Division Four South East, Catholic Utd A got a fine 6 – 0 victory over Wakering Sports A at the Len Forge. Lucas Courtney bagged a super treble here & was ably supported by a brace from Atdhe Gashi and one from Benson James, this win stay eighth but they gained ground on the three sides immediately above them. Pitsea Athletic Res were held 2 – 2 by strugglers Southend Collegians at Basildon Sporting Village. Substitute Dishon Gyamfi got both goals for Pitsea, but Louis Bethel & Talent Mugadza replied for Collegians to reduce their arrears to third-bottom Ekco Park to two points. Ath are sixth.

In Division Five, South Essex Utd Res humbled Southend Collegians A 14 – 2 on what was a superb away showing by the promotion-chasing side. Arry Hardy pounced with a six-goal haul here, with Ryan Bunce, Frankie Jones & Brandon Scorey all getting two goals each here. Liam Candy & Sonny Jones rounded out a big scoring list for Utd to keep their unbeaten season going & rise to second, only four points behind leaders Earls Hall Utd with three matches in hand on them. It wasn’t exactly dour in the other game either as ATF Southend won 6 – 2 at Rochford Town Res. Ashley Jenkinson powered in another treble here, with Danny Mahoney, Johnny Hilliard & Adam Smith all also finding the net. Nathan Hunter got both goals in reply for Town. ATF remain third after this win, while Town stay ninth.