Essex Senior League: Plenty to cheer for rival clubs

Woodford Town maintained their hold on top spot with a 3-2 win at Halstead Town, as nearest rivals Romford rallied from two goals down to draw at White Ensign.

Sporting Bengal got the better of Little Oakley at Mile End Stadium, while Athletic Newham had a 2-1 win of their own against Great Wakering nearby at Terence McMillan.

Barking rallied to beat Coggeshall 3-2 at Lawtech Stadium, while Frenford defeated Stanway Rovers by the same margin to climb above Ilford, who came from 4-0 down at the break to earn a remarkable 4-4 draw at FC Clacton.

Ernest Okoh put Woodford ahead at Halstead on 15 minutes but the hosts hit back with a Kane Gilbert header before half-time.

The Humbugs moved 2-1 up just past the hour when Joel Older fired into the corner of the net, in front of a crowd of 301, but the visitors drew level three minutes from time when Alexandru Bolovan’s free-kick evaded everyone and found the net.

And Woods grabbed all three points when Luke Parott connected with Oscar Onuorah’s cross to turn the ball home in the last minute of normal time for his 12th goal of the season.

Another important win at a very tough place. Our never die attitude is crucial and massive credit to our players for showing those characteristics yet again. Beyond delighted with that result.

Now time to rest, recover & prep for our next fixture @woodfordtownfc
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— Shane Baptiste (@ShaneBaptiste1) September 16, 2023

Second-placed Romford had to settle for a point after a game of two halves at White Ensign.

Nathan Wilson glanced Joshua McFaull’s free-kick past debutant goalkeeper Jack Dixson – on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge – to put the hosts ahead on three minutes.

And Boro missed several chances to level, before Robbie Allen headed home a second for the hosts on 35 minutes.

Hassan Nalbant halved the deficit just before the interval, when heading home Kris Newby’s free-kick, and Ensign were reduced to 10 men when Mitch Stuart-Evans was dismissed for handling Nalbant’s shot on 71 minutes.

Newby converted from the spot and sent a free-kick just wide as Boro pushed for a winner.

Michael Turner had a shot blocked on the line and Bobby Dailly headed just wide as Dan Spinks’ men had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Sheri Artmeladze put Sporting Bengal in front against Little Oakley when heading home from Steve Carvell’s corner in first-half injury time.

And after Harry Mann levelled for the visitors, Carvell’s diagonal pass found Artmeladze on the left to take the ball down and fire into the bottom corner to win it on 78 minutes.

Athletic Newham took the lead against Wakering with a penalty from Chris De Nguidjol on 55 minutes, after Daniel Izekor was brought down in the box.

And Sivaruban Sathiyananthan doubled their advantage at the second attempt on 69 minutes after seeing his initial effort saved.

Billy Johnson headed a reply for Rovers, but Newham held on for the points.
Barking came from two goals down to beat Coggeshall and end a six-match winless run in all competitions.

Jack Zielinski put the Seedgrowers in front with a low shot on 35 minutes and an unmarked Alfie Gilby headed a second moments later.

But Brad Rowland tapped in from Jack Dickinson’s low cross to halve the deficit and combined with Kenedi Dariri to find Yassein Nazor, who cut the ball back for Luke Hirst to level in first-half stoppage time.

Barking completed their comeback on 77 minutes when Hirst collected a poor goal kick from Aaron Cassie and played in Martin Tuohy, who rounded the keeper to slot home.

It was a similar story as Frenford shared four first-half goals with Stanway, with Fabio Nunes seeing an early opener cancelled out from the spot.

Raheem Gray restored Frenford’s lead on 13 minutes, but the visitors were back on terms just before the break.

Stanway were reduced to 10 men in the second half but it remained all square until two minutes from time when an own goal gave Frenford all three points.

Ilford had slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Stanway in midweek and looked in big trouble after conceding four first-half goals at FC Clacton.

They were behind after just five minutes as goals from Toby Harris, Jenson Mulqueen, Mekhi McKenzie and Jordan Lartey had the Seasiders cruising at the break.

Ilford’s second-half reply looked only a consolation, but the Foxes struck three more times in the final seven minutes to complete a spirited fightback and ensure they did not return from the Essex coast empty-handed.

Ilford host Frenford in a derby on Monday, while Athletic Newham visit Stansted for a cup tie on Tuesday and Romford host Great Wakering in the Essex Senior Cup on Wednesday.