Romford made it back-to-back wins at the start of the Essex Senior League season with a 1-0 success over Buckhurst Hill.

Landlords Barking battled to a goalless draw at White Ensign, while Hutton got the better of Barkingside on a busy night in Thurlow Nunn League Division One South, as Tower Hamlets, Clapton, Hackney Wick and May & Baker all tasted defeat.

A late goal from Sonny Shilling settled the outcome in Romford’s favour at the Lawtech Stadium, after Boro’s 5-1 victory against Saffron Walden Town in their opener.

And it meant they moved to the top of the early table ahead of FA Cup extra preliminary round action this coming weekend.

Chances were at a premium early on, with Michael Turner firing over and Finlay Dorrell having a shot blocked.

Jayden Silcott-Brown and Kris Newby were both off target, while Dorrell had a tight-angle effort cleared after rounding the keeper.

Jesse Manjaray shot wide for the visitors, while Henry Clark’s free-kick hit the crossbar.

Dorrell then had a low shot saved by Alex Reed before the break and Boro had the majority of possession in the second half with the wind and rain at their backs.

Hill’s Alfie Morris shot wide, though, before Reed denied Shilling and Scott Doe headed wide from a corner.

But Boro claimed the winner five minutes from time when Henry Hart won a throw-in and Junior Luke hurled the ball into the near-post area, where Turner’s touch allowed Shilling to net from close range.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Goal Cam <br><br>Only the 1 goal last night in our 1-0 win against @buckhurst_hillfc <br><br>It was not pretty but we got the job done 3 points top of the pack and on to FA Cup Saturday ???????? <br><br>One Town, One Club, One Boro <a href=”https://t.co/tVNmavGpkp”>pic.twitter.com/tVNmavGpkp</a></p>— Romford FC (@RomfordFC) <a href=”https://twitter.com/RomfordFC/status/1687013630057844737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Substitute Hassan Nalbant had a chance to double the advantage, firing straight at Reed in the last minute, but Boro banked the points ahead of a trip to Halstead Town on Saturday.

Barking hit the post twice as their match at White Ensign ended in a goalless stalemate.

The hosts sent an early chance wide before Chris Adu-Gyamfi shot was deflected behind.

Martin Tuohy then forced a mistake from home keeper Harry Fairs and crossed for Adu-Gyamfi, who could not connect, before Harry Girling handled a back pass in the box and the indirect free-kick was blocked, with Kenedi Dariri clearing a goalbound follow-up.

Henry Mabassa headed into the sdie neting for Blues, before Girling made a crucial save with his legs.

And Brad Rowland’s deflected shot hit an upright after the restart, before Fahad Nyanja fired just over.

Tuohy rattled a post four minutes from time, before Barking’s Aundre Spencer was sent off for a second bookable offence during injury time ahead of a trip to Cockfosters.

Hutton had run out 5-1 winners at Harlow Town in their step five opener on Saturday, thanks to two goals apiece from Stephen Judge and Sean O’Callaghan and one from Jude Keeling.

And they took the lead against Barkingside in first-half stoppage time through Dylan Jones, after Andrew Webster’s effort had been saved.

The hosts had created other good chances at Billericay Town’s New Lodge ground in the opening period and made sure of the points four minutes from time as Judge scored from a free-kick.

Barkingside had opportunities of their own, but were wasteful in front of goal and saw John Mbamarah dismissed late on.

Hutton sit top of the table and host Tower Hamlets on Saturday, after the east London club returned empty handed from Basildon Town after losing their first game of the campaign by the same 2-0 margin.

Rhys Fatt and Connor Barnby netted for the hosts to send Kiernan Hughes-Mason’s side to defeat.

And Hackney Wick were left frustrated as they let a two-goal lead slip and lost 3-2 to Burnham Ramblers at Spa Road.

Benson Osejindu opened the scoring five minutes before the break after good work from Sergi Chele.

And Frankie Hanmore fired home a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time to put Wick on top.

But Burnham halved the deficit five minutes after the restart through Leon Isaac and drew level with 12 minutes left as Karl Swanborough netted, before Gabriel Ogunwomoju snatched a last-minute winner.

May & Baker ECFC suffered a second successive defeat at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium, as Cannons Wood claimed a 2-1 win.

The visitors had an effort ruled out for offside, before Remi Owansanya put Bakers ahead from Anthony Cooke’s right-wing corner, volleying home from close range.

 

 

Wood were back on terms before the break, though, when Bobby Breen turned a right-wing cross into his own net and took the lead a minute into the second half.

Jack Riddell produced a fine fingertip save to keep Bakers in the hunt, before both sides were reduced to 10 men late on, with the home side seeing Daniel Barth dismissed.

Clapton, meanwhile, were beaten 3-1 at home by Brimsdown after seeing their opening fixture with Benfleet postponed at Terrence McMillan Stadium.


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