Saturday's ESL Round Up

Premier Division
Barking 1 Basildon United 1
The Blues saw their lead at the top cut to just two points as they were held at home by Basildon United. Omari Delgado netted another goal for the hosts and Joe Staunton made 100th appearance for the Blues however the could not prevent the Bees from taking a point in this encounter at Mayesbrook Park.

FC Romania 3 Waltham Forest 2
The Romanians are up to seventh after a narrow home win over Waltham Forest who themselves have dropped to ninth after a poor few weeks overall.

Hullbridge Sports 3 Eton Manor 0
Sports have risen to sixth after a comfortable home win over Eton Manor at Lower Road. The hosts struck in the 21st minute when Matt Brinklow's great cross found player manager Rob Hodgson who struck home and six minutes before the break doubled their advantage when a lovely flick from Jimmy Cox found Charlie Little who blasted an effort into the back of the net. And with just over ten minutes left they sealed the points when a superb ball from Little returned the favour to find Cox who headed home the hosts third. Its back to back defeats for Manor with no goals scored and seven conceded as they remain in 14th.

London Bari 2 West Essex 2
Bari made it three 2-2 draws at home in a row after a pulsating game against West Essex finished all square at the Old Spotted Dog. The visitors led in the tenth minute when Josh Kane latched onto a through ball and slotted home after an error of judgement by the Bari 'keeper but the hosts had the chance to level level just before half time after they were given a penalty when Kane was penalised for hand-ball. However Coker saved from the spot to preserve the visitors lead, a lead that was wiped out when the hosts did manage to level. It's was a scrappy one but not undeserved but five minutes into the second period the away side retook the lead when Ben Clarke struck from fully 30 yards for a wonderful goal but it wasn't enough as Bari fought back to equalise again with ten minutes left as a free-kick from the edge of the box was drilled under the wall and into the bottom corner meaning both sides had to settle for a point.

Redbridge 3 Clapton 4
Ryan Reed netted a late winner as the Tons won an absolute thriller at Oakside against Redbridge. The Motormen were the most in form side in the league this month and went ahead on six minutes when a close range effort was saved but rebounded off a Tons defender and into the net, however the Tons were also one of the most in form sides too and levelled four minutes later when Stefan Meisen beat the offside trap and slotted home. But the hosts retook the lead in the 12th minute when Jacob Dingli pounced on hesitant defending to net from close range but the visitors came back again just five minutes later when a great run by Raphael Duyile ended with his finish going in via a defender on the line. Chances came and went for both sides until Ajani Domingo Carrington nipped in to give the Tons the lead with twenty minutes to go only to see Lee Weemes bring the hosts level a minute later. However the Tons were to win this crazy contest when after two goalbound efforts were blocked, Reed drilled home the loose ball to see Clapton maintain fourth spot in the division whilst Redbridge's first defeat in November sees them drop a place to 11th.

Southend Manor 2 Barkingside 0
Manor remain in third just three points behind leaders Barking after netting two second half goals to defeat Barkingside at the Southchurch Arena. Dan Okah drilled home from inside the box to give the hosts the lead before Jake Brocklebank broke away to slot home five minutes into stoppage time to seal the points for the hosts, leaving visitors Barkingside with another defeat as they drop to 12th place.

Stansted 2 Sporting Bengal United 0
The Airportmen remain in fifth after they saw off bottom side Sporting Bengal United at Hargrave Park. Jordan Wescott netted the hosts opener in the seventh minute and they were then awarded a penalty after Riches was fouled after a mazey run into the box from the right hand side however Isherwood saw his spot kick saved by Bengal keeper Duayne Espirit. However the hosts did double their lead in the second period through
Luke Kanjor and with that came three points for the home side.

Takeley 5 Haringey & Waltham 2
Charlie Cole netted a hat-trick as hosts Takeley put five past Haringey & Waltham at Station Road to stay in second spot only two points behind leaders Barking, with the visitors remaining third bottom after this latest setback having conceded twelve goals in the last two weekends combined.

Tower Hamlets 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 5
Sawbo netted five second half goals as hosts Hamlets capitulated after the break to go tenth in the table. After a fairly well balanced first period birthday boy Gavin Cockman put the visitors into a 47th minute lead and then Oliver Cleaver doubled that advantage ten minute later to put the visitors in charge. Matt Frew then netted a third for the Robins with twenty minutes to go before Toby Cleaver and Brad Harris netted late on to complete a marvellous second half showing. For Hamlets it was a total second half collapse and see them slide to their sixth defeat in a row.

Wadham Lodge 0 Ilford 1
The Foxes made sure that new Lodge management duo Lucas and Falaise's start to their tenure did not result in a win as Fenn's side took all three points in a 1-0 win in Walthamstow. The sides remain in 18th and 13th respectively.

Reserves Division
AFC Sudbury 1 Stansted 3
Barking 1 Thurrock 4
Hullbridge Sports 3 Barkingside 4
Tower Hamlets 2 Redbridge 3
Waltham Abbey 0 Takeley 1

Herts Intermediate Cup
Bishop's Stortford Reserves 1 Tring Athletic 4
In the Reserves Division today leaders Thurrock went five points clear at the top after thumping four past Barking whilst Barkingside won a seven goal thriller at Hullbridge to go into the top four. Stansted and Redbridge grabbed away wins whilst Waltham Abbey are still winless and bottom after a home defeat to Takeley. Finally in the Herts Intermediate Cup Bishop's Stortford lost heavily at home to Tring Athletic to go out of the competition.

Updated 09:10 - 3 Sep 2019 by Peter Dudley