Tuesday 21 September 2010

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE - THE STORY OF THE SEASON SO FAR

After most teams have played either four or five games the top of the table in the Essex Senior League has a familiar appearance as last season's champion's Stansted sit in first place on a maximum of 15 points from 5 games.

The Airportmen have swept aside every team they have played so in the league and league cup group E so far. Clapton will not be looking forward to their league cup meeting at the Spotted Dog next Tuesday night as in the two games they have played against Stansted this season they have lost 1-8 (at home in the league on the 28th August) and in the league cup at Hargrave Park 7-1 (on the 14th September). The only defeat was in the FA CUP extra preliminary round tie at Kentish Town (1-0 on the 15th August).

They start their FA Vase campaign on Saturday 2nd October by welcoming their most local of ESL rivals in Takeley.

Takeley are one of the seven clubs without a win in the league so far this season, they did record a 1-2 win at Spartan South Midlands League side Ampthill Town to qualify to play Stansted in the first round proper.

Currently joint second in the table are Enfield 1893 FC and somewhat surprisingly Eton Manor. 1893 have been helped with the goalscoring of Chris Stowe. He scored 22 goals in 38 games for Tilbury during the 2008/09 season and turned out for AFC Hornchurch in the Conference South prior to his spell at Chadfields. During the 2009/10 season he struggled with injuries but has returned to form hitting the back of the net this season. Sherwin Stanley, who played for Aveley in the Ryman Premier last season, returned for a second spell with 1893 last week after spending the beginning of the season with Blue Square South Boreham Wood.

Eton Manor have had a terrific start to the season. The East London based side had a great result in the FA Vase on Saturday recording a 2-3 win away at SSML Division One table toppers Berkhamsted. Ex Town players Danny Clarke and Danny Alleyne (now playing on the right side of defence) are turning out for Kevin Durant's side who look like they are going to have a good season.

In 4th, 5th and 6th position are Bethnal Green United, London APSA and pre-season favourites Witham Town respectively. APSA have made a steady start winning 3 and drawing 1 of their 4 league games.

Propping up the table at present are the aforementioned Clapton who have lost 5 out of 5 and Sawbridgeworth Town who have lost 3 out of 3.

The league survives on very small attendances with 1893's average of 94 currently top of the crowd league with Mauritius Sports bottom on a current average of 21. The league's aggregate crowd average presently stands at 50.38.

Current League Table followed by some games of note in the forthcoming months -


P W D L GF GA GD PTS
Stansted 5 5 0 0 21 3 +18 15
EFC 1893 5 4 1 0 14 3 +11 13
Eton Manor 5 4 1 0 14 4 +10 13
Bethnal Green United 4 3 1 0 8 2 +6 10
London APSA 4 3 1 0 6 2 +4 10
Witham Town 4 2 2 0 9 3 +6 8
Mauritius Sports 5 2 1 2 13 10 +3 7
Burnham Ramblers 4 2 0 2 9 7 +2 6
Bowers & Pitsea 5 1 3 1 4 5 -1 6
Barking 5 1 1 3 4 8 -4 4
Southend Manor 4 0 3 1 4 7 -3 3
Hullbridge Sports 5 0 3 2 7 11 -4 3
Barkingside 3 0 2 1 6 7 -1 2
Basildon United 5 0 2 3 3 13 -10 2
Takeley 5 0 1 4 2 15 -13 1
Sawbridgeworth Town 3 0 0 3 1 7 -6 0
Clapton 5 0 0 5 2 20 -18 0


16th October - Eton Manor v EFC 1893 - Surprise team v one of title favourites
26th October - Sawbridgeworth V Clapton - Battle of the basement boys
6th November - Clapton v Sawbridgeworth - Battle of the basement boys part 2
13th November - Bethnal Green v Eton Manor - East London Derby
20th November - Stansted v EFC 1893 - Title contenders face off
11th December - Stansted v Witham Town - Title contenders face off

FA Vase 1st Round matches involving ESL teams (to be played on Saturday 2nd October)

Barking v Flackwell Heath
Burnham Ramblers v Kentish Town
Cockfosters v Witham Town
Eton Manor v FC Clacton
Stansted v Takeley
Stanway Rovers v London APSA
Leverstock Green v Enfield 1893



Two good blogs to follow featuring the ESL are North Essex on tour, which has details of Southend Manor games and Witham Town blog, which concentrates on the history of Witham Town.

No comments:

Post a Comment