THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE - RACE FOR PROMOTION - 30/3/2010

CAN LEAGUE FOUNDERS STANSTED WIN THEIR FIRST LEAGUE TITLE??

Current League Standings (Top 6)
 
                        p  GD PT PP      PP = Possible Points Total     
1. Stansted             27 45 56 77
2. Bethnal Green United 27 37 52 73
3. Burnham Ramblers     27 30 51 72
4. Witham Town          27 15 49 70 *
5. Enfield 1893         28 16 48 66 #
6. Barkingside          25 12 44 71

* Witham Town deducted 3 points. EFC 1893 deducted 1 point. 

The race for promotion from the Essex Senior League is very close at present with anyone of the top six able to win the title. The only team not to have applied for promotion is current table topper's Stansted who are five points clear. If the Airportmen continue to win it'll be a race to who can finish second and possibly gain promotion to the Ryman League Division One (North). Third placed Bethnal Green United have had a tremendous debut season in the league after jumping up two steps from the Middlesex County League Premier Division. Their recent 1-2 victory away against title rivals Burnham Ramblers at Leslie Fields may prove to be the all important result to get the East Londoners second place or possibly the title.

They also contest both league cup finals with a trip back to Leslie Fields on Easter Monday to play Takeley in The Gordon Brastead Memorial Trophy and face Burnham Ramblers in the League Cup Final on May Day Bank Holiday at Bowers and Pitsea's Len Salmon Stadium .

United have only lost one league game at The Mile End Stadium this season against Burnham. The Ramblers have lost to title rivals Stansted and BGU (in the aforementioned game) and drawn versus Barkingside and 17th placed Bowers and Pitsea in their last four games which has allowed Stansted to gain the upper hand in the race for top spot.

The Airportmen who are the only team with unbroken membership of the league have never won the Championship. The closest they have come was in 1983 when runners-up to Heybridge Swifts. A year later they gained National acclaim when they won the FA Vase at Wembley.

Witham Town, demoted from the Ryman League last season, made a disastarous start to their campaign losing six of their first nine games. Since then Danny Greave's side has lost one in eighteen league games forcing themselves up the table into the Championship/Promotion race. Their 3 point deduction may prove to be costly at the end of the season.

It's not out of the question for EFC 1893 or Barkingside (with games in hand due to the Oakside pitch problems) to finish 2nd or even top but it will have to take the wheels to come off at Stansted, BGU, Burnham Ramblers and Witham Town for either of the 5th or 6th placed teams to take advantage. The cold end can't see this happening (although stranger things have happened) and can only see the Championship being won by one of the current top four teams.

Key games coming up: 

Wednesday 14th April  - Takeley V Stansted 
Tough local derby trip. Takeley are currently unbeaten in 8 games at their Station Road ground.

Wednesday 14th April  - EFC 1893 V Burnham Ramblers
A difficult midweek trip to Hertfordshire for the Ramblers. 

Tuesday 20th April    - Stansted V Bethnal Green United 
BGU'S last league game could be the Championship decider???  The airportmen have one game after this against current 17th placed Bowers & Pitsea on the 24th April. 

Link to ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE OFFICIAL WEBSITE