ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE - RELEGATION FIGHT UPDATE

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 

CURRENT TABLE - Positions 13 to 21 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
13	STANSTED	30	-8	32	DWWLWL
14	SPORTING BENGAL UNITED	31	-21	31	LLLLWL
15	BARKINGSIDE	26	-7	30	DLWLWD
16	WALTHAM FOREST	30	-24	30	LLDWLD
17	BURNHAM RAMBLERS	31	-43	29	LLLLLL
18	ENFIELD 1893 FC	29	-23	28	LLDWLW
19	HULLBRIDGE SPORTS	27	-27	25	WWLDDD
20	WADHAM LODGE	27	-31	23	LDLDLL
21	HACKNEY WICK	29	-39	17	DLLLLL

The non-league re-organisation in the Summer and the creation of a new 'Eastern Senior League South' at Step Six of the non-league ladder could mean up to four teams will be relegated from the Essex Senior League at the end of the current campaign. Therefore the only way teams at the bottom end of the table can 100% guarantee their Step Five status is to finish outside of the bottom four in the final table which makes for a really exciting and nerve shreading end to the campaign. 

Hackney Wick are currently adrift at the bottom of the table by six points and are on a run of nine league games without a win. The club were only formed in 2015 and last summer's merger with London Bari saw them move to the Essex Senior League and ground share with Clapton FC at The Old Spotted Dog. 

The Wickers have struggled this year with a number of changes in management but the club are planning for the future with a recent announcement that they will play at The London Marathon Community Ground which is next door to the London Stadium and the home of West Ham United. The ground is also home to Altis FC (formerly Sloane FC on the Middlesex County League) who are currently playing in the Amateur Football Combination Senior 2 North division. IT is actually in the London Borough of Newham but is only a stone's throw from Hackney Wick train station.       

The Wickers are more than a football club with the local community at it's heart with their aim to promote anti-gang agenda, increase the numbers of positive young role models, create opportunities for young people, educate and instill good values and morals, enhance community cohesion, provide respite, a safe haven and save lives. So even if they do go down the future looks bright for football in Hackney. 

If The Wickers are going to make a great escape their next three games are really important coming on Tuesday 21st February at home to Southend Manor, Tuesday 27th February away at Stansted and then Saturday 3rd March away at Enfield 1893. 

The other sides in the bottom four are currently Wadham Lodge (another club to change manager's over the season), Hullbridge Sports (who have only lost one game in their last six) and Enfield 1893 who got a really important 1-3 win at Sawbridgeworth Town on Saturday.

Burnham Ramblers, sit just outside the danger zone, but currently have the worst defensive record in the league letting in 95 goals in their thirty one games played - 41 of those have been in their last ten games. 

THE ABOVE CHART SHOWS THE POINTS PER GAME FOR EACH OF THE TEAMS IN THE CURRENT BOTTOM NINE WHICH SHOWS WHAT A HUGE TASK THE WICKERS HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE BOTTOM FOUR. 

THIS WEEK'S FORTHCOMING FIXTURES FOR THE TEAMS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE 

TUESDAY Hullbridge Sports v Basildon United 
Takeley v Sawbridgeworth Town 

SATURDAY
Barkingside v Southend Manor
Enfield 1893 v Stansted
A huge game for both sides. A victory for Enfield will probably (depending on other results) see them move out of the bottom four whereas a victory for The Airportmen will see them move further away from the bottom four. Stansted have been in good form winning three of their last six games. 
Hullbridge Sports v Tower Hamlets 
Sawbridgeworth Town v Ilford 
Wadham Lodge v Waltham Forest 
The big East London derby at Wadham Lodge. The home side need wins urgently. The Stags could drop into the bottom four should they lose. It will be all to play for in E17. 



COMING UP TOMORROW ON THE COLD END WE WILL FOCUS ON THE TOP END OF THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE AND THE FIGHT FOR PROMOTION TO STEP FOUR OF THE NON-LEAGUE LADDER