MANOR MASTER BRIDGE CLIMB!
SECOND-placed Hullbridge Sports were shocked by struggling Southend Manor in a 2-0 loss. The match had to be moved from a waterlogged Lower Road to Tilbury’s Chadfields, with conditions also playing a part in the shape of the wind that favoured Southend in the first half. Manor took the lead after 14 minutes when a mistimed challenge resulted in a penalty that Michael Ogboin despatched. It has to be said that neither team created too many clear-cut chances and neither goalkeeper, Hullbridge’s George Marsh and Southend’s Joshua Harrison was unduly overworked. Ten minutes into the second half another mis-timed challenge, right on the edge of the box, was ruled to be inside the box by the assistant referee. Ogboin, who was the best player on the pitch, put away the subsequent penalty. Nyron Dyer scored the only goal as Leyton Athletic moved off the foot of the table by beating Sawbridgeworth Town. The only other league game saw Saffron Walden Town come from 2-0 down to beat Enfield 5-2. Michael Opovo and Matt Thomas scored in the opening half hour and goals either side of half time, from Ashley Skeggs and Luke Sawyer levelled things up before Lewis Francis won it with a hat-trick, scoring on 53, 68, and 71 minutes. One semi-final of the Peter Butcher Memorial trophy is now known. On Friday night Sporting Bengal United won 2-0 at Barkingside, thanks to goals form Kamarl Duncan and Jay Knight. And there will be one team from the reserve division at least in the last four as Aveley Reserves won 2-0 at Tower Hamlets on Saturday. Their goals came from Jamie Price and Ryan Reid.