It has been a significant week at the foot of the Essex Senior League with Athletic Newham winning 1-0 at Sporting Bengal United on Wednesday evening, which lifted Newham out of the bottom two and resulted in Romford dropping to third from bottom. Worse was to follow for Bengal after that result with the news that they had been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, reducing their total to 25 from 35 games. Bottom of the table Frenford have also been in action this week, and last night (Thursday) they were beaten 4-1 at Buckhurst Hill, their first defeat in four games after wins over Hackney Wick, Boro, and Great Wakering Rovers.

The upshot of these events leaves the bottom of the table looking like this:

With three games remaining for everyone in the bottom seven bar White Ensign – who have four to play, and along with Sporting Bengal United have lost each of their last six league games - the permutations as to who will occupy the two relegation spots come the end of the season are endless.

The remaining matches for the bottom seven are as follows, and involve a number of games that can genuinely be called six-pointers between sides anxious to avoid the drop to Step 6:

Previous Meetings:

Romford travel to Hullbridge Sports tomorrow for the last away game of the season to face a side who have won at Mayesbrook Park twice in 2025-26. Back in August, Boro went down 2-1 to Hullbridge having trailed 2-0 at the interval with Teddy Desmond’s 89th minute goal – his first for the club – proving to be no more than a consolation. Then, in a Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy tie played in October, Boro were beaten 4-2 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Blaise Uwandji gave Romford the lead shortly after half-time but ex-Boro man Ken Feyi equalised to take the game to a shoot-out.

Including those two meetings this season, Romford have faced Hullbridge Sports 37 times since the first game between the sides back in 1992. That was an Essex Senior Trophy tie played at Lower Road which ended in a 5-2 win for the home side. Mark Brett and Steve Everson scored Boro’s goals. Romford then won 16 of the next 17 encounters (the other one was drawn) and during the 1995-96 season racked up 15 goals in the two league fixtures, winning 9-0 at Rush Green Road and 6-1 at Lower Road with Kevin Rendell netting four in the home game and one away.

Overall, Romford have won 23 of the previous matches and lost just 8 but in the six games since Boro returned to the Essex Senior League, Hullbridge have the better record having won three over 90 minutes and one on penalties. Romford’s only victory came in 2023 when goals from Jayden Silcott-Brown and Bruno Gomes earned a 2-0 win at Lower Road to set a record of five straight wins in competitive matches at the start of the season for the first time. The return game, which was played at Rookery Hill, ended 1-0 to Hullbridge.

Last season’s game at Hullbridge ended in a 3-3 draw after Boro had led 3-0 with just over an hour played. Praise Ogbebor, Arnold Mengi, and Ken Feyi scored for Boro before Hullbridge pulled first one, then two, back before equalising with a penalty awarded for a foul that many felt occurred outside the box. Romford ended the game with ten men after Derek Feyi was sent off and Boro also finished the return short handed when Ash Siddik was dismissed in the game at Mayesbrook Park which Hullbridge won 2-1.

Recent Form:

After losing their first two league games this season – both 4-1, at the hands of Saffron Walden Town and Little Oakley – Hullbridge climbed to eleventh after five games before drifting down the table to hover just above the drop zone before experiencing an upturn in form that coincided with the appointment of management duo of Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace.

In their last six league outings, Hullbridge have won three – against Frenford, Benfleet, and Harwich & Parkeston – drawn with Ilford, and lost at Little Oakley and Great Wakering Rovers. At home this season, Hullbridge have won six and lost seven out of sixteen fixtures.

A number of ex-Boro players have appeared for Hullbridge this season with Darren Phillips and Ellis Devereaux among them. Devereaux is Hullbridge’s leading scorer this season with 17 goals (in just 18 games) while Phillips has netted twice.

Home ground and how to get there:

Hullbridge Sports play their home games at Lower Road, Hullbridge, Essex, and for your sat nav, the Post Code is SS5 6BJ.

From the A12 or A127, take the A130 towards Wickford/South Woodham Ferrers. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Hawk Hill. Then bear left onto Beeches Road. This turns into Watery Lane. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Lower Road. The ground will be on the right hand side. Alternatively, take the A127 to the Chelmsford South Woodham Ferrers Turn off. Take the 1st exit onto the A1245. At the roundabout take the 3'd exit onto Chelmsford Road A1245. Then look for Chelmsford Road on the right. Follow this road and turn left onto Beeches Road and follow as above.

By public transport, the nearest station is Rayleigh, from where you need to take the number 20 bus, which you should get to the first stop in Ferry Road, just after the Co-op, and then walk up the hill (Lower Road). Club is approximately 0.4 miles on the right.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 10th April:
7.45pm Benfleet v Ilford
7.45pm Woodford Town v West Essex

Saturday 11th April:
3pm Athletic Newham v Buckhurst Hill
3pm Barking v Halstead Town
3pm Basildon United v Frenford
3pm Harwich & Parkeston v Hackney Wick
3pm Hullbridge Sports v Romford
3pm Little Oakley v Soul Tower Hamlets
3pm Saffron Walden Town v Great Wakering Rovers
3pm Sporting Bengal United v White Ensign