Boro entertain White Ensign tomorrow in the last game of a year that has been one of the most eventful and momentous in the club’s history. A win tomorrow could lift Boro into second spot depending on other results, although it would require Takeley to upset the form book and win at Tilbury. Woodford Town – currently in third spot ahead of Boro only on goal difference – were beaten 2-1 at home by Halstead Town in midweek and do not have a game this weekend.

Brief History of White Ensign FC

Formed in 1951, White Ensign first played in the Southend Borough Combination before joining the Essex Intermediate League in 2002. In 2004 they won the Essex Olympian League for the first time and repeated that success in 2005, 2007, and 2008, while playing at The Len Forge Centre. In order to accept promotion, they moved to Basildon Sporting Village in 2018, and after three seasons in the Eastern Counties League Division One South (only one of which was completed due to covid), they joined the Essex Senior League in 2021, moving to groundshare at Great Wakering Rovers’ ground at the same time.

Previous Meetings:

The sides had not met before last season, but played one another three times in 2022-23 with White Ensign winning all of them. The first meeting was an Essex Senior League game played at Mayesbrook Park in November 2022 which the visitors won 4-1. It was a wretched night for Boro who lost Scott Doe to a controversial red card when the game was goal-less, and then lost his centre back partner George Allen to an injury late in the game. Camilo Restrepo scored Boro’s solitary goal.

In an Errington Challenge Cup tie played at Great Wakering, Boro were beaten 2-1 with Kris newby scoring Boro’s goal, and in the league game at the same venue, Boro went down 1-0.

Earlier this season in the ESL at Burroughs Park, Romford recovered from 2-0 down after just half an hour to draw 2-2.

Hassan Nalbant pulled one back with this header just before the break

and Kris Newby levelled the scores from the penalty spot after 70 minutes

Last Season:

Last season was White Ensign’s second in the ESL, and they finished 13th after ending in 11th place in their debut season. They had no joy in either the FA Cup or FA Vase last season, being beaten in the opening round of both, by St Panteleimon and Biggleswade United respectively.

This Season:

Currently 13th with 25 points from 19 games, White Ensign have not proven easy to beat on their travels as away from home they have won three and drawn three of ten away games and are unbeaten in their last five on the road, a sequence that has included 1-0 wins at West Essex and Stanway Rovers. Their lost recent game was that win at West Essex as their scheduled trip to FA Clacton in midweek was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Prior to that they had drawn 2-2 away against Ilford.

Although White Ensign again fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup this season, beaten 5-3 at Leverstock Green, they had more success in the FA Vase. Wins over Colney Heath, Cornard United, Wormley Rovers, and May & Baker took them into the 3rd Round for the first time in their history where they were beaten 3-2.

Boro Reserves and Romford Women:

Neither Boro’s second string nor The Boro Belles have fixtures this weekend.

Essex Senior League fixtures this weekend:

Friday 22nd December:
Ilford v FC Clacton (at Barking FC)

Saturday 23rd December:
Buckhurst Hill v Saffron Walden Town 2pm
Great Wakering Rovers v Athletic Newham 2pm
West Essex v Hullbridge Sports 2pm
Coggeshall Town v Barking
Little Oakley v Sporting Bengal United
Romford v White Ensign
Stanway Rovers v Frenford
Tilbury v Takeley