ON THIS DAY MARCH 8th

ON THIS DAY MARCH 8th 2011
This memory is for a midweek Tuesday when the first leg in the League Cup Quarter Final was played between Basildon United and Enfield 1893 with a Taylor Sussex 23m effort sealing it for the away side in front of 26. Also at the same time Mauritius Sports Association were losing 0-2 to Stansted whose goals came from Ryan Murray in 52m and Terry Spillaine 70m with 17 in attendance. Southend Manor played host to Witham Town winning 3-1 with goals from Wilf Msika 11m 70m and Eddie Hart 85m, James Robinson was the sole scorer for Witham Town on 12m and spectators were shocked with the opposition having most possession in the game. On the previous evening, Bethnal Green United beat Takeley 4-1.
In the only league match that night Hullbridge Sports lost 1-3 at home to Burnham Ramblers. The leading goalscorer was Rob Whitnell of Witham Town six ahead of Dwight Gayle of Stansted ! Stansted and Enfield 1893 led the league table 12 points ahead of everyone else though Stansted had two games in hand. Clapton were in last place.
All the talk was about the previous Saturday’s games that found Stansted still unbeaten and to make it a run of 26 without defeat but still a long away from the all time record that stands until this day, Basildon United went on a 34 match run in the 1970’s. At the Terence McMillan stadium, London Apsa won 2-0 against Sawbridgeworth Town but of most significance in that result is that one of the goals was scored by Greg Akpele, now in the same form for Ilford, some 14 years later !
On this day, the 8th March in 1985, Stambridge beat East Ham Reserves in Division One, 11-0 and, in 1889, 10 man Clapton beat 9 man Old Harrovians 6-1 in the London Cup at the Spotted Dog, Upton.
On 9th, Barkingside played host to Bowers & Pitsea losing 3-5 in front of 63. Side’s scorers were Jordan Tolan, Micheal Begg and Alf Dickenson.