County Cup Success

Season 2013-2014 was a major success for the Essex Olympian Football League and the Clubs that play in it. Both the Saturday Premier Cup and the Junior Cup were won by teams from this League, with us having all four finalists in both competitions. The introduction of an Under 21 Division is a positive step for the future.

The season kicked off as usual with the Challenge Cup Competitions. Frenford won the Senior Challenge Cup by beating Kelvedon Hatch whilst in the Reserves White Ensign were the winners against Harold Wood.

Despite the loss of getting on for 200 matches due to the weather, we eventually moved towards deciding the season honours.

In Senior Division Three the new clubs fought out the promotion spots with Rochford Town who scored 89 goals, the highest in the Senior Divisions, crowned champions and Snaresbrook runners-up. Ongar Town were Senior Division Two champions with runners-up Shenfield promoted for the second season in a row. Senior Division One was very closely fought with only 7 points separating the top 7 teams. Newham United were eventual champions leap frogging three other Clubs in the last game. Springfield were runners-up on goal difference with two other Clubs on the same points. Southminster St. Leonards were crowned Champions of the Premier Division for the first time with Kelvedon Hatch eventually finishing runners-up ahead of Frenford on goal difference.

In the Reserve Divisions Ramsden Scotia were comfortable winners of Division Three with Basildon Town making a late run to claim second place. Runwell Hospital were crowned champions of Division Two when they won their last game of the season to finish above runners-up Old Barkabbeyans. Reserve Division One went down to the last day of the season with Harold Wood’s victory over Manford Way handing the title to Frenford on goal difference leaving Manford Way as runners-up.

The comfortable winners of the Under 21 Division title in its first season were Ryan who with 90 goals scored the most goals in the League, Hutton eventually came through to finish second.

The Senior Cup Final was an all Premier Division affair with Rayleigh Town eventually lifting the Cup after a penalty shoot-out with Southminster. The Reserve Cup finalists were Manford Way and Basildon Town with Basildon of Division Three managing to hold the Division One Club in check until the last few minutes of the game before Manford Way scored the only goal of the match.

Denny King Cup is now be competed for by the Under 21 teams with the first final contested by Ryan and Hutton. The game itself was a great advert for the Under 21 football and the League. The match eventually finished 1-1 at full time with Ryan going on to win on penalties.

In the County Cups there was real success for the Essex Olympian League Clubs this season. In the Saturday Premier Cup 7 out of the last 8 teams were from this League. The two EOFL finalists were Kelvedon Hatch and Newbury Forest. The score was 1-1 in the second half when a great long distance strike put Newbury Forest in front and they scored again in injury time to lift the trophy.

The Junior Cup was also an all Olympian League affair between Manford Way Reserves and Ramsden Scotia Reserves with Manford Way the Cup Winners.

In other outside competitions Galleywood performed really well reaching the finals of the Anagrams Trophy final where they eventually lost to Kent Athletic.