Saturday 13th September, 2025 | Buckhurst Hill 3-4 Great Wakering Rovers | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 83
By Harry Biggs
Seven-Goal Thriller at Roding Lane as Stags Push Title Favourites to the Limit
Buckhurst Hill and Great Wakering Rovers produced one of the games of the season at Roding Lane, with a seven-goal thriller going the way of the visitors. Despite the result, The Stags left with confidence, showing they can compete against the division’s big teams.
Manager Mark Williams returned to the dugout after missing the trip to Harwich, and made two changes to the side that had beaten The Shrimpers 5–1. At the back, Alfie Harris missed out and was replaced by new loan signing Jack Johnson in defence. Johnson, who won the Essex Senior League with Enfield FC and already has Step 5 experience, joins The Stags on loan from Step 4 side Walthamstow FC and will be a key addition. The other change saw captain Ollie Williams sidelined with a hamstring injury, so Josh Banfield returned to midfield and wore the armband for the first time since rejoining the club this summer, having previously captained the side before his move across Roding.
Buckhurst Hill started brightly, and in the opening five minutes Archie Hammond was inches away from giving them the lead, his free-kick crashing against the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Wakering’s Jack Dickinson was the first player booked after just nine minutes for a late challenge in midfield.
The early pressure soon paid off. Thirteen minutes in, Callum Maltese fired Buckhurst Hill into the lead against one of the title favourites. As Rovers tried to clear their lines, the ball was hooked dangerously across goal. Keeper Martin scrambled but could only push it into Maltese’s path, who finished via the underside of the bar and over the line.
The lead lasted just six minutes. Rovers captain Ben Search levelled when The Stags were caught over-playing at the back. The loose ball fell to Search, whose intended cross looped over Christian North and into the top corner.
From there, the visitors began to take control. George Edwards, later named Stags’ POTM, had a strike around the half-hour mark but dragged it wide. Just before the break, a Wakering free-kick and a deflected effort from ex-Stag Bradleigh Rowland were comfortably dealt with, and the sides went in level at half-time.
Williams made a double change at the interval, introducing striker Harry Lusher and Joe Re. Six minutes later, Hammond found himself inside the box but chose to square for Maltese instead of shooting. Maltese wasn’t ready for the pass, and the chance faded.
Moments later, Wakering took the lead for the first time. A poorly defended corner dropped to James White, who controlled and smashed home from close range. The end-to-end nature of the contest was now fully on display. Just two minutes later, Lusher’s header from a set-piece was denied by Martin, who was carrying an injury but still produced an excellent save.
The Stags pushed on and looked the more likely to score. Dolan forced another fine stop before the equaliser finally came. On 62 minutes, Maltese once again glided through the Rovers defence and slotted under Martin for his second of the day. Buckhurst Hill’s No. 10 is on fire.
Shortly after a stoppage for an injury to keeper North, Hammond was replaced by Josh Colyer in midfield. But it was Wakering who struck next. Substitute Iglia Metalia spun his defender after meeting Shae La Rose’s cross and finished low beyond North to restore the visitors’ lead.
Back came The Stags. Two minutes later, Dolan levelled, smashing into the top corner after Lusher’s persistence created the opening.
Buckhurst Hill looked in control and came close to winning it when Dolan’s header from a free-kick flashed just wide. But disaster struck late on. A long ball over the top appeared covered, but Johnson misjudged his header, allowing substitute Shaun Gittleson to race through, round North, and break Stags’ hearts.
Dolan nearly snatched another equaliser in stoppage time but couldn’t connect cleanly at the back post. Two late substitutions—Foster and Johnson making way for Simpson and Daniels—couldn’t change the outcome, and full time brought a narrow 4–3 defeat.
It wasn’t the result they wanted, but The Stags proved they can go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s strongest sides. There were plenty of positives to take, and the performance showed Buckhurst Hill are moving in the right direction.
TEAM :
North 🧤, Foster, Edwards, Maltese ⚽⚽, Knight, Johnson, Hammond, Banfield ©, Martin, Dolan 🟨, Nicolaou
SUBS NOT USED :
Daniels (89’ – Foster), Re (46’ – Nicoloau), Lee Simpson (89’ – Johnson), Lusher (46’ – Martin), Colyer (77’ – Hammond)
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