Saturday 26th October, 2025 | Hackney Wick 2-1 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 28
By Harry Biggs
After a defeat to AFC Welwyn in the Isuzu FA Vase, which meant an exit from the competition, Buckhurst Hill looked to turn things around when they travelled to the Simarco Stadium to face a familiar opponent in Hackney Wick — the first meeting between the sides since our Thurlow Nunn days over three years ago.
The gaffer made three changes to the side that narrowly lost to Welwyn last time out. Jake Brocklebank had made the switch to Tilbury by the time we travelled to Witham, so young Arthur Massingham started in place of the departing Stags player. The final two changes came at the back, with George Edwards returning from injury to replace Harvey Brown in defence. Ollie Fernandez switched to the centre-back role, partnering Jack Johnson — who came in for the suspended Preston Knight. The bench saw the return of Callum Maltese after missing the trip to Welwyn. He was joined by Hammond, Buchanan, Nicolaou, and new signing Yannis Mengou.
Onto the action, and it was the hosts who had the first real chance of the game, though it didn’t develop into a shot on target after George Edwards won the ball back at a vital moment for The Stags.
Buckhurst Hill had strong claims for a penalty around the tenth minute when Arthur Massingham appeared to be tripped inside the area by a Hackney Wick defender, but the referee waved the claims away — much to the frustration of the travelling supporters behind the goal, who had made the trip in strong numbers.
Christian North was called into action shortly after, making a brilliant save to deny the hosts after Ollie Williams was caught in possession in midfield. North then launched a quick counter-attack, leading to Harry Lusher’s first attempt of the afternoon — a shot that went just wide of the far post.
Hackney Wick began to press higher up the pitch, and in the space of a minute the ball was cleared off the line twice. Jack Johnson had to head clear for a corner after Sidibe almost found the net. The Wickers’ clinical striker did eventually get his goal a minute later, heading home to give the hosts the lead.
Despite going behind, The Stags controlled much of the first half, with Sidibe’s goal being Hackney Wick’s only real chance. Ollie Williams went close to grabbing a wonder goal when his shot nearly dipped in off the underside of the crossbar, but the home keeper, Nasim, tipped it away.
Harry Lusher had the best chance of the half just before the break. The young striker raced through on goal, beat the keeper to the ball, and looked certain to score — but a defender slid in at the last moment to block the shot on the line. Lusher had a second attempt on the rebound, only for the same defender to block again before the keeper smothered the ball. Somehow, The Stags were still behind.
Carter Ford had the final chance of the half when he ran through the Hackney defence and fired from the edge of the box, but his effort went just over as the referee blew for half-time.
Mark Williams made a change at the break, with Ford replaced by the in-form Callum Maltese.
Within three minutes of his introduction, Maltese whipped a ball toward the back post, which was cleared only as far as Tyler Dolan. Dolan hit it goalwards, but his strike sailed just over the bar as The Stags edged closer to an equaliser.
Buckhurst Hill continued to press, but the breakthrough still wouldn’t come. Ollie Williams saw another effort cleared off the line, while George Edwards had a shot comfortably saved by the keeper just before the hour mark.
The equaliser finally arrived right on the hour when George Edwards unleashed a trademark rocket from outside the box — a stunning strike into the top corner that sent the away end into wild celebrations. Edwards pointed to the travelling supporters in delight as The Stags rushed back to the halfway line, hunting a winner.
Five minutes later, Maltese came close again with a shot that clipped the outside of the post and went wide.
New signing Yannis Mengou made his debut with 23 minutes to play, replacing Arthur Massingham.
Tyler Dolan then fired another shot at goal, but it trickled into the keeper’s hands. The Stags kept pushing but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Lusher had another golden opportunity to put Buckhurst Hill ahead after Dolan’s cross found him right in front of goal, but he couldn’t get his body around the ball and sent it over — another missed chance as full-time drew near.
The decisive moment came with nine minutes left when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Ollie Fernandez pulled back Sidibe inside the area. Fernandez received a yellow card, and Sidibe stepped up to calmly send North the wrong way, restoring Hackney Wick’s lead against the run of play.
Mark Williams turned to his bench, bringing on Archie Hammond for the departing George Edwards — Hammond’s final appearance in black and blue.
The last chance fell to Callum Maltese, whose effort once again drifted just wide of the post.
That was full-time — The Stags fell to defeat despite dominating large spells of the game and creating the better chances against the newly promoted side.
TEAM :
North 🧤, Foster, Edwards, Williams ©, Johnson, Fernandez, Ford, Banfield, Lusher, Massingham, Dolan
SUBS NOT USED :
Hammond (86’ – Edwards), Nicolaou, Maltese (46’ – Ford), Mengou (66’ Massingham), Buchanan