Saturday 15th November, 2025 | Saffron Walden 0-5 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 194
By Harry Biggs
Buckhurst Hill FC produced a performance like none other when they travelled to Catons Lane, the home of Saffron Walden FC, on the chilly Saturday afternoon and returned with all three points after putting five goals past one of our playoff rivals.
Manager Mark Williams made just one change to the side that beat West Essex three goals to nil last time out, with Josh Banfield coming in to captain the team and Preston Knight dropping out, meaning Ollie Fernandez moved into the centre-back role. The substitutes’ bench also saw changes, with three different players available. Yannis Mengou returned to the squad alongside Max Nicholson for the first time this season after suffering a pre-season injury, while 16-year-old Harrison Wickens was named in a match-day squad for the first time and looked set to become one of our youngest ever debutants. Wickens shared the bench with the experience of Alfie Harris and former ESL winner Jack Johnson.
Onto the action now, and The Stags knew they would have to rise to the challenge against Walden, a notoriously tough side to beat. The scoreline didn’t reflect Walden’s efforts; the hosts played some good football but were ultimately dominated by the visiting Buckhurst team.
Christian North was called into action in the tenth minute after Walden nearly took the lead. A dangerous throw-in led to a shot from inside the area, but North reacted sharply to deny them.
Harry Lusher created our first chance five minutes later. Lusher caused problems all afternoon, starting with a brilliant delivery into the box, but no one managed to connect and the chance fizzled out.
The breakthrough came in the nineteenth minute through one of our in-form front three, Callum Maltese. He cut inside and fired a shot goalwards from the edge of the box, and with keeper Coton spilling the effort over his own head, the ball dropped into the net to put The Stags in front.
Walden continued to threaten, and soon after the goal, Kaleel Green hit a long-range effort, but it was comfortably saved down low by North, who stood firm all ninety minutes.
The Stags extended their lead just before the half-hour mark when Tyler Dolan netted his first of the afternoon and Buckhurst Hill’s second during a frantic start at Catons Lane. A cross into the box was only half-cleared, falling to Dolan, who drilled a low, hard finish into the bottom corner to make it 2–0.
Despite the momentum, the celebrations were cut short when Callum Maltese signalled to the bench that he couldn’t continue. He was replaced by Yannis Mengou on the half-hour mark. Losing our in-form winger raised the question of whether The Stags could maintain control or if Walden would spark a comeback.
The chances kept flowing. George Edwards nearly made it three with a stunning effort from range after Banfield caught the hosts napping with a quick free-kick, but Coton produced a strong save.
Walden then threatened again with a rapid counterattack that released the in-form Kaleel Green, but North stood tall and denied him once more.
Inside the same minute, and seven minutes before the interval, Buckhurst Hill made it 3–0. This time it was one of our own, Arthur Massingham, scoring his third ESL goal against Saffron Walden this season and his third senior goal for his boyhood club.
The goals didn’t stop there. Six minutes later, Tyler Dolan grabbed his second to make it 4–0. Banfield won a free-kick near the corner flag and delivered it himself. After a save and a scrappy few seconds, the ball fell kindly for Dolan to hammer home and send The Stags into half time with one of the best first-half performances we’ve seen.
Just before the whistle, Lusher could’ve made it five when he found himself through on goal, but his effort was saved easily. With the scoreline already comfortable, the chance lacked the sharpness of earlier attacks.
Three minutes into the second half, Lusher had a header cleared off the line as The Stags continued to look lively. A few minutes later another shot whistled just wide, with Walden starting the half shakily.
The fifth goal eventually came when Harry Lusher finally found the net, extending the lead even further.
With the game settling, the gaffer made a defensive change, replacing Massingham with Alfie Harris for the final half hour. Moments later, Jack Johnson came on for Liam Foster. Lusher then saw another effort saved before making way for Max Nicholson — a welcome return for Max after a nasty pre-season injury.
Chances became less frequent after the fifth goal, but The Stags still pushed forward. With fifteen minutes remaining, Tyler Dolan fired another effort wide as the clock ticked on.
A proud moment followed when 16-year-old Harrison Wickens made his senior debut with nine minutes to play, replacing Dimitri Nicolaou in midfield. He becomes one of the youngest players ever to feature for our senior team.
George Edwards should’ve added his name to the scoresheet late on but snatched at his long-range effort, sending it wide instead of driving closer to goal.
With four minutes left, Saffron Walden finally enjoyed their best moment of the game, striking the crossbar twice in the same attack.
Shortly after, the final whistle blew around Catons Lane. The Stags had produced a statement victory, putting five past an in-form Saffron Walden side.
TEAM :
North 🧤, Foster, Edwards, Nicolaou, Fernandez, Brown, Massingham ⚽️, Banfield, Lusher ⚽️, Dolan ⚽️⚽️, Maltese ⚽️
SUBS :
Harris (65’ – Massingham), Johnson (69’ – Foster), Mengou (30’ – Maltese), Nicholson (77’ – Lusher), Wickens (83’ – Nicolaou)
NEXT GAME :
Saturday 22nd November, 2025 – Basildon United (A) – Essex Senior League Premier – KO 2PM