Saturday 27th December, 2025 | Buckhurst Hill 3-0 Woodford Town | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 273
By Harry Biggs
Buckhurst Hill made it a December to remember as they completed the year unbeaten in ten with a massive victory over Roding rivals Woodford Town, who they beat 3–0 on a chilly day to end 2025.
Mark Williams made three changes to the side that recorded a late draw with Sporting Bengal United last time out. Dino Maras was out with illness, so former Potters Bar goalkeeper Fred Burbidge stepped in between the sticks for Derby Day. Jack Johnson picked up an injury late on against Bengal and would be out for some time, so Preston Knight started at centre back for the first time in nearly two months. The final change saw Josh Banfield return to the starting eleven after only being fit to make the bench against Bengal, replacing Dimitri Nicolaou, who joined Nicholson, Hammond, Martin and former Woods man Yannis Mengou.
Onto the action now and it was Woodford who started the better of the two sides for the first twenty minutes or so until things began to change. Inside the first three minutes, the visitors had a great chance to go ahead with Yemi Adelani firing just over for The Woods from inside the area.
The Stags responded well, and just five minutes later, an effort from Harry Lusher struck the bar, before his rebound from point-blank range went over.
Fred Burbidge was called into action a few minutes later for the first time in the game when he made a miraculous low save to deny Woodford the opening goal.
Callum Maltese was the next player to fire a shot towards goal for The Stags after entering the penalty area and having two efforts blocked before the referee awarded a free kick to The Woods, ending that attack.
The Stags were now mounting pressure on the visitors, who were struggling to cope with the intensity of a very energetic Buckhurst Hill side. Harry Lusher had a shot comfortably saved by Woodford keeper Chinyere just after the half-hour mark, before Arthur Massingham put his shot just wide of the post a few minutes later.
The opener finally came on the fortieth minute when Harry Lusher fired home his 14th goal of the season. A deflected cross from Arthur Massingham found Lusher at the back post, who placed the ball into the bottom corner and celebrated with the team on the brink of half-time.
Buckhurst Hill weren’t done there though and, a minute later, The Stags nearly doubled their lead with a cross from Massingham almost finding Lusher at the far post. The final chance of the half saw a corner from George Edwards tipped over the bar by Chinyere before a header from Lusher went just wide from the resulting corner.
Onto the second half and the home support wondered whether Woodford would respond — but it was The Stags who picked up where they left off. Within the opening minutes, Lusher nearly doubled his tally but was denied by a brilliant low save from Chinyere.
Unfortunately for Woodford, the keeper could not prevent Buckhurst Hill’s second. Arthur Massingham doubled the lead less than ten minutes into the half after combining superbly with Callum Maltese. Maltese’s initial effort was saved, only for the rebound to fall to Massingham, who fired home before celebrating with family and supporters behind the goal.
With less than twenty minutes remaining, Mark Williams made his first change, replacing Massingham with Tony Martin. Three minutes later, captain Ollie Williams — outstanding on the afternoon — made way for Dimitri Nicolaou, who came on to face his former club.
As the game neared its conclusion, Woodford pushed to respond but The Stags remained determined. Ollie Fernandez was booked for delaying a Woodford restart.
Williams made his final change with five minutes remaining, bringing on Yannis Mengou for Callum Maltese.
The colour of Roding was cemented deep into added time when a dreadful mistake by the visitors’ keeper gifted Tony Martin a chance to seal the deal. The substitute was sent one-on-one, calmly chipping the advancing keeper before celebrating with the squad and dedicating the goal to his newborn daughter.
That was the final act of Derby Day and, despite Woodford having lost just once previously to The Stags, Mark Williams’ side delivered a statement victory to end the year unbeaten — and Roding Blue.
After the match, Mark said:
“It’s always good to beat your local rivals. Woodford are a good side and it was always going to be tough. In the first ten to fifteen minutes they had chances, but I know we are strong when we play in the opponent’s half and the goals did come.
“January will be very busy and it will be a squad game. With the players we have, we’ll need to rotate.”
Happy New Year, everyone — from Mark Williams.
ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY! 🇩🇪
Willkommen in der Essex Senior League!
Derby Day at Roding Lane had a truly international feel as we welcomed six supporters who travelled all the way from Germany to support The Stags.
Ich hoffe, Buckhurst Hill war ein toller Gastgeber und euch hat der Fußball gefallen! 🇩🇪⚽️
(We hope Buckhurst Hill were great hosts and that you enjoyed the football.)
The group made the journey from TuS Neuhausen to experience their first taste of Essex Senior League football and were fantastic company throughout the day, taking in the full Buckhurst Hill matchday atmosphere.
Danke für eure Unterstützung — you’re welcome back anytime, and we hope to see you all again very soon!
Follow their club on Instagram: @tusneuhausen1894
TEAM:
Burbidge 🧤, Fernandez 🟨, Edwards 🟨, Williams ©, Knight, Brown, Massingham ⚽, Banfield, Lusher ⚽, Maltese, Dolan
SUBS:
Nicholson, Nicoloau (77’ – Williams), Hammond, Mengou (85’ – Maltese), Martin (71’ – Massingham)
NEXT MATCH:
Saturday 3rd January, 2026 – Hullbridge Sports (A) – Essex Senior League Premier – KO 3PM