Saturday 14th March, 2026 | West Essex 0-1 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 84
Buckhurst Hill continued their record of just 1 defeat since October after a 1-0 victory over a much-improved West Essex side, who gave The Stags a real challenge on a sunny afternoon at Wadham Lodge.
Mark Williams made 4 changes to the side that were victorious against Soul Tower Hamlets in cup action in midweek. Yannis Mengou dropped to the bench with Callum Maltese making a return. Josh Banfield was also a player who was named on the bench against Tower Hamlets but would start this game. He would also captain the side with Ollie Williams out with a suspension, which meant Archie Hammond would keep his place in the starting eleven. The last two changes were defensive-minded, with Harvey Brown returning to the starting eleven alongside Mark Twumasi, who would earn his first start for The Stags after making an appearance off the bench early on in midweek.
Onto the action now and the first real chance of the game fell to Mark Twumasi on his first start but after a brilliant cross from George Edwards fell the way of the loanee, unfortunately, his shot was sent over the bar at the back post.
The first half saw a real lack of proper chances, with The Stags keeping the majority of possession but unable to put the ball away. Twumasi was again the next player to have a chance at goal, but his header was sent over the crossbar.
The Stags, unfortunately, weren’t making West Essex pay, with the travelling Hill still controlling possession up until the break. Callum Maltese had the last chance of the half, but his effort was sent over the bar with the teams going in level at the break.
Onto the second half and inside the first two minutes, the Stags registered their first shot of the second forty-five with Archie Hammond firing just wide of the post from the edge of the area.
The Stags had their best chance of the game 8 minutes after the restart when a header from Dimitri Nicolaou struck the crossbar!
Harry Lusher was the next player to have a chance to put The Stags in front, but after a double effort with one effort saved and the other blocked, the score stayed the same.
Another header was sent inches over the crossbar for Hill as we continued to apply the pressure. It was Ollie Fernandez this time who sent the ball towards goal with his head after a brilliant cross from Josh Banfield found the defender inside the penalty area, but his effort, as mentioned, was just over.
It didn’t look like it would be The Stags’ day after yet another header was put inches wide of the post. Some brilliant link-up play between Massingham and Dolan saw a cross sent into the box and towards Nicolaou at the back post.
The theory of it not being The Stags’ day was short-lived when, in 74 minutes, Dimitri Nicoloau finally put the ball into the net to give us the lead going into the final 15 minutes of the game. A shot from Callum Maltese was saved down low by the West Essex keeper Charlie Mann but unfortunately for him, he couldn’t push the ball clear and with Nicoloau right in front of goal, it ended with an easy finish on the rebound as he tapped the ball into an open net to give the dominating Stags the lead.
As the Stags began to see out the game, the last chance of the 90 minutes fell to Tony Martin, whose effort on the edge of the area was sent over the bar.
TEAM:
North 🧤, Twumasi, Edwards 🟨, Nicolaou, Fernandez, Brown, Massingham, Banfield ©, Lusher, Hammond, Maltese
SUBS:
Mengou, Dolan (57’ – Hammond), Buchanan (61’ – Edwards), Martin (74’ – Massingham), Foster (46’ – Twumasi)