Match Preview: West Essex v The Bridge
The BBC Essex Senior Cup is like a secret competition. You can’t find much about it on social media or anywhere for that matter but it’s a cup involving all the Essex sides and more, of which Colchester are probably the biggest in it since Southend’s downward spiral in recent years.

Ultimately, it’s winnable as Redbridge FC proved last season by beating Colchester in the final on penalties. The Bridge will be looking to progress with a win at West Essex…let’s have a look at their chances.

West Essex – season 24/25
(most recent results first)
West Essex are currently 16th in the ESL with 7 points from 9 games.

West Essex 1 Romford 3
Last time out at home to Romford, just like The Bridge, they were defeated 3-1 despite Romford finishing the game with 9 players. Romford led 2-0 before a Yemi Adelani penalty got Essex back into the game. A 91st-minute goal from Arnold Mengl gave Romford the 3-1 victory.

Shefford Town & Campton 1 West Essex 2
A 2-1 FA Vase victory for Essex with goals from Oumar Ndao and a 90th-minute winner from Darnell Asare-Williams.

West Essex 1 Saffron Walden Town 2
10-man Essex lose at home to SWT. Matt McDowell is the Essex scorer.

Takeley 1 West Essex 0
Takeley with 10 this time but they win 1-0 with a Lanre Balogun goal.

Barking 1 West Essex 0
Sam Edwards with the only goal of the game.

West Essex 2 Stanway Rovers 4
Nathan Brathwaite and Pascal Thornton are on target for Essex but it’s not enough to stop Stanway.

West Essex 2 Stansted 1
Nathan Brathwaite again and Yemi Adelani on target to give Essex the points.

West Essex 3 Southend Manor 1
FA Vase Q1 victory for Essex with Brathwaite and Adelani on target again and Ryan Ramsey with a 79th minute penalty.

White Ensign 0 West Essex 0
Goalless at Burroughs Park.

West Essex 0 Enfield 1
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round defeat by a solitary Enfield goal.

West Essex 3 FC Clacton 0
Joel Lamb, Zak Oliver and Nathan Brathwaite with the Essex goals.

West Essex 0 Great Wakering Rovers 2
Opening day home defeat as GWR take the points and Ryan Ramsey sees red.

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Goalscorers:
Main goal scorers this season have been Nathan Brathwaite with 4 and Yemi Adelani with 3. 7 others have one each.

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First Team Squad & appearances:
Lewis Edwards 12
Joel Lamb 12
Yemi Adelani 11
Greg Frederick 11
Nathan Brathwaite 10
Ryan Ramsey 10
Mitchel Arthur 9
Zak Oliver 9
Ed Plackett 9
Sanchez Hardy 8
Matt McDowell 8
Balla Ndao 8
Oliver Travell 8
Argest Nela 7
Pascal Thornton 7
Darnell Asare-Williams 6
Jadon “Kojo” Ata-Gyamfi 6
Jaedon Phillips 4
Bieron Ademi 3
Palvy Manduakila 3
George Forrest 2
Ben Jao 2
Louis Mallandain 2
Oumar Ndao 2
Harry Norman 2
Levi Burgin 1
Armani Orji 1
Christopher Ozougwu 1
Mekhi Roberts 1

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Last Season:
West Essex finished 13th in the ESL last season. The Bridge finished one place higher in 12th.

The teams met three times during the season.
Game one was on the 16th of September 2023 and ended in a 2-2 draw, with Bobby Badham and Jason Banton scoring for The Bridge and Ruban Bartlett-Antwi and David Bell getting the two for Essex.

Game two on the 23rd of December 2023 was also a draw, finishing 1-1. Michael Dixon scored for The Bridge and Zak Oliver scored the Essex goal.

Additionally, the two sides met in The Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy 2nd Round and The Bridge won with a 13th-minute Adam Topley penalty.

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Club Facts:
Founded: 1989
Ground: Wadham Lodge, Walthamstow
Chairman: Mark Penfold
First Team Manager: George Karsa
Assistant Manager: Michael Walther
First Team Coach: Josh Rogers
First Team Goalkeeping Coach: Luke Adams

CLUB HISTORY
West Essex FC are based in Highams Park, East London. The club caters for players of all ages and abilities with 2 senior sides, 3 veteran’s sides, 2 Sunday teams, and a successful and rapidly expanding Colts section. The brainchild of former West Essex Cricket Club stalwart John Spinks, West Essex FC formed in 1989. Initially, the objective was to keep some of the Cricket Club members in touch throughout the winter and generate a bit of much-needed income through the club bar on a Saturday afternoon.

As we entered the new millennium, founder John Spinks left for the Emerald Isle and Stuart Higson took over the day to day running of the club. Current chairman is Mark Penfold with Tony McNally appointed Vice-Chairman.

In 2021, West Essex entered a groundsharing agreement with Walthamstow to use Wadham Lodge as their ground. Prior to this, the club had been sharing with Barking at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.

Honours
Middlesex County League
Premier Division Champions 2015–16
Division One (Central & East) champions 2010–11
Premier Division Cup winners 2013–14
Essex Business Houses League
Division One Champions 2008–09
Senior Cup winners 1996–97
Ilford & District League
Premier Division champions 1990–91, 1992–93
League Cup winners 1992–93
Fenton Cup winners 1990–91
Spartak Cup winners 1989–90

Records
Best FA Cup performance: Preliminary round, 2017–18, 2018–19
Best FA Vase performance: First round, 2018–19

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Matchday:
Two teams that are probably not in the best of form clash in the BBC Essex Senior Cup 1st Round at Wadham Lodge. Can The Bridge find the supply that Freddie Moriaty needs to get on the scoresheet again or will Nathan Brathwaite, who has been scoring regularly for Essex, be on target again?

Nobody knows and maybe they won't even be in the line-ups but Walthamstow will be the place to be to find out if they are and if they can make the difference between the two teams. It’s Essex Senior Cup action in East London and as always…

Essex Senior Cup fixtures tonight:

Essex Senior Cup fixtures tomorrow: