A slightly shortened version of the match preview this time due to a lack of time but hopefully it still gives you a bit of an insight.

Our opponents Little Oakley are 9th in the ESL table with 44 points from 30 matches with 12 wins, 8 draws, and 10 defeats. The goal difference is a minimal +5, with 50 scored and 45 conceded. Away form is okay, with 4 wins, 4 draws, and 7 defeats from their 15 matches. 22 for and 28 against gives The Acorns a -6 away GD.

Here’s what Little Oakley have been doing in their last six matches…
LITTLE OAKLEY – season 24/25 – The Last Six
(most recent results first)
Little Oakley 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1
Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Final
The Acorns came close to winning this one but fell at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 to GWR. The winner came from Bradleigh Rowland in the 73rd minute.

Little Oakley 1 Stanway Rovers 2
Leading by virtue of a Reece Harris own-goal, Little Oakley were pegged back by the league leaders, who won it with goals from George Okoye and Tom Maycock. There were two reds near the end of the game, one each. Jordi Papple for the home side and Harrison Chatting for Rovers.

Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Little Oakley 3
A high scorer at Sawbo saw Oakley 2-0 up at half-time with goals from Daniel Rowe and Noah Alsterlind. Elijah Grant made it 1-2 before Bobby Badham made it 1-3. Late goals from Luke Ellis and Austen Garrod levelled it.

Woodford Town 2 Little Oakley 0
A straightforward home win for The Woods with a Marko Protic penalty making it 1-0 and Miles Mitchell-Nelson making it two.

Little Oakley 2 Buckhurst Hill 1
Jordi Papple put the Acorns in front before Alex Georgiou equalised. Lewis Wood got the 45th-minute winner.

Ilford 0 Little Oakley 3
A good away win, as Ilford were going OK around this time. A Daniel Rowe hat-trick did the damage.

Player Appearances
1 Rory Harman 32
2 Jack Ladbrook 32
3 Nathan Rowe 31
4 Darren Mills 30
5 Daniel Rowe 29
6 Luke Hipkin 28
7 Lewis Wood 26
8 Bobby Badham 25
9 Jordi Papple 24
10 Adrian Cant 23
11 Liam Riley 21
12 Daniel Smith 20
13 George Davis 19
14 Noah Alsterlind 16
15 Michael Bett 14
16 Billy Lawlor 14
17 Bobby Rea 13
18 Idreess Namisi 12
19 Max Brownsdon 11
20 Connor Tucker 11
21 Reece Keating 8
22 Blake Keogh-Kedar 7
23 Oakley McNair 7
24 Mohammad Amir 6
25 Ryan Lees 6
26 Harry Boon 5
27 Rauf Kabangu 4
28 Marcus Russell 3
29 Sam Cheetham 2
30 Jack Cosby 2
31 Dominic Alexandru 1
32 Samuel Cooke 1
33 Booby Rea 1
34 Daniel Titilola 1
Links: Not many in amongst the 34. I know of only two, Bobby Badham and our new keeper Dom, with just the one appearance.

Founded: 1947
Nickname: The Acorns
Ground: Memorial Ground, Little Oakley
Chairman: Michael Good
First Team Manager: James Good/Paul Phelan

HONOURS
Essex Intermediate Cup Winners: 1989/90
Essex Premier Cup Runners Up 2015/16
Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division Winners: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1992/93, 1993/94, 2003/04, 2016/17
Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division Runners Up: 1989/90, 1994/95, 2014/15
Essex and Suffolk Border League Division One Winner: 1985/86
Essex and Suffolk Border League KO Cup Winners: 2014/15, 2016/17
Essex and Suffolk Border League KO Cup Runners Up: 1993/94
Essex and Suffolk Border League KO Cup Winners Division One: 1963/64
Essex and Suffolk Border League KO Cup Runners up Division One: 1964/65
Tommy Thompson Cup Winners: 1983/84
A V Lee Service Memorial Cup Winners; 1994
Essex Senior League Premier Division – Promoted 2021 (Football Pyramid rationalisation)
Highest FA Cup – 2nd Round Qualifying – verses Chelmsford City – September 2021 lost 1-2.
Highest FA Vase - 2nd Round Proper - verses Romford - 12th November 2022
Highest League Pyramid position - Finished 6th Season 2021/22 in the Essex Senior League Premier Division.

The Bridge and Little Oakley – recent meetings:

Season 2024/2025
Saturday, 18th January 2025
Little Oakley 1 (Idreess Namisi)
The Bridge 0

Season 2023/2024
Tuesday, 19th September 2023
Little Oakley 1 (Rory Harman)
The Bridge 2 (Michael Agboola, Michael Osei)

Saturday, 27th February 2024
The Bridge 1 (Derek Asamoah)
Little Oakley 1 (Billy Lawlor)

The Bridge: 1 win; 3 draws; 2 defeats; For 7; Against 10; GD -3; Points 6
Little Oakley: 3 wins; 1 draw; 2 defeats; For 12; Against 9; GD +3; Points 10
This is a tough game; make no mistake. The Acorns have been doing well this season, although they are some way off the play-offs. Their only recent defeats have been to Woodford and Stanway, so that says it all really. Time to get down to Lower Road to get behind the lads again and remember…