Match Preview: The Bridge v Stanway Rovers
Back at Lower Road after a postponed trip to Saffron Walden Town on Tuesday, 7th-placed Hullbridge take on 3rd-placed Stanway Rovers in a quest for three more ESL points to move the boys up the ESL table. It’s been a good start to the season for Rovers who have amassed 15 points from their 8 games, with 4 wins, 3 draws, and just one defeat. Results are shown below:

Romford (a) Lost 1-4
Barking (a) Drew 1-1
Stansted (H) Won 2-0
Sawbridgeworth Town (a) Won 7-4
Woodford Town (H) Drew 0-0
West Essex (a) Won 4-2
Little Oakley (H) Drew 2-2
White Ensign (H) Won 1-0

Additionally, they lost 3-1 at Tilbury in the FA Cup Preliminary Round after beating Maldon & Tiptree 2-1 away in the Extra Preliminary Round replay, with the first game ending in a 0-0 draw.

This game was originally scheduled for Tuesday 17th but as both teams are now out of the FA Cup, the fixture was rearranged for Saturday.

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Goalscorers:
Main goal scorers this season have been George Okoye with 6 and Callum Boylan & Harrison Chatting with 3.

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First Team Squad:
Player Appearances
Henry Barley 11
George Okoye 11
Harry Thomas 11
Joe Debell 10
Tom Maycock 10
Jordan Barnett 9
Jamie Bennett 9
Reece Conway 9
Callum Robinson 9
Ricky Tarbard 9
Harrison Chatting 8
Freddy Cooper 8
Milo Grimes 8
Christian Frimpong 7
Max Sherlock 6
Reiss Oteng 5
Callum Boylan 3
Ben Dixon 3
Nathaniel Mardell 3
Usman Adeniji Temitope 2
Reece Harris 2
Joe Turpin 2
Rob Weller 2
Ellis Girling 1

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Last Season:
The teams met on the opening day of season 23/24 and The Bridge won 1-0 at Stanway with a goal from Charlie Heatley. In the return fixture at Lower Road, Rovers won 5-0 with goals from Reece Conway, Jack Johnson, Jack Madley, Nathaniel Mardell, and Joshua Hughes.

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Club Facts:
Founded: 1956
Nickname: Rovers
Ground: Hawthorns, Stanway
Chairman: Steve Blake
First Team Manager: Jamie Shaw
Assistant Manager/Coach: Anthony White
First Team Coach: Lee Boylan
First Team Physio: Callum Gough

CLUB HISTORY
The modern club was established on 10th July 1956, although records show that another club by the same name had been playing in the early 1900s, including winning Division II B of the Essex & Suffolk Border League in 1927-28. The new club joined Division Two of the Colchester and East Essex League, and by 1960 had reached the Premier Division. They won the Premier Division in 1967-68 and again in 1973-74. The following season saw them reach the final of the Essex Junior Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Takeley.

In 1975, Stanway joined Division One of the Essex & Suffolk Border League and, in 1978, were placed in the new Division Two. The 1978-79 season saw the club finish third and win promotion to Division One. They were later relegated to Division Two, which they won in 1981-82 and again in 1985-86 after another relegation. However, in 1986-87 the club won Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division. In 1990 and 1991 the club reached the final of the Essex Intermediate Cup, but lost both matches 3-1. In 1991-92, they were Premier Division runners-up and were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

In 2005-06 the club won Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division. They went on to win the League Cup in 2008-09, beating Leiston 4-2 on penalties in the final. They won the cup again in 2011-12 with a 2-1 win over Norwich United in the final.

At the end of the 2017-18 season, Stanway were transferred to the Essex Senior League. However, after a single season in the Essex Senior League, they were moved back to the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.

The club was initially based at the King George V playing fields in Lexden (more commonly known as Clairmont Road) before moving to The Stanway School in 1961. In 1979 the club agreed a 99-year lease with the local council for a 4.6-acre (19,000 m2) plot of land. On 18th November 1982 the new clubhouse was opened, and named The Hawthorns.

CLUB HONOURS
EASTERN COUNTIES LEAGUE
- Division One Champions: 2005/06
- League Cup Winners: 2008/09, 2011/12
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER LEAGUE
- Division One Champions: 1986/87
- Division Two Champions: 1981/81, 1985/86
COLCHESTER & EAST ESSEX LEAGUE
- Premier Division Champions: 1973/74

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Matchday:
A tough one this, against one of the in-form teams in the division and a test for The Bridge who have picked up their form in the last couple of games. It’s a chance for The Bridge to go three games unbeaten and for Stanway to extend their unbeaten league run to eight games. A win could take The Bridge up to fourth, although this is dependent on the other ESL results. A win for Stanway could take them to the top of the division, so it’s all to play for, and as always…