EPPING FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
BUCKHURST Hill boss Phil Hernon bemoaned a poor refereeing decision as his side crashed 4-2 at home to Mill End Sports in the Herts County Senior League.
The game hinged on the controversial 30th minute sending off of winger Chris Bishop for stamping. At that point, Hill were 2-1 ahead and well in control of the match.
A mad 15-minute spell early in the second half, in which Mill End scored three times, put the game beyond the hosts.
Hernon said: "Chris is not a malicious lad at all and has never even been booked. We will be appealing it.
"It certainly changed the game."
A Creag Lawrence belter and Luke Murphy's effort had put Hill into a commanding position, and even after Bishop's sending off they dominated possession and chances.
"If you ignore the sending off, we still should have won the game comfortably with amount of chances we created," said Hernon.
"We've come off pitch wondering how have we lost. In that sense I've come away really proud of the players.
"It showed how much we've improved this season."
Hill are at home to Bedwell Rangers on Saturday.
In the same division, Debden Sports had to come from behind to record a fine 2-1 victory at home to Hinton.
Leon Townley scored the winning goal for the second week running with a drilled shot into the corner two minuets from time.
Hinton had taken a 65th minute lead, only for Steve Ochiltree to reply for Debden with less than ten minutes to go.
The victory takes Debden's unbeaten run to six games and keeps alive their hopes of promotion.
Delighted player-boss Graham Smith said: "It was a massive game for us in terms of keeping the run going and moving up the table.
"We're playing well and getting results and we just need to carry it on.
"Promotion is not something we have talked about and there is a long way still to go.
"It's the old cliche of taking it one game at a time."
Debden are nine points adrift of third-place Chipperfield Corinthians but with four games in hand. They are away to Sarratt on Saturday.
Glenn Shurety's stoppage time effort earned Epping an Essex Olympian League point at home to Mountnessing.
Barry Fox had given the visitors a 55th minute lead with a lofted 40-yard free kick that squeezed through the hands of Epping keeper Luke Kingston.
Things looked bleaker for the hosts when Stewart Sheppard was shown a straight red card for a high tackle just four minutes after coming on as a 64th minute substitute.
But Shurety popped up in the box late on to prod home - the second week running that Epping have claimed a 1-1 draw late on.
Boss Mark Wells said: "Such has been the character of the players in the last four or five games that they keep battling away.
"We've played two title-chasing sides in Takeley and Mountnessing and in both games we have come back from 1-0 down. I can only be pleased with that."
Wells has also set his side a target of 22 points for their premier division safety. They are currently on 15 with six games to play.
"We've given ourselves a real chance of surviving in the division.
"The first milestone now is to get to 20 points, although 22 points should do it.
"It is down to the players and so far I cannot fault them. They have given their all."
Epping are at home to Benfleet on Saturday.
A Ben Polley brace of goals could not stop Ongar Town losing out 3-2 to Roydon in Division One.
Vaughn Affonso's double and a Jose Fernandez strike secured the home side the points. Ongar are away to Faces FC on Saturday.
Loughton crashed out of the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District League Premier Division Cup semi final after a 4-1 defeat at Alemite Athletic.
Luke Millard put Loughton in front after just ten minutes, but the league leaders repsonded with four unanswered strikes.
Loughton have a semi-final tie away at Sheering Reserves in the league's plate competition.
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