EPPING FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

DEBDEN'S bid for promotion from Herts County Senior League division one came to a disappointing end following a 1-1 draw with Sarratt on Monday night.

A depleted Sports - who went into the game with only eleven fit men and were down to ten after only 20 minutes when Lee Wellington broke his leg - needed all three points to stand any chance of finishing third in the table.

But, despite another goal from prolific forward Steve Ochiltree and a battling performance to add to the impressive 2-0 win over Croxley Guild on Saturday, it proved a step too far.

Player-boss Graham Smith though, was delighted with the effort from his players.

He said: "It was probably our most gutsy performance of the season.

"The effort was tremendous, the players gave absolutely everything."

Debden can still finish in a very creditable fifth place, if they beat Old Palmitarians in the final day clash with Old Palmetarians on Saturday.

"It's disappointing that we didn't go up, of course, but this is our first time in this league and at the start of the season we'd have snapped your hand off for this position," admitted Smith.

"It has been a brilliant season for us in a strong league.

"We've been difficult to beat and if we'd been a bit more ruthless in certain games then we would have finished even stronger.

"It's now all about next season. We can come back stronger and, with a couple of new additions to the squad, can definately be title challengers."

In the same division, Buckhurst Hill ended their season with a 5-0 thrashing of Bedwell Rangers.

Creag Lawrence, Rob David, Chris Bishop, Brad Ryan and Daran Bern all scored in an impressive team display that offered a glimpse of the club's excitin potential.

Boss Phil Hernon said: "We played some really good football on the day, as we have all season.

"As a footballing side, we're by far the best in the league but the table doesn't lie. We've really lacked a goalscorer when it has mattered."

Regardless of how results go this coming weekend, Hill will finish the season in seventh place.

But they have already been assured of their place in the Essex Olympian League next season which Hernon reckons is a step in the right direction.

"Our objective is senior football, eventually," he said.

"There has been fantastic progress made, off the field particularly, but we don't want to stop still.

"I'll be looking to keep the nucleus of the squad togther and then strengthen it."

Epping's Essex Olympian League premier division status remains in the balance after a 3-2 defeat at home to Benfleet.

Goals from Cheng Mparupsa and Chris Muir was overshadowed by a trio of defensive lapses that allowed the visitors to snatch all three points.

Mark Wells' men are a single point above third bottom Manford Way going into their final day clash with second-place Frenford Senior.

Wells said: "I was desperately disappointed with the result because we deserved something from the game but good teams will punish us if they find room in the penalty area.

"But I can only heap credit upon the whole team for their commitment and belief.

"We go into our last home game of the season knowing that the battle to avoid relegation is still in our own hands."

Meanwhile, in division one, Ongar Town were held to a 1-1 draw away at Springfield to end the season in third place.