EPPING FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

EPPING got their Essex Olympian League premier division off to a slow start with a 4-0 defeat at title hopefuls Kelvedon Hatch.

However, boss Lee Ward insists the scoreline paints an unreflective picture of a match that Epping so easily could have won.

Ward said: “It certainly wasn't the right scoreline. We went there to win, not to defend and had quite a few really good chances and had one or two excellent penalty shouts.

“For 15 minutes in the second half it was all us. But we could just not put the ball away. On another day we might have won.”

Goals from Rob McCarthy, Chris Wolff, Russell Penn and Scott Ballard proved enough for Hatch to seal the points and Ward addmitted: “The lads worked really hard but we made silly errors.

"At any level if you don't concentrate then you are going to get punished.

“But we're learning and we'll look to be better at the weekend.”

Epping host Benfleet on Saturday.

It was a similar story for Buckhurst Hill, as their first outing in league one got off to 1-0 defeat at home to Shell Club Corringham.

Hill dominated possession and chances but had boss Phil Hernon bemoaning the team's lack of clinical touch in front of goal.

The hosts also had a couple of decent penalty claims turned down, while a defensive error allowed Matt Bass to pinch the points for Shell.

“We were all over them and they know they have got away with three points,” said Hernon. “We just overdone it in front of goal and lacked that killer touch.

“There was also one penalty claim in particular that stood out. It was a blatant handball by their player which stopped us from scoring.”

However, Hernon remains upbeat about the team's prospects for the season, adding: “There is a lot more positives to come out of it than negatives. Its not nice to lose the first game but we certainly proved we can compete in this league.”

Hill are at home to Herongate Athletic on Saturday.

Debden suffered their third defeat of the Herts County League division one season after going down 2-1 at Kimpton Rovers with virtually the last kick of the game.

Sports had defeated AFC Hatfield 3-1 in midweek thanks to a Steve Ochiltree brace and a strike from Leon Townley, and looked to be turning the corner.

However, despite taking the lead courtesy of John Munday's 25-yard screamer, the Essex-based side, having used all their substitutes and losing anotherplayer through injury, surrendered a point late on to Rovers.

Disappointed player-boss Graham Smith said: “It's really gutting because we looked like we were good for a point.

“After winning in midweek we were hoping to go on a bit of a run but thats three games we've lost already. We still haven't got all our players back and we need a settled team week in week out. I think then we will be ok.”

Debden are away to Croxley Guild on Saturday.