In what was a cagey affair, the clash at the top of the Essex Senior League looked set to end in a goalless draw with neither side really testing the opposition goalkeeper, or defence for that matter.

The first half was one of very limited chances. Stanway had the ball in the net twice, but both were ruled out for clear offsides before Ernest Okoh came inches away from firing Woodford ahead. Nathan Sollosi’s superb cross was inch-perfect, with Okoh coming just centimetres away from making connection and scoring.

In that time, Shane Baptiste lost right-back Miles Mitchell-Nelson to injury in the 26th minute, before Rovers skipper Reece Conway was lucky to escape a red card for a two-footed lunge on Luke Steele.

After the interval it was very much a case of reliving the opening 45-minutes. Normand Kebi attempted to recreate Friday night’s heroics but his long-range effort was saved by Callum Robinson, before the hosts failed to capitalise on a goalmouth scramble after some brilliant work on the bye-line from David Gokou.

When it looked like both sides would settle for a bore draw, it was that man Gokou who decided to produce a moment of magic. Having been strong enough to win the ball back, he then cut inside, beat his man and unleashed a curling strike towards the top corner. The effort deflected before looping up over Robinson and into the back of the net to give Woodford the lead with six minutes of normal time to go!

However, with Baptiste’s men within touching distance of going top of the league, they failed to switch back on from the off and paid the full price. A long ball was flicked on before it made its way to George Okoye, and the Stanway winger fired a left-footed shot past Manny Agboola and in to level the game.

Although the game ended in a stalemate, the league is still very much in Woodford’s hands, with a game in hand and a two-point lead to make up on the current leaders.

Starting XI: E. Agboola (GK); Mitchell-Nelson (Harbrow - 26’), Kirwan-Meade, M. Agboola, Steele; Banfield, Owusu (C), Kebi; Okoh, Sollosi, Gokou.

Unusual substitutes: Carvell, Jackson, Charles, Martins.

Attendance: 118