Wick burns bright in Basildon
Basildon United – 1
M Charles-Armstrong 84’
Hackney Wick – 4
E Picchi 16’ A Nicolaides 48’ 58’ R Gittens (p) 51’
28th March 2026
Hackney Wick banished any relegation fears with this resounding win at Basildon United on Non-League Day, leading at the break they then put their hosts to the sword with three goals in ten minutes at the start of the second half.
A glorious sunny lunchtime kick-off at Gardiners Close was part of the ‘City to Coast’ groundhop organised by the Essex Senior League, a couple of matches started on the Friday in the capital and spread East allowing groundhoppers to attend up to four games over the two days.
The team in green were home and hosed with their spree after the interval, The Bee’s rallied late on and bagged a consolation through Mekhi Charles-Armstrong but by then the Londoners were in cruise control with the points secure.
The opening stages were tentative with very few opportunities created, for the hosts Charlie Webb headed wide whilst at the other end Enrico Picchi could only steer into the side netting, however it was he who broke the deadlock just past the quarter hour.
A David Senga shot from the edge of the arc was palmed away by resident custodian Enos Duah but only as far as the green number ten who simply couldn’t miss; from that point Hackney had the better chances although United’s Jack Wilson did net before the break until a raised flag denied.
Whatever was said at half-time certainly spurred the visitors on as within three minutes Brad Tsmiteya slipped Alex Nicolaides through the yellow and black rearguard, calls for offside were rebuked allowing him to accelerate alone and slot low beneath the keeper.
The striker’s involvement then made things worse for the home side when chasing a long ball upfield he was upended on the corner of the box, the match official showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot from where Romario Gittens despatched beyond the reach of the outstretched arm of Duah.
Basildon had a glorious chance to pull one back when a lofted free kick saw Wilson rise late but he could only guide off target, but before any confidence could be gained, the visitors struck again when Nicolaides pinched the pocket of a defender in front of goal to turn and convert.
That, along with numerous substitutions killed the game as a contest, Charle-Armstrong did eventually spread some joy for the Essex outfit after cutting in from the right and drilling past Wick shot stopper Mike Doyle, but it was no more than a mere consolation. F/T: 1-4
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: The Hive
Kick-Off: 1:00pm
Surface: Grass
Programme: £2
Attendance: 109
Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk
For final Essex Senior League table please: click here
For a pictorial view of The Hive, the home of Basildon United FC + match action, please: click here
Note: 3 pages (242 images)
