Non-League and Academy football writer

Both Philip United and Lymore Gardens are the two sides who are battling it out for the Senior Division title, in the Essex Alliance Football League, during the latter stages of the current 2024/25 season. Philip United have so far done exceptionally well during this season, following their promotion from step 8 of the Essex Alliance Football League, in 2023/24. A very good side, who play some really good football, but who have also demonstrated throughout this season that they can manage games really well, also, this is only Philip United’s second season as a club. They have an excellent squad, which has both experience and youth, and they have scored so many goals during this season. Philip United have won a number of games in emphatic fashion during the league season, and they were leading Lymore Gardens by a lot of points, earlier on in the season, when Lymore Gardens still had a number of games in hand.

Lee Benjamin and Javel Green’s Lymore Gardens side have been in outstanding league form this season. They have only lost two league matches from 25 matches played. One of those defeats came against Philip United, earlier on in the season, with Philip United winning that particular match by a lot of goals. However, Lymore Gardens, who just like Philip United, have a superb squad, have shown great character since then. They have been in really good form in the league in 2025, and they have, despite having a number of games in hand, managed to get back in to the title race discussion, and in real style too. There have been a number of twists and turns involving the teams in the title race, during this season, but, on Tuesday of this week Philip United’s 3-0 home loss to Woodford Town Reserves, means that for the moment, the title race is now in Lymore Gardens’ hands.

This highly competitive step 7 league has once again been very good, during this, the 2024/25 season. There is still a lot to play for, for the teams in the league during the remaining matches of this season. Both Philip United and Lymore Gardens should be very proud of the season’s that they are having, and it’s going to be a fascinating end to this title race, with both sides still having tough remaining fixtures.

Philip United’s remaining league fixtures: 

• Philip United versus Ongar Town (Friday the 11th of April)
• Waltham Forest Borough versus Philip United (Wednesday the 23rd of April)
• Fairlop Rovers versus Philip United (Saturday the 26th of April)
• Philip United versus Waltham Forest Borough (Friday the 2nd of May)

Lymore Gardens’ remaining league fixtures:

• Lymore Gardens versus FC Petrocub London (Friday the 4th of April)
• Sporting Hackney versus Lymore Gardens (Saturday the 12th of April)
• Fairlop Rovers versus Lymore Gardens (Saturday the 19th of April)
• Frenford Development versus Lymore Gardens (Wednesday the 23rd of April)
• Chadwell Heath Spartans versus Lymore Gardens (Saturday the 26th of April)