United Amateurs v Eastside Athletic: Preview

Eastside Athletic head to Hainault Recreation Ground on Sunday to face United Amateurs in Division Five. It’s a quick rematch: United Amateurs knocked the Eastenders out of the Endeavour Cup at Redbridge last month. After last week’s home defeat to Rainham, a return to the road, where Eastside are yet to lose a competitive game, couldn’t come at a better time.

Kick-off: Sunday 1 November 2026, 10:30

Venue: Hainault Recreation Ground, Forest Road, Hainault, Essex IG6 3HQ (away)

Competition: ESCFL Division Five

Referee: A. Blake

Getting there: the nearest station is Fairlop (Central line), and there’s parking at the ground.

The opposition

United Amateurs, established in 1900 and playing in green and black, sit 9th in Division Five on 4 points from 4 games. Their position is misleading, though: they’ve played two games fewer than Eastside, and last weekend’s match against leaders Lonsdale was postponed.

Their results so far:

Valence United Reserves 2-0 United Amateurs (Division Five, 13 September)
Rainham Working Mens Club Res 4-8 United Amateurs (Division Five, 20 September)
Barking Colts 1-1 United Amateurs (Division Five, 27 September)
Eastside Athletic 1-4 United Amateurs (Endeavour Cup 1st Round, 4 October)
United Amateurs 0-2 Young Royals (Division Five, 11 October)

United Amateurs can score in bunches, with 12 goals in two games against Rainham and Eastside, but they’ve also failed to score in two of their four league games, both of them defeats.

The last meeting

Eastside 1-4 United Amateurs, Endeavour Cup 1st Round, 4 October. United Amateurs scored early after catching out a high defensive line, and Mason Active equalised on the half-hour with his first competitive goal for the club, from a lovely Danny Fenn pass. The visitors pulled away after that, and the scoreline was harsher than the performance deserved. Sunday is the chance to set the record straight.

How the two sides compare

The two sides share four league opponents this season:

Valence United Reserves: Eastside lost 0-1 at home. United Amateurs lost 2-0 away.
Barking Colts: Eastside won 2-1 at home. United Amateurs drew 1-1 away.
Young Royals: Eastside won 2-1 away. United Amateurs lost 0-2 at home.
Rainham Working Mens Club Res: Eastside lost 2-3 at home. United Amateurs won 8-4 away.

Eastside’s form

The Eastenders sit 2nd in Division Five on 9 points from 6 games (3 wins, 3 losses), six points behind leaders Lonsdale. The away form has been the foundation of the season: three competitive games on the road, three wins, at Highams Park, Barkingside and Young Royals.

Last week’s 2-3 home defeat to Rainham did bring first competitive goals for Bruno Da Fonseca and Prince Bansende, and three more points on Sunday would keep the pressure on Lonsdale.

Players to watch

Kai O’Hare: joint top scorer with three goals and two assists from just five competitive appearances.
Danny Fenn: three goals, two assists and two man of the match awards. It was his pass that set up Eastside’s goal in the cup meeting.
Mason Active: three goal involvements in October, including both assists in the Barkingside cup win, and the scorer against United Amateurs last time.
Jack Hobbs: both of his competitive goals have been late winners, both of them away from home.

Come and support

Hainault is just up Forest Road from our home at Redbridge, so it’s a short trip for anyone coming to back the black and gold. Come down and help the Eastenders keep that away record perfect.

PRIDE OF THE EAST.