ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE: Bowers & Pitsea will come up against some familiar faces when they host Hullbridge Sports tonight.

Ex-Bowers men Jamie Buffin, Dale Gladen and Michael Doyle will line up for Sports at the Len Salmon Stadium and Bowers boss Rob Small says they are a side who will be looking up the league this season.

“Hullbridge Sports will be a very difficult test for us,” said Small. “I think they will impress a lot of people this year. They have kept a lot of last season’s team together and added some new faces.”

Hullbridge won 3-1 on the opening day against Sawbridgeworth Town, with old boy Buffin scoring the third goal. Bowers opened with a goalless draw against Tower Hamlets, a point Small believes could be valuable.

“I was satisfied but have mixed feelings on the point. We dominated in spells and created better chances but they had the better of the game at the start and end of the match.

“Judging by last year’s table this could be a good point but you never know with this league. You need at least 10 games to see where everyone is at.”