01/02/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2024 / 2025

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       01/02/2025.

Once again, the weather forced three matches to be postponed and another fell as a Club, despite their best efforts, could not raise team, player reliability seems to be a problem these days, that Club, Assington Stanley have now withdrawn from the competition!

The Premier Division had six matches, leaders Kings Park Rovers stood idle, second placed Brightlingsea Town were on cup duty but third placed, Thorpe Athletic slipped up against Tiptree Heath who seem to have put their bad start behind them when winning by the odd goal in seven. Alresford Colne Rangers (four for Willoughby) and East Thurrock both won, as did Dedham Old Boys who gained only their second victory of the season, this over Stanway Pegasus Reserves, the home team remain second bottom as third bottom Belle Vue Social (three for Pointer) found their shooting boots to score ten and improve their goals scored record, by a third, against bottom team, White Notley whilst fourth placed Cressing United drew with fifth placed Earls Colne.

Gas Recreation, extended their unbeaten run and top spot when beating lowly Bradfield Rovers, scoring seven without reply, second placed Frinton & Walton stay unbeaten in eight league fixtures but left it to time added on, to score their winner against bottom team Cornard United Reserves, also, second bottom, Hedinghams United won at Gosfield United to move two places up the table.

Division Two had six matches, with leaders The Rodings without a game, it allowed Prettygate to go top when scoring seven goals at Great Bradfords, Tavern remain third despite losing to Roman Rovers but Earls Colne Reserves, stay fourth after scoring five and sit handily placed with games in hand. Cressing United Reserves and Great Bentley Reserves also won and the Reserve teams from Gas Recreation and Alresford Colne Rangers shared the points over at Bromley Road.

The only winners in Division Three, were West Bergholt, the other three matches, Oyster against Silver End United, Tiptree Heath Reserves against Tiptree Jobserve and Wormingford Wanderers against Barnston Reserves were all scoring draws.

As has now become a recurring theme, there were plenty of goals scored in Division Four, as in the six matches there were a total of thirty-eight! Leaders, Harwich & Parkeston “A” scored just five, second placed Silver End United Reserves hit fourteen (five for Coney), Tendring Borough scored nine (four for substitute Coyle). Boxted Lodgers Reserves, Mersea Island and West Bergholt Reserves all scored three as they all won.

In the delayed Second Round, Knock-Out Cup tie, Premier Division, Brightlingsea Town beat Division One, Little Oakley Reserves and will play Earls Colne, at home, in Round Three.

There was one match in the Peter Andrews Charity Cup, a Quarter-Final tie between Lawford Lads and Dovercourt Rovers, the visitors progressed and will play Sudbury Sports in the Semi-Final, the other Semi-Final is between Gas Recreation and Great Bentley.

Finally, Kelvedon Social (four for Harding) beat Elmstead Market in the Second Round of the Tommy Thompson Cup.