04/10/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2025 / 2026

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       04/10/2025.

Weather permitting there were to be thirty-two matches on Saturday, fortunately every game was played despite the strong winds that would have hampered good football.

The last remaining undefeated team in the Premier Division, East Thurrock Community, lost to Tiptree Heath (three for Michaels), third placed Great Bentley beat second placed Springfield to move one place, which also allowed Thorpe Athletic to go into third when beating Belle Vue Social. Earls Colne beat Gas Recreation, and the fifth match was a two-all draw between Dedham Old Boys and Hatfield Peverel.

Division One leaders The Rodings & Little Waltham beat Lawford Lads, second placed Gosfield United narrowly overcame fifth placed Roman Rovers who drop a place owing to Prettygate beating FC Clacton Reserves, Clacton Regent were held by winless Hatfield Peverel Reserves who remain at the bottom, and Dovercourt managed a second win after three consecutive defeats.

West Bergholt moved to the top of Division Two after beating bottom team Great Bradfords, Silver End United move into third place after despatching Cressing United Reserves. Springfield Reserves got their first win of the season, this over Boxford Rovers and Gas Recreation Reserves hit five (three for Milton) against Wormingford Wanderers to leapfrog them into fourth place.

There were five matches in Division Three, the top three, remain unbeaten as Tiptree Jobserve, Harwich & Parkeston “A” and Great Bentley “A” beat Mersea Island, Brooklands and Wivenhoe United respectively. Roman Rovers Reserves without a win to date suffered another defeat, this time against Boxted Lodgers, and Stillwaters move up to fourth after beating Oyster.

Division Five had five matches, previous unbeaten leaders Roman Rovers “A” suffered a first defeat against Stanway Rovers EVL Development which allowed unbeaten Frinton & Walton Reserves to go top after hitting five goals against Kelvedon Social. Another team on the up is Ramsey & Mistley, they are now third after beating West Bergholt Reserves, unpredictable, Tendring District also scored five (three for Willoughby-Burrell), against Wormingford Wanderers Reserves and it was a basement match where Rayne lost to Bradfield Rovers Reserves (three for Allington), whose first team had played on Friday evening.

In the Peter Andrews Charity Cup, preliminary round match, Division One, Bradfield Rovers lost by three goals to two against Premier Division, Sudbury Sports, Saturday’s tie involved Premier Division, White Notley who overcame Second Division Cavendish by three goals to nil.

There was one Knock-Out Cup tie, this between Third Division, Elmstead Market and winless, Premier Division team, Alresford Colne Rangers who scrapped home by two goals to one.

By quirk of fate, or perhaps the luck of the draw, winless, Division Two, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves played winless, Division Four, Elmstead Market Reserves in the Reserve Knock-Out Cup, the home scored seven (three for Joseph) without reply to progress. Elsewhere in the same cup there were wins for Hedinghams United Reserves, this against White Notley Reserves from two divisions above and finally, another winless team, Silver End United Reserves found their shooting boots registering six goals (four for Jones) against Prettygate Reserves from the division below.

It was also Essex Premier Cup week, Cressing United bowed out, losing out against, London based, Unitey FC who play in the FA Alliance Football League, two ESBFL teams did progress, AFC Pegasus Colchester, beat Harold Wood Athletic on the road whilst in the other game Great Bentley Reserves lost on penalties to Tavern with the scores being level at the end of normal time.