06/04/2024 – WEEKLY ROUND-UP

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 06/04/2024.

With the season starting to draw, to a close, well for some teams perhaps, others have up to ten games to play, this is due to the chaotic weather we have experienced.

The first Divisional Champions were crowned on Saturday, Assington Stanley FC needed a single point to win Division Five and by beating Brooklands FC they cemented their Champions status, Robert Passmore of the League Management Committee was on hand to award the trophy.

Colne Athletic, with two matches remaining, have virtually sealed the Premier Division title, another victory over Stanway Rovers Reserves, keeps them nineteen points ahead of Tiptree Heath who lost to struggling Belle Vue Social, Silver End United dropped points when being held by Stanway Pegasus Reserves, stuttering Brightlingsea Town won at White Notley and Earls Colne shared the points with Hatfield Peverel.

Division One, saw victories for Tiptree Jobserve against FC Clacton Reserves and Great Bentley against Wormingford Wanderers but once again the division threw up a shock result with bottom team Tavern beating Cressing and there was an abandonment, with the CO4 Ultra’s match against Kings Park Rangers curtailed at seventy-five minutes with the visitors three goals ahead.

Another tight finish looks scheduled for Division Two, Colne Athletic Reserves beat bottom team Tiptree Jobserve Reserves and Cornard United Reserves got a point against Cavendish. The crucial games saw Frinton & Walton win to stay third when beating Boxted Lodgers, White Notley Reserves stay second after beating Hatfield Peverel Reserves, but current leaders Bradfield Rovers lost at fourth placed Gas Recreation who have six matches left.

Three matches were played in Division Three, in the local derby Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves surprised third placed Great Bentley Reserves, Gosfield United went top after beating Lawford Lads Reserves whilst Prettygate inflicted only a second defeat of the season on Flitch United.

Division Four has the most games still to be played, the last Saturday in May is when that Division may end and that is after a requirement for mid-week matches! Oyster, (three for Savory), got back to winning ways against Brantham Athletic (Development), Ramsey & Mistley beat FC Clacton “A”, Boxford Rovers beat Silver End United Reserves and Roman Rovers Reserves, (three for Runicles) beat Abbey Fields. Free scoring, Great Bradfords, in sixth place, hit five against second placed Stillwaters, Tiptree Heath Reserves, (three for Washbrook) went three better hitting eight against Tendring District, however the match between The Rodings Reserves and Wormingford Wanderers Reserves was abandoned apparently because the visitors had insufficient players left on the pitch to complete the match!

With Assington Stanley confirmed as Division Five champions it leaves Great Bentley “A” finishing in second place and West Bergholt Reserves in third, Roman Rovers “A”, (three for Vicary), beat Boxted Lodgers Reserves and there was a rare win for Ramsey & Mistley Reserves against neighbours Bradfield Rovers Reserves.

Finally in a Tommy Thompson Cup, quarter-final tie, Mersea Island Reserves beat Roman Rovers by two goals to one.

On Wednesday (10^th) this week, Thorpe Athletic FC play Fairlop Rovers FC in the final of the Essex Junior Cup, the match will be played at Heybridge Swifts FC, kick-off is 19:45pm, the ESBFL wishes them well.