06/12/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2025 / 2026

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       06/12/2025.

Just two matches fell by the wayside as the weather intervened and two more because of player unavailability!

Five matches survived in the Premier Division, the top three, East Thurrock Community, Sudbury Sports and Great Bentley, who scored seven, all won, against Cressing United, Dedham Old Boys and Alresford Colne Rangers respectively, the remaining match saw AFC Pegasus Colchester draw with Springfield.

Two matches were played in Division One, Gosfield showed their strength by beating fifth placed Dovercourt Rovers by five goals to one, and went top in the process, in a local derby, Frinton & Walton beat FC Clacton Reserves by four goals to one.

Division Two also had two matches, Springfield Reserves shared the points with Boxford Rovers whilst Cavendish, who scored ten goals last week, hit seven (three for Childs) without reply against previously unbeaten Silver End United, who remain second!

Harwich & Parkeston “A”, with six different goalscorers, increased their lead at the top of Division Three after beating Silver End United Reserves, Mersea Island scored five against bottom team, Roman Rovers Reserves, Wivenhoe United, for the third week in a row, scored four when beating Stillwaters and Brooklands narrowed the gap on a young Oyster team, whom they beat by three goals to nil.

Five matches were played in Division Four, the top three all won and there is a seven point gap to fourth placed Ramsey & Mistley who also won, beating Stanway Rovers EVL Development. Leaders, Roman Rovers “A”, scored four when beating West Bergholt Reserves, ahead of Frinton & Walton Reserves, who beat Tollesbury by six goals to nil and Hedinghams United Reserves, in third place, they scored seven (three for Curry), against the two from Kelvedon Social. The fifth match saw Bradfield Rovers Reserves get the better of second bottom, Tendring District.

There were four matches and a few surprises in the Peter Andrews Charity Cup, and plenty of goals as well! Great Bentley Reserves, whose First Team won the cup, last season, beat The Roding & Little Waltham by five goals to three, Division One, Clacton Regent beat Premier Division strugglers, White Notley by the odd goal in three. Tavern edged out Roman Rovers by four spot kicks to three, after the scores were tied at two goals apiece, the other match was also decided on spot kicks, Hatfield Peverel Reserves triumphed by eight spot kicks to seven, again after the scores were level at two goals apiece, this was against Prettygate, who had won the league fixture by double figures the week before, that’s some turnaround!

Tiptree Jobserve (four for Scott), beat Cressing United Reserves by six goals to two, to progress in the Essex Junior Cup, another ESBFL team through are White Notley Reserves who beat Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves, now that’s a day out for a 1pm kick-off! Sadly, two other ESBFL teams bowed out, Bradfield Rovers in a seven-goal thriller, lost to Manford Way “A” and Great Bentley “A” lost narrowly against Herongate Athletic Reserves, that was their first defeat of the season in all competitions, but they remain the only unbeaten team in the ESBFL.

There was better news in the Essex Junior Trophy, with two new teams progressing, Prettygate Reserves beat Thaxted Rangers by two goals to nil, and Rayne beat Baddow Athletic on penalty kicks, the match being level at two goals apiece at normal full-time.