08/03/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2024 / 2025

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       08/03/2025.

The weeks are flying past and fixtures for some teams in line for promotion are coming thick and fast, last Saturday had thirty scheduled games but two fell on the day with teams unable to field a team, it’s certainly a case that there are several hundred less players, registered at this time than the same time last season, so where have all these players gone!

There was a big local derby at Alresford Colne Rangers who overcame third placed Brightlingsea Town by six goals to four (five for Willoughby), end-to-end play, plenty of defensive errors but some good goals as well. Barnston also hit six (three for Sonnex), against Belle Vue Social, Hatfield Peverel beat struggling White Notley, East Thurrock Community beat Stanway Pegasus Reserves., Cressing United beat Dedham Old Boys and leaders Kings Park Rangers beat Tiptree Heath, all those three matches saw just one winning goal scored.

There was one Division One match, played on Friday evening, a local derby between Little Oakley Reserves and Dovercourt Rovers who temporarily moved up to second after winning by two goals to nil.

On Saturday, three other Division One, matches took place, the basement battle between Bradfield Rovers and Cavendish saw the visitors win, Frinton & Walton, now second, beat Lawford Lads and Gosfield United beat Cornard United Reserves to go fourth.

In Division Two of the three matches that remained Boxford Rovers beat Gas Recreation Reserves, Stillwaters beat Dedham Old Boys Reserves and in another local derby, Great Bentley Reserves beat their counterparts from Alresford Colne Rangers.

There were four matches in Division Three, with victories for Elmstead Market, Roman Rovers Reserves and Tiptree Heath Reserves over Flitch United, Ramsey & Mistley and Tendring District respectively whilst Great Bentley “A”, were held by Oyster scoring two goals apiece.

In the four matches in Division Four, Boxted Lodgers scored seven to beat West Bergholt Reserves to move up to third, Bradfield Rovers Reserves beat bottom team, Elmstead Market Reserves, Kelvedon Social beat Tollesbury and Roman Rovers “A” beat Hedinghams United Reserves.

A number, of cup ties were played, the finalists for the Reserve Cup Final have now been decided, Earls Colne Reserves beat Silver End United Reserves to book their place in Good Fridays final against Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves.

In the Tommy Thompson Cup, two second round ties saw Barnston Reserves beat Hatfield Peverel Reserves and Roman Rovers beat Mersea Island whilst in a quarter final tie, Tavern beat Harwich & Parkeston “A”.

There were three quarter-final ties in the Richard Degville Cup, Tendring Borough beat Abbey Fields and will now meet Tiptree Jobserve who beat West Bergholt and Wormingford Wanderers beat Silver End United to set up a semi-final against Hatfield Peverel Reserves.

Finally, the second finalist for the Peter Andrews Charity Cup was confirmed when holders, Great Bentley (three for Evans), beat Gas Recreation by seven goals to nil and they will play Sudbury Sports in the final.