08/04/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 08/04/2023

          The Premier Division title looks like it is going all the way to the last match, in a full Saturday fixture list, Dunmow Town hit six, four more goals and fifty for the season for Stuart Zanone, this against Colne Athletic who drop to fifth, Tiptree Heath kept pace when beating Belle Vue Social who drop to sixth. In mid-week Chelmsford City Reserves, who had two players dismissed, toppled Stanway Rovers U23’s and they hit six more against Harwich & Parkeston Reserves on Saturday, so a good week for them. There were also wins for Barnston, Dedham Old Boys and a rare success for West Bergholt whilst Hatfield Peverel against Earls Colne and White Notley against Lawford shared the spoils.

          Of the three matches in Division One, a successive defeat for Brightlingsea Town see’s their league season completed, they now have to wait to see if Silver End United, three goals for Gage in their win against Thorpe Athletic, can take advantage and win four of their six remaining games, a big ask perhaps! Tiptree Jobserve, moved into third place after beating Gosfield United.

          Mersea Island stay second in Division Two after a win against White Notley Reserves, Tavern, move back to third place after beating Boxted Lodgers, the team just above them, elsewhere Colne Athletic won at Hatfield Peveral Reserves and bottom team Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves beat Tollesbury to change places.

          Of the three games in Division Three, fourth placed Frinton & Walton beat Great Bentley Reserves, to move above them, Brantham Athletic “A” won at Great Bradfords whilst league leaders Bradfield Rovers were held at home by Barnston Reserves.

          Division Four saw one match, fifth placed Lawford Lads Reserves beating Abbey Fields who stay eleventh.

          There were wins for Boxted Lodgers Reserves and Roman Rover Reserves in Division Five, but the surprise of the day was the first defeat of the season for Divisional champions, Gas Recreation Reserves who lost to third placed Boxford Rovers. They are the second team to score one hundred goals, just behind Oyster, a team they can still catch if they win their last two matches, two more goals here for Will Egglestone whose season total is also fifty goals.

          Dovercourt Rovers progressed into the semi-finals of the Tommy Thompson Cup beating Wormingford Wanderers.

          In the remaining Covid Cup, second round matches, there were wins for Flitch United, Cavendish Reserves, Gas Recreation and Stillwaters, whose game went to penalties with both teams finishing with ten players and lastly High Roding beat Prettygate to move through to the semi-finals.