09/03/2024 – WEEKLY ROUND-UP

With almost a full fixture list played on Saturday, one wonders how some those pitches used, will have fared, there have been reports of heavy going, the problem is the ground is saturated and not drying out quickly enough!

Two ESBFL teams played in Essex County Cup Competitions, in the BBC Essex Premier Cup, Tiptree Heath FC bowed out at the semi-final stage to Rayleigh Town FC, a commendable campaign none-the-less with Brightlingsea Town FC also through to the semi-finals but they await their opponents. Thorpe Athletic FC put on a fine display to beat Rawreth Lane FC in their semi-final, lets hope Cressing United FC can win through when their backlog of matches gets back underway.

Four matches were played in the Premier Division with wins for second placed, Brightlingsea Town and fourth placed, Stanway Rovers Community Reserves whilst Alresford Colne Rangers against Belle Vue Social and Dedham Old Boys against Sudbury Sport shared the points.

Eighth placed, Great Bentley beat second placed Dovercourt Rovers and Tiptree Jobserve beat bottom team Tavern, in Division One.

Bradfield Rovers, who stay top, Cavendish, Gas Recreation, now third, (four for Maiden) and Hedinghams United all won in Division Two.

In Division Three, fourth placed Little Oakley Reserves surprised second placed Gosfield United with a single goal victory, the other match in the division was abandoned due to a serious player injury, we wish him well.

Brantham Athletic (Development), FC Clacton “A”, Stillwaters, now second, and Tiptree Heath Reserves, now top, were the victorious teams in Division Four.

Division Five, also had four games, the only winners were Roman Rovers “A” against Mersea Island Reserves, the matches between Assington Stanley against Boxted Lodgers Reserves, Elmstead Market against West Bergholt Reserves and Kelvedon Social against Brooklands ended in draws.

Two COVID Cup ties were played, Great Bentley Reserves (three for Evans), beat Silver End United Reserves and Tendring District beat Boxford Rovers.

Roman Rovers beat Frinton & Walton by five spot kicks to four in the Tommy Thompson Cup, with the scores level at one apiece after ninety minutes.

One Reserve Cup, semi-final, was played, this saw White Notley Reserves beat Roman Rovers Reserves, their final opponents have yet to be determined.

Finally, three Knock-Out Cup ties were played, in the, all Premier Division match, Earls Colne edged out Hatfield Peverel by nine spot kicks to eight after being level at two goals apiece at full time. In the all, Division One clash, Cressing United prevailed by four goals to three against CO4 Ultra’s whilst high flying Kings Park Rangers from Division One beat Premier Division, Silver End United by five goals to three.