09/12/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 09/12/2023.

With the fixture list once again decimated by the weather, only five games involving ESBFL teams survived, thirty-three others were postponed, but credit to those Clubs whose pitches remained playable after the incessant down pours experienced this week, the downside maybe that those pitches are going to be out of action for a week or so whilst they recover, its always a tough call!

Division Two, Frinton & Walton, triumphed by four goals to two at Boxted Lodgers whose pitch has rarely been called off over many decades, this enabled Frinton & Walton to move up to fourth.

Surprisingly, two games survived in Division Five, West Bergholt Reserves move up to second after beating mid-table Bradfield Rovers Reserves away. The other game saw ninth placed Mersea Island Reserves get the better of fourth placed Hedinghams United Reserves, this by the odd goal in five.

Mersea Island, First team succumbed to Springfield FC Reserves in the Essex Junior Cup by five clear goals but pride of place, at least this week, goes to Division One, Thorpe Athletic who, in the same competition, and with a depleted squad, travelled to Basildon, to play Fleet. There were three out of the four goals for Gray, with none conceded in a fine victory which was their reward for their day out, they will play at home to the winners of the postponed tie between Unity FC and Old Chelmsfordians FC “A” on 6^th January 2024.

With so many matches postponed there will be numerous re-arranged fixtures for next weekend, County Cup matches always take precedence, thereafter, there may be changes to League and Cup competitions so keep aware of match notifications.

Leading Goal-Scorers are:

Premier Division:     A. Sauka       Brightlingsea Town FC                 (14)

Division One:          M. Gray         Thorpe Athletic FC                       (12)

Division Two:          L. Clifford      White Notley FC Reserves            (10)

                              O. Davis       Bradfield Rovers FC                     (10)

Division Three:        S. Winney     Great Bentley FC Reserves           (12)

Division Four:          I. Gregoire    Oyster FC                                    (13)

                              W. West        Roman Rovers FC Reserves          (13)

Division Five:          B. Higgins     Mersea Island FC Reserves          (10)

                              K. Johns        Boxted Lodgers FC Reserves        (10)

                              A. Smith        Great Bentley FC “A”                    (10)