11/11/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 11/11/2023.

Remembrance Day matches are usually preceded by a two-minute silence, hopefully this was adhered too last Saturday when thirty-one league matches were played along with seven Essex Premier Cup ties which saw mixed fortunes for ESBFL teams.

          There were three Premier Division fixtures, which saw away wins for Sudbury Sports and Dedham Old Boys, who move up to third behind Hatfield Peverel who edged out Stanway Pegasus Reserves by the only goal scored, to remain second.

          Six matches took place in a high scoring Division One, unbeaten Thorpe Athletic hit five, to clip the wings of CO4 Ultra’s, Tiptree Jobserve also hit five at home to Tavern, Cressing United, three for Miller (D), are second, and Kings Park Rangers, three for Pollard, stay third, both scored six goals away from home. Dovercourt Rovers edged out The Rodings by the odd goal in seven and in contrast Wormingford Wanderers beat Great Bentley by a solitary goal.

          Division Two also saw a goal feast, Gas Recreation stay second, hitting five against Tiptree Jobserve Reserves but Bradfield Rovers stay top having only drawn at Hedinghams United. White Notley Reserves, three for Smith, stay third after beating bottom team Colne Athletic Reserves, Roman Rovers and Frinton & Walton shared eight goals and in the other match Boxted Lodgers drew with Cavendish.

          Gosfield United retain top spot in Division Three after a seven-goals, to one, thrashing of Gas Recreation Reserves but coming up fast, with games in hand, are unbeaten Flitch United who beat Prettygate on the road. Great Bentley Reserves stay third after beating Little Oakley Reserves, and both Barnston Reserves and Tollesbury won for only the second time to move up the table.

          Oyster top Division Four after hitting Brantham Athletic (Development) for six, that’s four straight defeats for the previous league leaders and previously unbeaten The Rodings Reserves, despite three for Johnson (R), lost to the “enigma” that is Stillwaters, who stay firmly in second place. Roman Rovers Reserves moved up to third, they scored five to the four scored by Ramsey & Mistley. Boxford Rovers, Great Bradfords, three for Shearer, and Silver End United Reserves also won in another high scoring division.

          There was a full fixture programme in Division Five, plenty of goals here as well, Bradfield Rovers Reserves in another nine-goal thriller, edged out Elmstead Market, Kelvedon Social won only their second game against the team above them, Roman Rovers “A”. West Bergholt Reserves beat Mersea Island Reserves, Hedinghams United Reserves beat Ramsey & Mistley Reserves and Great Bentley “A” moved back to the top after the Boxted Lodgers Reserves match against Assington Stanley was abandoned in the final minutes due to a serious player injury.

          In the Essex Premier Cup there were victories for Earls Colne, Brightlingsea Town, three for Fosker, Tiptree Heath (AET) but Belle Vue Social, Lawford Lads, Silver End United, three for Gage, suffered defeats despite the latter team scoring five times!