14/10/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 14/10/2023.

          There were thirteen scheduled Essex County Cup matches last weekend, three “ESBFL” clubs progressed without even playing, their opposition citing insufficient players! Of those played Roman Rovers Development bowed out to Witham Town Reserves, in the Essex Junior Trophy, a clear mis-match, but that’s the cup for you!

Elsewhere, in the Essex Junior Cup, there were victories for, alphabetically, CO4 Ultra’s, Cressing United, Great Bentley, Kings Park Rangers, Mersea Island, Stillwaters, substitute, Adedoja scoring three, Tiptree Jobserve and Wormingford Wanderers, whilst The Rodings lost by a single goal. It’s a strange fact that both Great Bentley and Wormingford Wanderers “First” teams can compete in the same competition as their Reserves! Highest scorers were CO4 Ultras who scored ten, they had Mitchell scoring three amongst their five different scorers, King Park Rangers also hit ten with Hampson scoring three from their seven different scorers.

On the League front, there were twenty-three scheduled matches, in an almost full Premier Division fixture list, Barnston against Earls Colne, Dedham Old Boys against Hatfield Peverel and Tiptree Heath against Stanway Rovers Community Reserves saw those teams all share the points. Belle Vue Social hit five at Lawford Lads who remain second bottom, Silver End United hit six against Alresford Colne Rangers, who now, after points adjustments sit bottom, Stanway Pegasus Reserves hit four against Sudbury Sports to complete an early season double. Colne Athletic increased their lead at the top when beating White Notley to move ten points clear but sadly West Bergholt FC “First” team have withdrawn, a sad loss of a Club that has had varied success over many seasons, their playing record has now been expunged.

Due to County Cup matches, there were no matches in Division One, but Division Two had five, these saw a first win of the season for Boxted Lodgers, Gas Recreation stay top, Bradfield Rovers also won to stay second, Roman Rovers moved up the third, leap-frogging Cavendish whom they beat on the road and finally Colne Athletic Reserves drew with Tiptree Jobserve Reserves.

In Division Three, Gas Recreation Reserves scored seven but conceded three against Barnston Reserves, they stay fourth, Dedham Old Boys Reserves recovered from their previous weeks drubbing to win down at second bottom, Tollesbury.

Brantham Athletic Development suffered their first league defeat at the feet of Tendring District who move up to third, Ramsey & Mistley beat bottom team, Abbey Fields, last season’s second highest goal-scorer, Egglestone, for Boxford Rovers, hit three after coming on as a substitute, his team inflicting a first defeat on Tiptree Heath Reserves, lastly Roman Rovers Reserves thumped FC Clacton “A” with West scoring a hat-trick.

Finally, there were five matches in Division Five, Assington Stanley and Kelvedon Social drew, with wins for Boxted Lodgers Reserves, Hedinghams United Reserves, West Bergholt Reserves and Great Bentley “A” who stay top.