17/02/2024 – Weekly Round-UP

The ESBFL Representative Team bowed out of the FA Inter-League Cup, when, having been re-instated after Round Two, were beaten by a very useful Herts Senior County Football League by two goals to nil in the Third Round, in a game played at Harpenden Town FC.

With Premier Division player involvement in that match, there were just two league matches, Dedham Old Boys beat Stanway Pegasus Reserves by a single goal and Earls Colne picked up three points against rock-bottom Alresford Colne Rangers.

Division One had just one match, Cressing United beating The Rodings by three goals without reply to keep their promotion interest alive in fourth place.

There were four matches in Division Two, Cavendish scored nine, (three for Dye), Colne Athletic Reserves beat Roman Rovers, Frinton & Walton won on their day out to Hedinghams United whilst the bottom two teams, Cornard Unites Reserves and Tiptree Heath Reserves shared two goals and a point apiece.

Five matches were played in Division Three, Gas Recreation Reserves won at Barnston Reserves, Lawford Lads Reserves beat bottom team Tollesbury, (three for Manager, Hill), Prettygate beat Little Oakley Reserves, and there were drawn games between Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves against Flitch United and, also for Great Bentley Reserves against Gosfield United in the top of the table clash.

In Division Four, FC Clacton “A” won only their second game of the season against fourth placed Tiptree Heath Reserves, The Rodings Reserves moved up to second when beating third placed Oyster, whose good start to the season has faltered lately! Great Bradfords scored eight, (four more for Postil, that’s twenty-two in ten matches), they are now the leading goal-scorers in the division, with the biggest goal difference having won their all four league games since the start of the year.

The top of Division Five is hotting up, Great Bentley “A” stay top after beating Brooklands, Assington Stanley stay second after beating Roman Rovers “A” and third placed West Bergholt stay third with a single goal victory over Elmstead Market. The fourth match was a three-all draw between Mersea Island Reserves and Bradfield Rovers Reserves.

There was one Tommy Thompson cup tie played with Wormingford Wanderers Reserves beating Abbey Fields by the odd goal in five.

Finally, there were some outstanding Knock-Out Cup ties, CO4 Ultra’s beat Boxford Rovers, Gas Recreation beat Boxted Lodgers, and Hatfield Peverel hit thirteen against plucky Ramsey & Mistley. In a game too tight to call before kick-off, Premier Division, Belle Vue Social played undefeated Division One leaders Thorpe Athletic and with a late equaliser for the visitors the match went to penalty kicks. Apparently, the Thorpe Athletic keeper saved six penalties, one was re-taken three times and the Division One team progressed by two spot kicks to one!