17/10/2026 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2026 / 2027

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       17/10/2026.

There were forty-two matches played in the ESBFL last Saturday, once again there were a number of high scoring matches with one hundred and ninety goals scored in total!

Thorpe Athletic remain top of the Premier Division after a four-goals, to one victory over Springfield who drop a place on goal difference, another big winner was Alresford Colne Rangers who scored six when beating Dedham Old Boys who slipped to the bottom in the process. Hatfield Peverel stay second after beating lowly White Notley and Clacton Regent beat Earls Colne, Gas Recreations recent form see them rise to sixth place whilst the matches between The Rodings and Waltham against Tiptree Heath and Stanway Rovers Reserves against Great Bentley both ended up as one-all draws.

Five matches were played in Division Two, top team Wivenhoe Town Reserves drew against fifth placed Cavendish, this allowed the chasing three teams, Silver End United, Tavern (three for Louca), and Springfield Reserves (three for Smith {E}), to gain ground as they beat Bradfield Rovers, Birchanger Athletic and Roman Rovers respectively. Prettygate (three for Lam), who have games in hand, moved up to sixth place with a six-two demolition of Hatfield Peverel Reserves.

All the away teams in Division Two won, West Bergholt thrashed Cressing United Reserves by eight goals to one, and Colchester Tekkers also hit eight (three for Johnson), against Springfield U23 without reply. Tiptree Jobserve scored five to the three of Boxford Rovers, Sudbury Sports Reserves beat third placed Frinton & Walton by three goals to one, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves made it a good day for the Club with a two-goals to one victory over Lawford Lads, finally, fifth placed Mayland Village, another team with games in hand, remain unbeaten, after a solitary goals win at Emerson & Upminster.

In Division Three North, second placed Mersea Island were unbeaten before they played top team Oyster in the island local derby, a three-goals to nil win, was attained, in fact they have remained unbeaten in league matches for almost a year in games they have played! White Notley Reserves scored five against third bottom Wivenhoe United, Elmstead Market had six different scorers as they hit ten for a first win of the season against pointless Colchester Rangers, in another local derby Boxted Lodgers beat Wormingford Wanderers with both teams ending with ten players! The matches between Essex Students against Silver End United Reserves and Roman Rover Reserves and Bradfield Rovers Reserves ended all square, a point apiece.

Despite only drawing against Essex Royals, unbeaten, Great Bradfords moved to the top of Division Three South as Great Baddow beat previously unbeaten Baddow Athletic, Stock United beat Beaulieu Park to go fourth, between Rayne and Eversley Athletic, both yet to lose, who drew against Witham Town Reserves and Springfield Development. In the final match Hedinghams United Reserves scored four against bottom team Emerson & Upminster Reserves, who remain pointless.

Stanway Rovers “A”, remain top of Division Four North, beating second placed Weeley in a tempestuous match that saw six red cards, another one for ECFA to deal with perhaps! Third placed Elmstead Market Reserves drew with Tendring Borough, West Bergholt Reserves scored five (three for Campbell), against Kelvedon Social and remain fourth, Ramsey & Mistley, in fifth, beat Tiptree Jobserve Reserves and Brooklands got a point against Rayne Reserves but stay bottom.

In Division Four South, new club, Baddow Spartak, unsurprisingly remain bottom after five matches, this week they lost by nine goals to one against South Cestos, Ingrave Park Royals beat Witham Town Development, MATES drew with Broomfield “A”, unbeaten Southminster United Reserves remain second after beating Writtle by the odd goal in seven, and finally Baddow Athletic Reserves, a new team arrival lost their first match against leaders Beacon Hill Reserves.

There was one match in the Knock-Out Cup, Division Four South, Wilvale Rangers did not shy away from a match against Premier Division, Cressing United but did lose by four goals to one.

In the Peter Andews Charity Cup, a competition for Division One teams, last season’s beaten finalists, Hedinghams United beat Great Bentley Reserves in a penalty shoot-out.