17/01/2026 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2025 / 2026

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       17/01/2026.

Let’s start with the bad news, there will be no ESBFL teams represented in further rounds of the BBC Premier Cup as both Great Bentley and Springfield lost out to Aveley U23’s and Ocean First.

A similar fate fell to both Tiptree Jobserve and Wormingford Wanderers who lost to Sandon Royals and Fleet respectively in the GoCardless, Essex Junior Cup.

With neither Sudbury Sports nor Great Bentley involved in Premiership matches, second placed East Thurrock failed to capitalise and were beaten by three goals to one by eleventh placed AFC Pegasus Colchester (three for Booth). Hatfield Peverel moved up to fourth when beating Belle Vue Social, Earls Colne moved ahead of Dedham Old Boys whom they beat, the other winners were, for the first time in seventeen attempts, were Alresford Colne Rangers who beat White Notley, the team just above them at the bottom of the table. There were also two drawn matches in the division, Tiptree Heath shared four goals with Cressing United whilst Thorpe Athletic scored three matched by the three scored by Gas Recreation.

Division One leaders, Gosfield United beat Hatfield Peverel Reserves by four goals to nil and have opened an eight-point gap over The Rodings & Little Waltham who lost to Prettygate, the other matches saw a local derby where Clacton Regent beat Tavern by two goals to one to move up to third and Roman Rovers (three for Brooks), beat Hedinghams United by six goals to one.

There were only two games in Division Two, Bradfield Rovers, who scored eight (three for substitute Stratton), against the three from Cressing United Reserves are now seven points ahead of inactive, Silver End United and Boxford Rovers put a dent in third placed West Bergholt’s ambitions when winning by four goals to one.

Division Three leaders Harwich & Parkeston “A” were held by fourth placed Stillwaters, fifth placed Elmstead Market beat Wivenhoe United by three goals to one and similarly by the same scoreline, Silver End United Reserves beat Roman Rovers Reserves, who remain rooted at the bottom of the table.

There were three home wins in Division Four, Roman Rovers “A” moved to the top after beating third placed Hedinghams United Reserves by three goals to nil, In another local derby Ramsey & Mistley beat Bradfield Rovers Reserves by three goals to nil and the biggest scorers in the division were Rayne who hit six (three for Calvert), with one in reply from bottom team Elmstead Market Reserves.

Highest scorers of the day were Mersea Island who hit a dozen (six for Banyard), without reply from Stanway Rovers EVL Development, this was in the Richard Degville Cup, where there were ten goals in the Kelvedon (six) (three for Still), versus Prettygate Reserves (four) tie. In the same competition, Boxted Lodgers beat Brooklands by five goals to one and Tollesbury beat Tendring District by the odd goal in three.

Finally, in the Tommy Thompson Cup there was a comfortable win for Gas Recreation Reserves, who scored six, (three for Maiden), over Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves who failed to find the back of the net.