25/11/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 25/11/2023.

A beautiful but cold afternoon for football last Saturday, in the ESBFL, dominated by twenty-one cup matches, four were in County Cups, with only thirteen league games across all six divisions.

The prestigious Knock-Out Cup had eight matches, a competition for Clubs First teams, there were home wins for Barnston, Belle Vue Social, Earls Colne, three for Ladlow, FC Clacton Reserves, Hatfield Peverel and Thorpe Athletic with Stanway Rovers Community Reserves and Lawford Lads winning away from home, plenty of goals but no surprises.

The Tommy Thompson Cup for teams in Division two and below had nine matches, Boxted Lodgers, Bradfield Rovers, three for Stratton, Great Bentley Reserves, Cavendish, three for Taylor (H), Gosfield United, Mersea Island Reserves and Tiptree Jobserve Reserves, likewise for Stillwaters and Lawford Lads Reserves who both had to rely on spot-kicks to get a result.

There were some big matches in the Premier Division where third placed Tiptree Heath were well beaten by fifth placed Silver End United, the teams change places in the table, leaders Colne Athletic stay top but were held by mid-table Stanway Pegasus Reserves and sixth placed Brightlingsea Town had, on paper, a tricky trip to fourth placed Dedham Old Boys, by virtue of a six goals, three for Fosker, to four victory these teams also change places, its tight at the top though.

In Division One, there were two interesting matches, CO4 Ultras had a potential banana skin game against third bottom Great Bentley and by winning by nine goals-to-one the home team move up five places and bottom team, Tavern were due at Roxwell to play second bottom, The Rodings, once again the home team prevailed and moved up to seventh place.

Just one match was scheduled in Division Two, second bottom, Cornard Reserves against high flying White Notley Reserves, the visitors scored two without reply to move up to second place.

Division Three also had just two matches, second bottom Tollesbury took on and lost against second placed and unbeaten Flitch United, who move to the top whilst Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves entertained Dedham Old Boys Reserves, three for Nash, but lost heavily in a match that had ten goals.

Similarly, Division Four had two matches, leaders Oyster won at home to Wormingford Wanderers Reserves and whilst a close match was expected between Roman Rovers Reserves and their counterparts from, The Rodings it was the away team that prevailed.

There were three matches in Division Five, leaders Great Bentley “A”, beat fifth placed Bradfield Rovers Reserves, Ramsey & Mistley Reserves lost at home to Assington Stanley, and Roman Rovers “A” surprised second placed Boxted Lodgers Reserves. Incidentally, Great Bentley FC teams deserve a mention, all three won, scoring, nine, four for Morton, six, three for Winney, and six goals, three for Smith (A), with only three scored in reply.

In the Essex Junior Cup, the three ties were all ESBFL teams, Colne Athletic Reserves, progressed, as did Cressing United, but top scorers of the day were Kings Park Rangers who hit eleven, four for Hampson and three for Pollard, against a plucky FC Clacton ”A”.

The Suffolk Primary Cup match saw Brantham Athletic (Development) play Coddenham in a match refereed by Les King who gave sterling service to the ESBFL for many years, the match went to spot-kicks with Coddenham the victors.