26/10/2024 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2024 / 2025

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       26/10/2024.

League action was the order of the day last Saturday, this being the last Saturday of October, clocks go back one hour, so from November, league kick-offs are 2pm.

The Premier Division had seven matches, bottom team, Tiptree Heath played their home match at Cornard, home of second placed, Kings Park Rangers and won by a single goal. The big match was leaders Brightlingsea Town against Thorpe Athletic who were two goals up at half-time, the home team rallied to equalise late on and even had a penalty saved! There were also wins for Cressing United, Earls Colne, who move up to third, East Thurrock Community and Hatfield Peverel, whilst Sudbury Sports were held at home by Alresford Colne Rangers.

Division one had five matches, Dovercourt Rovers stay top after hitting five against Cornard United Reserves, unbeaten, Gas Recreation scored one less and moved up to second when beating Bradfield Rovers, Lawford Lads beat, Great Bentley, their, first defeat, by a single goal, Hedinghams United won at Frinton & Walton and third placed Little Oakley Reserve drew at Cavendish, who move off the bottom.

There were six matches in Division Two, leaders, Prettygate (three for Newcombe), thrashed struggling bottom team Assington Stanley, hitting ten goals without reply, the battle for second place is hotting up as third placed, The Rodings, beat second placed Earls Colne Reserves, another team to suffer a first league loss of the season. Tavern hit seven (four for Richter), against Dedham Old Boys Reserves and there were also wins for Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves, Cressing United Reserves (three for Miller), and Great Bradfords.

Hatfield Peverel Reserves stay top of Division Three where there were six matches, Barnston Reserves stay close behind, in second, Ramsey & Mistley hit six against Tiptree Heath Reserves and Tendring District beat Flitch United by three goals to nil. The remaining two matches Great Bentley “A” against Roman Rovers Reserves and Oyster against Tiptree Jobserve Reserves, were drawn.

In the bottom division, Division Four, there were seven matches, Boxted Lodgers (Reserves) hit eight, Kelvedon Social one less with seven, leaders Harwich & Parkeston “A” scored five to stay top and Silver End United Reserves stay second, wining by four goals to one, as did fourth placed Tendring Borough, Brooklands and Elmstead Market Reserves shared the points, but sadly, the match between Hedinghams United Reserves and Stillwaters Reserves was abandoned, another one for Essex County to unravel!

The single match in the Peter Andrews Charity Cup saw Tiptree Jobserve beat Gosfield United by a single goal to set up a tie at home against Great Bentley.

Finally, there were two Tommy Thompson Cup ties which saw Great Bentley Reserves (three for Winney) hit nine against a weakened Boxford Rovers team and Bradfield Rovers Reserves eventually prevailed over West Bergholt Reserves, this on penalty kicks after being level at full-time.