29/03/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2024 / 2025

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       29/03/2025.

Twenty-eight games were played last Saturday, the season is, drawing to a close, and many of the Divisions have yet to be decided with several crucial “head-to-head” matches to be played that could decide any outcome.

There was a full programme in the Premier Division, excepting Tiptree Heath who have already finished, leaders Kings Park Rangers beat fifth placed Thorpe Athletic scoring two without reply, but Brightlingsea Town won easily by six goals to nil at bottom club White Notley. Improving Barnston again scored four when beating Stanway Pegasus Reserves, second placed Earls Colne finished their season when beating Sudbury Sports, Hatfield Peverel won away at Alresford Colne Rangers, second bottom, Belle Vue Social, with a single goal, beat Cressing United, which was their last match, to move above Dedham Old Boys who drew for the eleventh time, this was against East Thurrock Community.

The big match in Division One was on Great Bentley Green, the hosts edging out top team, Gas Recreation by a single goal, to move second in the table, Great Bentley now need to win all four games in hand, and then it goes down to goal difference, currently standing at just five goals! Dovercourt Rovers moved above Frinton & Walton into fourth when beating them by three goals to two, Hedinghams United moved up three places after beating basement team, Bradfield Rovers and Cornard United Reserves beat Lawford Lads but remain second bottom.

Tavern, remain top of Division Two after beating second placed Prettygate by four goals to nil, which allowed The Rodings to go second after they beat Alresford Colne Rangers by three goals to nil, there was also a win for Roman Rovers against Great Bradfords. The other two matches, Gas Recreation Reserves against Boxford Rovers and Great Bentley Reserves against Earls Colne Reserves, in fourth place, ended as one-all draws.

In Division Three, Hatfield Peverel (three for Dingli), beat Elmstead Market to stay fifteen points clear of second placed West Bergholt (three for Clarke), who edged out Barnston Reserves, who are third. Both Silver End, fourth, and Great Bentley Reserves, fifth, won against Tendring District and Ramsey & Mistley respectively and Wormingford Wanderers beat Tiptree Jobserve.

Division Four is the division where goals are always in abundance, there were seven games and thirty-nine goals, leaders Silver End Reserves were restricted to five goals (three for Coney), whereas Harwich & Parkeston hit twelve (five for Eade and four for Smith), against Elmstead Market Reserves, who continue to turn out week-after-week despite some heavy defeats, commendable! Third placed Boxted Lodgers lost against Roman Rovers “A”, fourth placed Tendring Borough scored five against Bradfield Rovers Reserves, fifth placed Hedinghams United Reserves (three for Parsons), beat second bottom, Tollesbury, Kelvedon Social are sixth after hitting six when beating Abbey Fields and Mersea Island beat West Bergholt Reserves.