29/04/2023 – Weekly Round-Up

ESBFL – WEEKLY ROUND-UP for 29/04/2023

Mid-week matches have enabled some Clubs to catch up on their fixtures, six were played on Tuesday, ten on Wednesday and one on Friday with nineteen played on Saturday, however, no fewer than five scheduled matches were postponed due to player unavailability, those matches almost certainly will get awarded.

Tuesday saw wins for Dunmow Town, Chelmsford City Reserves, whilst Dedham Old Boys drew with Lawford Lads in the Premier elsewhere Colne Athletic Reserves and Stillwaters had wins with the KO Cup tie going to penalties.

Wednesday saw, Colne beat Sudbury Sports,  Alresford second string got a welcome point against Tavern, there were also victories for White Notley Reserves, Tiptree Jobserve Reserves, FC Clacton “A”, three for Watson, and Dedham Old Boys Reserves got a point against local rivals Brantham Athletic “A”. A few surprises that evening, previously unbeaten Dovercourt Rovers lost to Wormingford Wanderers in Division Two and second placed Roman Rovers lost to Lawford Lads Reserves in Division Four.

Congratulations to Boxford Rovers who in their first season in ESBFL have finished second after winning their last match away at Assington Stanley. Lastly, Gas Recreation, three goals for Maiden, reached the final of the Tommy Thompson Cup where they will meet Dovercourt Rovers.

Second placed Tiptree Heath overcame third placed Brantham Athletic Reserves on Friday evening, so still all to play for in the Premier Division.

And so to Saturday, in the Premier Division, Colne Athletic, Barnston, White Notley and Sudbury Sports managed wins but Dunmow Town slipped up and could only draw against Earls Colne who can be a match for anyone when the mood is right!

In Division One, third and fourth placed Thorpe Athletic and Tiptree Jobserve drew but nearer the top, the Silver End United bandwagon keeps rolling with an eight goal demolition of FC Clacton Reserves, three more for Gage.

Their were victories for White Notley Reserves and Tiptree Jobserve Reserves who dented Tavern’s aspirations, whilst Boxted Lodgers kept up their late push for honours with another win in Division Two.

There were four away wins in Division Three, these for Frinton & Walton, Prettygate, three for Cherry, and Barnston Reserves and when you score five, like Great Bradfords you might expect to get something out of a game, however, top team Bradfield Rovers hit six in reply, Allington netting four! 

Kelvedon Social Reserves and Wormingford Wanderers Reserves, three for Rose, were the winners in Division Four.

That leaves the cup matches, Dovercourt Rovers overcame Oyster to reach the final of the Tommy Thompson Cup whilst Gas Recreation beat Flitch United in the COVID Cup quarter final and High Roding reached that final when beating Cavendish Reserves.