ESBFL – Round Up to Saturday 21st September 2019 by John Campany.
Essex & Suffolk Border League Round – Up 21st September 2019.
The competitiveness of the Border League Premier Division came into sharp focus with three teams sharing 17 points at the summit with Great Bentley FC refreshingly the new leaders fractionally on goal difference.
Alresford Colne Rangers FC and Gas Recreation FC are in pursuit whilst new boys Stanway Pegasus FC continue to stake their claim in the championship race. In the chasing pack are promoted Flitch United FC winning their fifth consecutive game whilst West Bergholt FC continue to improve with their fourth win after a disastrous start.
Great Bentley FC saw off Little Oakley FC Reserves with a 3-0 win on the Green, with goals from Archie Herbert and a brace from Joseph Hurd.
Alresford Colne Rangers FC were made to fight hard at Tiptree Heath FC where the second placed side held a 3-1 interval lead, but a second half response ensured a close encounter. Two from Callum Rogers and a Jason Joseph effort put the visitors in pole position, but ‘Heath’ replied through Charlie Green and Ryan Knill-Jones.
It was an eight-goal thriller at Stanway School where Stanway Pegasus FC and Gas Recreation FC fought for supremacy and in the end of a titanic battle both had to settle for a point.
Top referee, Carl Pearse, was in charge and he produced five cautions and both sides ended with 10 players by the time of the final whistle. The home side raced into a 3-1 interval lead, but typical of ‘Gas’ they gave a tenacious second half performance to lead 4-3 only to be pulled back to 4-4. Stanway Pegasus scorers were Ryan Mahon with a brace Lewis Blanchett and the second half equaliser from Luke Payne. For ‘Gas’ Jonathan Ogunsanya struck twice and Luke and Ryan Taylor completed the scoring. (A full match report is on the ESBFL web-site)
Flitch United FC’s move up the table has not gone unnoticed following four opening defeats, and their 2-1 win at Tiptree Engaine FC sees them in a respectable fifth position.
Shane Pyne hit his seventh goal of the season and James Oates scored the second whilst the home side responded through Steve Evans.
West Bergholt FC making steady progress, defeated visiting Hatfield Peverel FC 3-1 with a Jack Harrington brace and the third from David Weir.
Earls Colne FC had a timely 2-1 win at the Recreation Ground over visiting Lawford Lads FC. They moved out of the bottom two courtesy of a brace from Callum Tracey.
White Notley FC’s downward spiral continues and now occupy 15th place in the table following their fifth successive defeat. A Lee Ifield strike was insufficient at Dedham Old Boys FC who took the points through Tristan Moseley and Henry Welham.
There was no success in the County Cups, as Barnston AFC were beaten 3-2 by visiting Old Southendian’s FC Reserves in the Essex Premier, and in the Suffolk Senior Cup, Brantham Athletic FC Reserves, although putting in a valiant performance at Thurlow Nunn side Debenham LC, lost on penalties having held their higher ranked opponents to a goal less draw after extra time.
In Division One, Harry Diplock’s sixth goal of the season was sufficient to see off Cressing United FC 1-0 to maintain Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves position at the top securing their sixth win from seven, closely followed by high scoring Gosfield United FC. United’s double promotion has been fully justified and the eight scored at Mersea Island take there tally to 29 goals and two points behind the leaders. There were two goals each from Dean and Jake Gilder, Edward Killin and Bobby Pike. The Gilder boys have now each netted on seven occasions.
FC Clacton Reserves made it five successive wins and they are three points behind the leaders with a game in hand. They beat Boxted Lodgers FC 7-2, Cameron Dolphin struck a hat trick with a brace each from Sean Hillier and Duaine Nwadikwa.
John Campany.
About Post Author
