Southend Manor are in with a real chance of lording it with a tremendous double in the Schweppes Essex Senior League.

Already through to the semi-final of the League Cup, the Southchurch Park side are now just three points behind leaders Saffron Walden Town with a game in hand in the fight for the championship crown.

For, while Manor were pulling off a 2-0 home success over Eton Manor on Saturday, Walden slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Brentwood.

Almost inevitably, the League's top scorer, 20-year-old Ben Barnett, got both Manor goals to move well clear in the battle to win the League's Don Douglas Trophy for the leading marksman. He now has 20.

He grabbed a goal in each half in this latest success and manager Mark Jenkins' Manor men should be in for an entertaining clash when they travel to Brentwood next Saturday.

Fairweather (25 minutes) and Hitchcock (48 minutes) grabbed the Brentwood goals in their success at the leaders with the only reply coming from a Saggers penalty four minutes from time.

Basildon United made a solid start to life under new manager Stevie Wheeler when they drew 1-1 at Woodford Town.

T Johnson gave Bees a 50th minute lead and Kieta grabbed the equaliser ten minutes from the end.

The only other League game played saw Ilford stay in third place with a 3-0 home win over Sawbridgeworth.

Hullbridge Sports saw their scheduled home game with Leyton washed out by a waterlogged pitch, while Stansted's game with Burnham Ramblers suffered the same fate.

Bowers United visit East Ham today with the Hammers having ended their London Senior Cup run on Saturday with a 3-2 defeat at Erith Town.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.