Bowers United's visit to Sawbridgeworth in the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy tops tonight's Schweppes Essex Senior League programme.

Victory tonight would keep Tony Cross's Pitsea-based Bowers outfit's outside hopes of a clean sweep of the domestic trophies alive.

Although they are well behind with their league games, Bowers gave clear indication that they are not about to give up on their championship challenge last weekend when they won 3-0 at home to Southend Manor.

Bowers are a massive 19 points behind leaders Burnham Ramblers but, with seven games in hand, it would be dangerous to rule them out.

In the League Cup, Bowers qualified for the last eight knockout stages when they finished top of Group C.

They now host East Ham in the battle for the semi-final on Saturday week and should have few problems in making the last four.

Also tomorrow night, unbeaten Saffron Walden should keep their League hopes alive when they host Brentwood.

Victory would see Walden move to within four points of Burnham at the top - and they'd still have a game in hand on their rivals.

Walden gave their title hopes a massive boost on Saturday with a great 1-0 home victory over Great Wakering Rovers.

Hullbridge Sports are due in home action at Lower Road tomorrow when Jewson League Tiptree are the visitors for an East Anglian Cup tie.

Race for possession - at Thorpe Bay High School as Ralee 3rd (orange shirts) take on bottom club Towerfield Rangers in Division Eight of the Southend Sunday League. Ralee won 3-1

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Ekco battle hard

Ekco First Data battled for a point in a goalless draw at Kelvedon Hatch to knock their hosts off top spot in the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division One.

New leaders are Hatfield Peverel, who triumphed 3-0 over Essex Police.

Ouch - this Trinity 3rd player (grounded) looks about to feel the full force of a challenge from his Sporting Benfleet opponent in their Southend Sunday League Division Four double header. Trinity took all the points with 3-0 and 5-2 wins

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Runwell show no mercy

Runwell Hospital went to bottom club Writtle and showed no mercy with a 4-0 success - Hughes scoring a hat-trick and Weeks one.

In Senior Division Two, Stambridge continued their climb up the table when goals from Search (2) and Ralph gave them a 3-1 home success over Eppingsale.

An effort from Coldham was not enough to give Shell Club any reward from their visit to Leyton. They lost 2-1.

Sandon Royals are still leaders following their 5-0 win at Hutton.

Only one game was played in Senior Division Three and this saw Basildon Town share the spoils at Galleywood with Potter, Jones, Bachrach and an own goal accounting for their tally.

With their own pitch unfit, Rayleigh Town switched their Reserve Division One clash with Frenford Senior to the opposition ground.

Town scored through Tuskin and S. Clarke, but lost top spot and the game when Frenford took over the leadership with a 4-2 success. Hitchcock (3) and Brown were on target for Frenford.

Runwell climbed off the bottom of the table when they drew 3-3 at home to Broomfield with Smith, Neil and West their scorers.

Ekco First Data moved into second place in Reserve Division Two when Root (2) and Pond gave them a 3-2 success at home to bottom club Upminster.

Great Baddow beat Springfield 3-1 thanks to Golsing (2) and D. Schwedt.

Laindon Athletic netted through Palmer and Barnett, but still went down 3-2 at home to Old Chelmsfordians.

With some games in hand on the top side, Basildon Town were looking for a push up the table in Reserve Division Three.

However, it was not to be as they lost 5-0 to visitors Ramsden. Stambridge also had a bad result here, losing 3-0 at leaders Metpol Chigwell, who now lead them by five points. Zeus stay top

Despite losing 5-2 at home to closest rivals Hockley British Legion, Zeus 2nd remain top of the Eastwoodbury Veterans League.

Jude scored all five for Legion, who are now just a point behind with two games in hand. Junior Charity Cup

It is a busy afternoon in the Southend Wednesday League tomorrow with four league matches planned plus a preliminary round affair in the Junior Charity Cup.

In this latter event Southend Postmen B take on their Florida Sports counterparts at Cupids Country Club, Great Wakering, with a 1.45pm kick-off.

League games start at 2pm and leaders Florida Sports meet Basildon Police at Victory Sports Ground.

Nearest rivals Southend Postmen will hope to be on the right track at Cupids against LTS Rail.

Grays Police take on Basildon Post Office at the Fire Brigade Ground, Aveley, while there's a battle of the law at King George's, Rayleigh, when the Police sides of Rayleigh and Southend meet.

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