by JOHN CAMPANY

THE weekend's Essex and Suffolk Border League programme was severely decimated following significant rainfall on Friday.

In fact, of the 22 scheduled domestic league and cup matches, only six were played, in addition to the Essex Junior Cup semi-final between Collier Row and FC Clacton Reserves.

Unfortunately, following a fine run in the county cup, the Seasiders were knocked out after a 3-1 defeat against the Essex Olympian League side.

It was a gallant effort but a final appearance was not to be.

Samuel Thompson scored for the coastal side.

Only one premier division game survived and that saw West Bergholt gain the points in 4-2 win at the Plume Academy against Tiptree Heath.

Tiptree have faltered of late but remain third in the table, 15 points behind leaders Stanway Pegasus.

West Bergholt are comfortably in mid-table.

Benjamin Turner claimed his 20th goal of the season, while Ryan Knill-Jones struck the second for the home side.

West Bergholt’s marksmen were Liam Close, with a brace, and one each from Sam Cripps and Perry Newman.

In division one, Sudbury Sports rose to the summit to strengthen their push for a second promotion with an emphatic success at Nayland Road Sports Ground, beating Bures United 5-2.

It’s been a successful season for the Suffolk club, having reached the semi-final of the Suffolk Junior Cup, where they travel to Halesworth Town on March 21.

They are bidding for another final place, having won last season's county Primary Cup.

Their division one record shows they are one point clear of Colne Athletic, having played two games less, and have scored 90 goals in the process.

On Saturday, Shane Temple added two more goals to his tally of 24, while Joshua Ambrose grabbed a brace, with Luke Hipkin netting the fifth.

Out of the total number of goals scored, the marksmen at Bures have currently netted 53 goals between them.

Boxted Lodgers put a dent in Cressing United’s promotion aspirations with a slender 3-2 win at Cage Lane, with goals from the division’s top scorer, Paul Goddard, and one each from Thomas Donnellan and Keith Hammond.

Cressing are now in fourth place, four points behind the leaders, but have played four games more and have too much ground to make up.

Gosfield’s hopes of a further promotion now look unlikely, following their 2-0 defeat at Stanway School against Stanway Pegasus Reserves, who are providing excellent back-up support for their senior side’s push for the premier division title.

Max Booth and Darren Booth scored the goals.

There were no fixtures played in division two but two matches took place in division three.

Although in top spot, St Osyth faltered at the Philip Morant School, where Stanway Athletic beat the leaders 2-0.

Patrick Dixon scored the goals.

While St Osyth have a six-point lead from second-place Oyster, they have, crucially, played three games more.

Lawford Lads Reserves and Harwich and Parkeston Reserves trail the leaders by 11 and 12 points respectively.

However, each have four games in hand that will ensure an exciting run-in during the weeks ahead.

Next Saturday’s key senior matches will see Stanway Pegasus look to strengthen their title credentials with a home match against struggling Tiptree Engaine, where they should take three points.

Meanwhile, the dark horses, Great Bentley, will be at School Lane to meet the challenge of Lawford Lads, where a win for the second-place side will be crucial.

In the Knockout Cup, Earls Colne, seeking a final place, have a tough assignment against holders Gas Recreation.

Gas will be firm favourites to progress at Bromley Road.

Results: Essex Junior Cup – semi-final: Collier Row 3 FC Clacton Res 1.

Premier division: Tiptree Heath 2 West Bergholt 4.

Division one: Boxted Lodgers 3 Cressing United 2, Bures United 2 Sudbury Sports 5, Stanway Pegasus Res 2 Gosfield United 0.

Division three: Barnston Res 5 Little Clacton 2, Stanway Athletic 2 St Osyth 0.