Bentley are leading the way but it's tight at the top: Essex and Suffolk Border League

THE competitiveness of the Essex and Suffolk Border League premier division has come into sharp focus with the three leading teams on 17 points.

Great Bentley are the new leaders - fractionally - on goal difference.

Alresford Colne Rangers and Gas Recreation are in pursuit while new-boys Stanway Pegasus continue to stake their claim in the championship race.

In the chasing pack are promoted Flitch United, who won their fifth consecutive game, while West Bergholt continue to improve, winning their fourth match after a disastrous start.

Bentley saw off Little Oakley Reserves following a 3-0 win on the Green, with goals from Archie Herbert and a brace from Joseph Hurd.

Alresford were made to fight hard at Tiptree Heath, where the second-placed side held a 3-1 interval lead.

However, a second-half response ensured a close encounter.

Two from Joseph Hurd and a Callum Rogers effort put the visitors in pole position, but Heath replied through Clarke Green and Ryan Knill-Jones.

It was an eight-goal thriller at Stanway School where Stanway Pegasus and Gas Recreation fought for supremacy and, at 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 ten 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.

Flitch’s move up the table has not gone unnoticed, following four opening defeats, and their 2-1 win at Tiptree Engaine sees them in a respectable fifth position.

Shane Pyne hit his seventh goal of the season and James Oates scored the second, while the home side responded through Steve Evans.

West Bergholt, making steady progress, defeated visiting Hatfield Peverel 3-1 with a Jack Harrington brace and the third from David Weir.

Earls Colne had a timely 2-1 win at the Recreation Ground over visiting Lawford Lads.

They moved out of the bottom two courtesy of a brace from Callum Tracey.

White Notley’s downward spiral continues and they now occupy 15th place in the table following their fifth successive defeat.

A Lee Ifield strike was insufficient at Dedham Old Boys, who took the points through Tristan Moseley and Harry Welham.

There was no success in the County Cups as Barnston were beaten 3-2 by visiting Old Southendians Reserves in the Essex Premier Cup.

In the Suffolk Senior Cup, Brantham Reserves, although putting in a valiant performance at Thurlow Nunn League side Debenham LC, lost on penalties, having held their higher-ranked opponents to a goalless draw after extra time.

In division one, Harry Diplock’s sixth goal of the season was sufficient to see off Cressing United 1-0 to maintain Stanway Pegasus' position at the top, securing their sixth win from seven, closely followed by high-scoring Gosfield United.

United’s double promotion has been fully justified and the eight scored at Mersea Island take their 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 made it five successive wins and they are three points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

They beat Boxted Lodgers 7-2.

Cameron Dolphin struck a hat-trick with a brace each from Sean Hillier and Duaine Nwadikwa.

Results: Essex Premier Cup: Barnston 2 Old Southendians Res 3.

Suffolk Senior Cup: Debenham LC 0 Brantham Athletic Res 0 (4-2 pens), Stanway Rovers Res 4 Burnham Ramblers Res 2.

Premier division: Dedham Old Boys 2 White Notley 1, Earls Colne 2 Lawford Lads 1, Great Bentley 3 Little Oakley Res 0, Stanway Pegasus 4 Gas Recreation 4, Tiptree Engaine 1 Flitch United 2, Tiptree Heath 2 Alresford Colne Rangers 3, West Bergholt 3 Hatfield Peverel 1.

First division: Alresford Colne Rangers Res 0 Tiptree Jobserve 3, Bures United 1 West Bergholt Res 2, Cressing United 0 Stanway Pegasus Res 1, FC Clacton 7 Boxted Lodgers 2, Little Oakley A 0 Colne Athletic 6, Mersea Island 0 Gosfield United 8, Wormingford Wanderers 2 Bell Vue Social 3.

Second division: Cavendish 1 Great Bentley Res 3, Elmden Rovers 2 Tollesbury 2, Gas Recreation Res 0 Tiptree Engaine Res 1, Harwich Rangers 1 Hatfield Peverel Res 1, Hedinghams United 4 Wormingford Wanderers Res 0, Rowhedge 0 Shrub End United 1, Tavern 7 Brantham Athletic A 2, Tiptree Jobserve Res 3 Dedham Old Boys Res 2.

Third division: Boxted Lodgers Res 1 Tiptree Heath Res 4, Bradfield Rovers 0 Barnston Res 2, Flitch United Res 0 Harwich & Parkeston Res 3, Lawford Lads Res 3 Hedinghams United Res 0, Little Clacton 1 St Osyth 6, Oyster 2 Stanway Athletic 1.