by JOHN CAMPANY

THE match of the day in the Essex and Suffolk Border League was the premier division clash featuring heavyweight rivals Gas Recreation and West Bergholt, at Bromley Road.

In a seven-goal thriller, Gas just edged it with a late winner in added time to give their title hopes a boost.

By all accounts, it was an epic encounter that saw the game ebb and flow.

At one apiece at the break, it was an exciting second half that saw Gas get in front - only to be pegged back until their telling breakthrough in added time.

The scorers for Gas were a brace from Luke Taylor, a penalty converted by Aston Firkins and the winning strike from substitute Ben Girling.

Bergholt’s response came from Sam Crisps, Gareth Gibson and Jack Harrington.

Gas are now in fifth place, nine points behind the leaders but, crucially, with three games in hand.

Stanway Pegasus remain in second position following a 3-1 win at Alresford Colne Rangers.

Flitch United consolidated their third spot with a comfortable 3-0 win over Brantham Athletic Reserves, with two goals from Mathew Wickham.

Substitute Peter Monk added a third.

Great Bentley, with plenty of games in hand, continue to make progress, winning 3-1 at home to Earls Colne.

Their marksmen were Jack Vaughan and two from Dale Brown, ensuring they remain in contention.

Hatfield Peverel enjoyed a good 3-1 home win against visiting Lawford Lads with goals from Josh Oliver and a brace from Joel Older, while Oliver Mann struck his 19th goal of the season for the Lads.

Premier division leaders Tiptree Heath beat bottom side White Notley 4-2 to keep their slender lead of one point thanks to a hat-trick from Benjamin Turner and one from Joe Chester.

Robbie Bennett and Toby Blanche replied for the visitors.

In the first division, Colne Athletic took over at the top from Cressing United, who were without a game.

The new leaders won 2-0 at Boxted Lodgers, with Scott Yearling getting the goals.

The division remains very competitive but challenging Stanway Pegasus were crushed 9-1 at the hands of Sudbury Sports.

The Sudbury youngsters gave a lesson of clinical finishing where Joshua Ambrose netted four of the goals, with the others coming from Alfie Adams and Jake Banyard, each with two, and completing the scoring was Samuel Cooke.

Sudbury are in sixth position, five points behind the leaders, but have three games in hand and are the division's leading scorers with 57 goals from 11 games.

Bures United gained a creditable win at FC Clacton Reserves, winning 2-0 through Ashley Drew and Lloyd Finch.

Belle View Social beat Stanway Rovers Reserves 3-2 with a brace from Bruce Poole and one from Joshua Chapman, with Rovers replying through Niah Beecher and Dylan Gee.

There was also a fine point for visiting Wormingford Wanderers, their fourth of the season, as they drew 2-2 at Mersea Island.

The Islanders' scorers were Dan Gibbons and Adam Passfield.

In division two, leaders Hedinghams United marched on with a 2-0 win at Dedham Old Boys Reserves and Shrub End United won 5-1 at home to Gas Recreation Reserves to maintain their challenge in second place, five points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Results: Premier division: Alresford Colne Rangers 1 Stanway Pegasus 3, Flitch United 3 Brantham Athletic Res 0, Gas Recreation 4 West Bergholt 3, Great Bentley 3 Earls Colne 1, Hatfield Peverel 3 Lawford Lads 1, Tiptree Heath 4 White Notley 2.

Division one: Belle Vue Social 3 Stanway Rovers Res 2, Boxted Lodgers 0 Colne Athletic 2, FC Clacton Res 0 Bures United 2, Mersea Island 2 Wormingford Wanderers 2, Stanway Pegasus Res 1 Sudbury Sports 9.

Division two: Brantham Athletic A 0 Great Bentley Res 0, Dedham Old Boys Res 0 Hedinghams United 2, Elmden Rovers 6 Hatfield Peverel Res 2, Harwich Rangers 3 Rowhedge 1, Shrub End United 5 Gas Recreation Res 1, Tiptree Engaine Res 4 Cavendish 3, Tiptree Jobserve Res 9 Tollesbury 2.

Division three: Cavendish Res 3 Flitch United Res 7, Lawford Lads Res 4 Kelvedon Social 2, Little Clacton 1 Tiptree Heath Res 2.