by JOHN CAMPANY

THERE were two significant premier division results that impacted the top and bottom of the table, in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.

Great Bentley maintained their progress with a ‘six-pointer’ victory on the Green that saw them leapfrog rivals Tiptree Heath, who descended to third.

The villagers are now a point ahead of the Tiptree side, with three games in hand, and nine behind leaders Stanway Pegasus, having played four games less.

At the other end of the table, White Notley’s mini-revival continued as they surprisingly defeated West Bergholt 3-0 down on Oak Farm.

It was a vital win that saw them move out of the bottom position and draws others into a potential relegation dogfight.

The home side virtually won the game inside 45 minutes with a strong performance, netting all the goals.

In consequence, the other endangered sides include Brantham Athletic Reserves, who are in the basement position, and, with six matches to play, look destined for the drop.

They were beaten 3-0 at the Leisure Centre by Tiptree Heath.

Meanwhile, Earls Colne have slipped to 14th, having been beaten on the Recreation Ground by visiting Hatfield Peverel 2-1.

However, they have games in hand that will prove vital over closely-placed rivals Barnston and Dedham Old Boys.

Barnston went down at Bromley Road as Gas Recreation recovered from their County Cup exit last week to win 3-1, while Dedham Old Boys were comprehensively dispatched by leaders Stanway Pegasus 4-0 at Stanway School.

Elsewhere in the premier division, Alresford Colne Rangers had a solitary-goal win at Ford Lane over Little Oakley Reserves while Flitch United maintained their promotion hopes with a 2-1 away win at School Lane.

In the first division, table-toppers Cressing United were given a rude awakening at home to fourth-place Colne Athletic, losing 4-1, with the chasing pack closing in on the promotion race.

Tiptree Jobserve, in second place, are now a point behind the leaders with three games in hand.

With only one league defeat, they look strong favourites to progress.

They beat Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves 4-1 at Florence Park.

However, both Colne and Sudbury Sports are vying for one of the promotion places and Gosfield United cannot be ruled out, although they need consistent results over the coming weeks, having failed to get the better of FC Clacton Reserves in a 2-2 draw.

In division two, leaders Hedinghams United gained a narrow 2-1 win over Tollesbury but there was a shock for second-place Shrub End United, who could only pick up a point at The Duchy Field in a 3-3 draw against Dedham Old Boys Reserves.

They remain in touch with the leaders, four points behind with two games in hand.

Third-place Tavern are the main threat to the top two, having beaten Elmden Rovers 3-1 at Clacton Leisure Centre.

With games in hand, they are well-positioned to make a sustained challenge.

In division three, there was a major upset at High Easter Road, where Barnston Reserves beat champions-elect St Osyth, who suffered their third defeat 2-1.

However, they remain in pole position over closest rivals Oyster and Harwich and Parkeston Reserves.

There were no problems for Oyster, who travelled to Cavendish Sports Club and inflicted a 6-2 defeat, while Harwich made light work of visiting Stanway Athletic at the Royal Oak to move smoothly into third in the table.

Finally, congratulations to AFC Sudbury Sports, who, under the lights at the Mel Group Stadium on Friday evening, beat Sporting 87 4-1 to reach the semi-final of the Suffolk Junior Cup.

Results: Suffolk Junior Cup – quarter-final: Sudbury Sports 4 Sporting 87 1.

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

Division one: Belle Vue Social 3 Bures United 1, Cressing United 1 Colne Athletic 4, Gosfield United 2 FC Clacton Res 2, Little Oakley A 1 Boxted Lodgers 4, Mersea Island 0 Stanway Rovers Res 5, Tiptree Jobserve 4 Alresford Colne Rangers Res 1, West Bergholt Res 1 Wormingford Wanderers 1.

Division two: Dedham Old Boys Res 3 Shrub End United 3, Elmden Rovers 1 Tavern 3, Hatfield Peverel Res 0 Tiptree Jobserve Res 2, Hedinghams United 2 Tollesbury 1, Rowhedge 1 Cavendish 5, Tiptree Engaine Res 1 Gas Recreation Res 5.

Division three: Barnston Res 2 St Osyth 1, Cavendish Res 2 Oyster 6, Flitch United Res 6 Bradfield Rovers 1, Harwich & Parkeston Res 3 Stanway Athletic 1, Kelvedon Social 3 Little Clacton 2, Tiptree Heath Res 4 Lawford Lads Res 2.