The curse strikes again!

It's a well-known fact in local soccer circles that receiving a top award on the day of a game often leads to a bad result.

That tradition continued at Burroughs Park on Saturday when Wakering boss Eddie Nash (left) received the Spall UK Ryman League Division Three manager of the month award for December and then saw his side crash out of the Carlsberg FA Vase.

Nash collected his prize from Spall's Pat Garrett (centre), while Rovers' goalkeeper Dave Hudson picked-up the "Safe Hands" award for the Third Division.

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Bukta Southend District League: Canvey battle sees Orient take spoils

Canvey Orient won their Bukta Southend District League Premier Division Island battle with Sixty Acres 2-1 to move back into second place. Goals came from S and W Perry.

Thundersley and Hadleigh dropped to third spot after a goalless draw with much-improved AFC Horndon. Armada Sports kept up their revival, climbing to eighth after sailing home 11-1 over bottom club Blackgate Gunners.

Chambers potted five goals for Armada while Bye and Broomfield both grabbed hat-tricks.

In Division One, second-placed Enterprise Athletic closed the gap at the top to one point with three games in hand.

Gillard and Edwards scored two apiece for enterprising Enterprise. Friar and M West were both two-goal men as well as Wickford Rangers climbed to fifth with a 4-2 win over CUACO.

Rayleigh continued their climb up the table when a hat-trick from Bartlett saw them win 5-3 at Blackgate Gunners Reserves.

In the Second Division, second-placed Stanford Wanderers went level with top team Belvedere, but are just behind on goal difference, after a 5-1 win at Steelers Reserves.

Linford Wanderers, lying third, dropped four points behind the top two after being held to a 3-3 draw by Chase.

Fourth-placed Kuka Sports stayed in touch, beating Rochford 3rds 6-1, while Bicknacre kept Middleway rooted to the bottom with a 4-0 success.

In the Centenary Cup third round Division Two Belvedere reached the semi-finals with a 5-4 success over Thundersley Rovers, lying third in Division One. Newton had the right theory with a hat-trick for the winners.

Holders Linford Wanderers eased through to round three with a 2-0 win over First Division Hockley and Hawkwell.

In the Southend Charity Competition Section C event, Sparkbridge had an easy passage through to the semi-finals when they beat Borough Combination Thames Park 7-1. Brown grabbed a hat-trick.

Sceptre League: Kings of the Castle?

Castle Rangers could end the season as kings of the Sceptre League Premier Division.

They moved to joint top spot with Aspect Sports and they beat 2-1 on Sunday, Brit Athletic. Barnard and Mansfield were their scorers.

Arrow Sports are on target for a high finish after a 10-0 win over Lansdowne Rangers in which Dailey and Jobson both scored two.

First Manor's hopes of Second Division glory suffered a big blow when they lost 1-0 at home to Rayleigh Royals 2nd, B Melchior scoring the only goal.

Zenith Athenians had a hat-trick from Muller to thank for their 3-1 win at Cavaliers.

Artic continue to build a big lead at the top of Division Three. Curren scored two as they beat Globe United 4-2. Cards, thanks to a Burley hat-trick, won 3-1 at Darby County.

Essex Intermediate League: In-trim Beard puts Frenford at the sharp end

Beard scored the only goal of the game as Frenford Senior beat leaders Runwell Hospital 1-0 to join the top dogs at the head of the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division One.

A delighful chip from Sugrue gave Rayleigh Town a 1-0 home win over a Kelvedon Hatch outfit who had been hoping to join the leaders.

Ekco First Data went down 1-0 at Sandon Royals with Woodyard netting.

In Senior Division Two Basildon Town beat bottom of the table Broomfield 3-2 at home for their fourth success of the season. Moorcraft, Reed and Wakeling got the goals.

Despite a goal from Bexhall, Benfleet were beaten 2-1 at Barnston.

Laindon Athletic were looking for a win to move out of the bottom three, but had to settle for one as they were held 1-1 by visitors Stambridge.

Ward scored for Laindon with Sheering replying.

Hazeldine and Pike scored for Benfleet in their 2-1 win over Rayleigh Town in the Reserve Division One derby.

Ekco First Data drew 1-1 with Metpol Chigwell in Reserve Division Two, but Stambridge lost 4-1 at home to Hatfield Peverel.

Basildon Town went down 2-1 at Epping and Laindon Athletic shared the spoils at Coggeshall. Both matches were in Reserve Division Three.

Southend Borough Combination Veterans League: Ford provide driving force for Vets

Ford Basildon opened up a one-point lead at the top of the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League Premier Division thanks to a comprehensive 5-1 win at Pegasus, Mal Lindsay netting a hat-trick.

Maltby, lying second drew 1-1 with third-placed Strollers and with Canvey Island, not in action, lying fourth, it promises to be a tight race for the title.

Benfleet eased into the First Division League Cup final with a 5-1 win over Corringham and will await the result of the other semi-final, between Concord and Eastwoodbury Ramblers, with interest.

Courtlands Park moved ominously into second place with a 4-1 win over Tag.

Leaders Stambridge drew 2-2 with Concord in a game that saw a player from each side sent off. Laindon beat Wheatleys 3-1 with Ball scoring two to leave the losing side fighting against relegation.

Hullbridge Sports remained top of Division Two with a comfortable 6-1 win at Ambleside. Hughes and Heaver scored a couple apiece.

Brit kept in touch with a 2-0 win over Estrada and Zeus moved into third thanks to a thumping 4-0 win at Ekco.

Haydon Manor have now won nine out of nine and at the weekend scored nine with only two in reply. Campbell, Carter, Stewart and Clark netted two each as they beat Brit 2nd in Division Three.

Results

Premier Division: Arrow Sports 10 (Dailey 4, Jobson 4, Blackburn, Tyrrell), Lansdowne Rangers 0; Castle Rangers 2 (Barnard, Mansfield), Brit Athletic 1 (Scaife).

Division 2: Cavaliers 1 (Gibson), Zenith Athenians 3 (Muller 3); First Manor 0, Rayleigh Royals 2nd 1 (B Melchior).

Division 3: Artic 4, Globe United 2; Darby County (D Darby) 1, Cards 3 (Burley 3).

Andy Ward Memorial Cup Section B: Athletico Porters 2 (Gillitt, Bohriesier), Porto 1 (Smith); Mocca 3 (Lynch 2, Smithers), Samba 4 (Beale 2, Selfe, og); Rayleigh Olympiads 1 (Wilson), Woodside Colts 2 (Parry, Hawkins).

Section C round 2: Hawthorns 2 (Holmes, Cross), Astairs 3 (Bransen, Calvert, Bird); Weir Athletic 2 (Taylor, Watson), Shoebury Old Boys 3 (Day, Coates, Hollebone).

Spring Trophy Section B: Lions 1 (O'Brien), Shotgate 2 (Bennyfield, Boswell).

Andy Ward Memorial Cup Section D: Loco 4, Nag 4, after extra-time. Loco won 4-2 on penalties; Thundersley Rovers 6, Seasiders 0.

Spring Trophy Section C: Rayleigh Royals 5 (Seater 2, Downey 2, Hartwell), Jaz 2.

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