Wednesday League: Lodgers go clear

Rayleigh Lodgers took advantage of the fact that closest rivals Southend Postmen were away on cup duty to move further clear at the top of the Southend Wednesday League.

Lodgers recovered from a 2-1 interval deficit to beat Chemico 5-2 with their goals coming from Michael Ball (2), White, Spence and Barnett. Henry and Persaad scored for the losers.

Grays Police had goals from Cayless and Edwards (2) to thank for a 3-0 victory over LTS Rail.

In the Senior Charity Competition quarter-final, Southend Postmen also launched a second-half revival. Trailing 3-2 at half-time, they won 4-3 to earn a semi-final spot against Grays Police.

Haylock (2), Gilbey and Witchell delivered the Postmen's goals, while Pitt, Pinchin and Schneider replied.

Rayleigh Lodgers and Southend Postmen will be looking to step up their bids for championship honours this week when they are in League action.

Postmen take on LTS Rail while Lodgers are up against Basildon Police at the Ford Sports Ground.

Essex Senior League: Win keeps Manor in title chase

Southend Manor stepped up their Schweppes Essex Senior League honours bid by moving into third place with a 2-0 home win over bottom club Stansted.

However, the Southchurch Park outfit were far from impressive against visitors who were lifted in every way possible by experienced player-manager Tony Mercer until he was sent off in the closing stages.

Rob Jones gave Manor the perfect start when he scored with a fourth-minute back-header, but, despite some outstanding skill from their other striker Ben Barnett - who came in for heavy punishment from the opposition defence - the home team never really got going.

In fact, it was not until Mercer had been banished that Manor got their second, substitute Matt Taylor scoring after 87 minutes, seven minutes after he was called into action.

Manor were able to take over third spot due to the previous holders of that position, Burnham Ramblers, being held to a 3-3 draw at home to lowly East Ham.

Ramblers were 2-1 down at half-time and leaders Saffron Walden were also given a fright. Drawing 3-3 at home to Woodford at the break, they eventually got home 4-3.

Second-placed Ilford did well to win 3-1 at Brentwood, while the League's most improved team - Sawbridgeworth Town - won 3-0 at Hullbridge Sports with Paul Crabb (one minute), Larry Blunden (43 minutes) and Roy Smith (85 minutes) grabbing the goals. Sawbo are, in fact, top of the Senior form table over the last six games.

Bowers United have certainly not given up hope of retaining their Essex Senior title and beat Eton Manor 4-1 at home. Glenn Hobden gave the Pitsea side a fifth-minute lead but amazingly, for the second week running, ace marksman David Hope netted an own goal to put Manor level after nine minutes.

That was the score at half-time, but Hobden (47 minutes) and Steve Warner (66 minutes) put Bowers in the driving seat before Hope put the icing on the cake after 89 minutes by this time scoring at the right end.

This brought Hope's total for Bowers to 13 - two less than Manor's Barnett in the chase for the League's top scorer trophy. Hope has won this for the past two seasons.

Concord Rangers returned from lowly Leyton with all three points after winning 2-1.

David Jenkins (13 minutes) and Roger Gell (73 minutes) put the Canvey-based side comfortably in control before Leyton pulled one back with a 90th-minute Sophocleus penalty.

Walton Cup: Town pile on the pressure

Heath Sports put up a gallant display against Premier Division giants Shoebury Town before crashing out of the top Southend Borough Combination knockout competition for the Walton Cup 6-0.

Heath held their illustrious hosts to 1-0 at the break, but then Kevin Lepage grabbed three for Shoebury with Meacham, Herbert and Wybrow providing single-goal strikes.

Southend Borough Combination League: Hall's super seven

Newton Hall are in seventh heaven after thrashing Old Southendian in the Southend Borough Combination Premier Division.

Four goals from Dodkins and a Benson hat-trick helped them to a 7-0 success, while Ashton's twin strike enabled Leigh Ramblers to recover from a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Brit Athletic 4-3.

In the Reserve Division, both Sexton and Golding were on the hat-trick trail as Sibar Sports saw off Brit 10-0.

Lewis went one better for Westcliff Amateur, who won by a similar tally when hosting Cupids Country Club in Division One. Day's trio took Shoebury OB to a 7-3 home success over Southend Collegians, while Godfrey also managed three as Old Rochfordians brought the curtain down on Little Theatre Club to the tune of 6-0.

Wines was in vintage form for Airborne United in Division Two, coming back from 1-0 down at the break to win 3-2 at Southend Postmen.

Thirteen was certainly not unlucky for Kings Fields Casuals in the Third Division. R Caplin got three, with two-goal tallies for N Caplin, Hayes and M Dowsett, as Casuals crushed Thames Park 2nd 13-0.

Butler served up a four-goal treat for Flightspares, 6-4 winners over Weir Sports.

Melchester Rovers, with Brooks scoring three, made it an unhappy performance for Little Theatre Club when they thrashed their second team 8-0 in Division Four. Lilley's trio saw South-church Hall OS 3rd beat their Thames Park counterparts 6-1.

Cox and Goddard grabbed trebles as Zebra Sports won 9-0 at Weir Sports 2nd in Division Five. Also scoring nine were International PMS, with Cornwall and Jackson netting four each as Southchurch Hall 4th lost 9-2.

Wallis' trio helped Brook Sports beat Flightspares 2nd 9-1 in Division Six, while Stockinger grabbed three to take Battlesbridge 3rd home 7-0 over Parsons Barn 3rd.

There was a real thriller with Old Rochfordians 2nd and Collegians 4th sharing the points with ten goals. Willis got two for the Rochford outfit with D Gray managing a similar defeat for the ex-college boys.

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