The year finished well for Shoebury Town who, following their 4-3 win over Sibar Sports, moved well ahead at the top of the Southend Borough Combination Premier Division.

Herbert grabbed a brace for Shoebury while White Ensign, after a hesitant few weeks, are going well again now. They beat Brit Athletic 5-1 with Wilkins scoring two and are now just ahead of Leigh Ramblers.

Rams had a twin strike from Everitt to thank for their 3-1 success against Newton Hall.

The three top teams in the Reserve Division all won. White Ensign kept ahead with a 5-0 win over Borough Rovers thanks to Benson serving up a hat-trick.

Sibar Sports thrashed Ekco First Data 3rd 6-0 with Sexton scoring three, while Thorpe Athletic swamped hosts Earls Hall 10-1 with Bradley going nap with five. Shoebury Town, with the appropriately-named Champ scoring four, won 9-1 at Brit.

In the First Division battle of the giants, Old Rochfordians went further ahead at the top with a 5-1 win at closest rivals Thorpe, Toomey scoring two. Battlesbridge are joint third after crushing Cupids 12-0 with Whiteside and Ostermeyer both scoring five.

Another team to do their honours bid a power of good were Shoebury OB who won 4-2 at Catholic with Day seeing the light with three.

Just three games were played in Division Two and World Aviation went top with a 6-1 win at BKS Sports - six separate players sharing the goals.

In Division Three other leading teams failed to take advantage of leaders Flightspares being without a game. Leigh Ramblers 3rd, lying second, were held 0-0 by rivals Kings Field Casuals, while Catholic 3rd lost 1-0 at their White Ensign counterparts with Cansdale scoring. Leigh Town finished 1999 in style with their first win - a 3-2 success at Battlesbridge 2nd.

With the Division Three leaders out of action, Heath Sports 2nd moved into second place in Division Four when four goals from Safwat took them to a 5-1 win at Scott Park. Southchurch Hall 3rd's challenge faltered when they lost a 2-0 interval lead to be beaten 3-2 by Collegians 2nd.

Parsons Barn seem to be romping away with Division Five. Davis grabbed a double as they won 3-2 at Collegians 3rd, while it is close at the top of the Sixth Division.

Brook Sports, who thrashed Airborne 2nd 6-0 with a twin dose of cheer from Ridley, are top with International PMS 2nd now their closest rivals after a 4-2 win at Battlesbridge 3rd. Old Rochfordians 2nd had hat-tricks from Potter and Taylor to thank for a 6-3 win over Spa to continue their climb up the table.

Warmed up - much of yesterday's Sunday soccer programme was frozen off yesterday, but Hawkwell Athletic 2nd (stripes) got into action against Monaco Sports in Division Seven of the Southend Sunday League and pulled off a 2-1 win.

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

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