Great Wakering Rovers play what looks certain to be their last ever Schweppes Essex Senior League game on Saturday knowing that they are still in with a chance of departing as champions.

Village side Rovers are near-certainties to finish in the top two - a position good enough to almost certainly be voted in as members of the Ryman League at that organisation's annual meeting in June.

Winning 3-2 at Burnham Ramblers last weekend earned Wakering that top two place.

They could only lose it now by being beaten in their home game with bottom club Eton Manor - and by third-placed Saffron Walden winning by something like a 14-0 tally at leaders Bowers.

That unlikely combination of events just won't happen, but Bowers' bid for the title suffered a hiccup on Wednesday night when they lost 2-1 at home to Basildon United, who they'd beaten 3-0 at Gardiners Close just five days previously.

A Wakering win would mean they would take the championship crown if Bowers lose at home to Saffron Walden tomorrow and also at Hullbridge next Thursday.

In between Bowers face a tough Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy final with Saffron Walden at Barking on Monday.

Southend Manor complete their League season with a home match against East Ham on Saturday, but also stage a major date on Monday.

For they host a football festival in memory of founder member Malcolm Frost, who died from cancer last year.

At 10am Manor's under-16s, captained by Malcolm's son Robert, are taking on a Seatex Eastern Junior Alliance League side.

Then a current Manor line-up will meet a team of the club's former players. All donations and profits will go to Fairhavens Hospice and entrance is by programme costing £1 and 50p for children and OAP's.

We're the tops - that's the proud boast from Glenwood 2nd, who won the Southend Borough Combination's Cater Cup with a 2-1 success against Leigh Ramblers 4th

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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