Soccer: Buzzing Bees stun Bowers to ruin championship party

Tony Cross's Pitsea outfit have enjoyed a fabulous season and won at Gardiners Close 3-0 last weekend.

In the return at Crown Avenue last night the Bowers win which would have brought them the Schweppes Essex Senior League title was regarded as little more than a formality - by almost everyone apart from Bees.

They went ahead through Darren Bennett's 30-yarder after 11 minutes and went 2-0 up two minutes after the break when Paul Shaves scored with a near post header from Dean Sumner's corner.

Bowers pulled one back after 55 minutes through Wayne Mitchell, but generally looked a jaded outfit apart from all-action skipper Mark Kelynack.

The Pitsea side are still title favourites and will take the crown if they win either of their last two matches, at home to third-placed Saffron Walden on Saturday or at Hullbridge a week today.

In between these matches Bowers, who have already won the League Cup, will aim to collect the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy on Monday when they meet Saffron Walden in the final at Barking.

If they win this prize, and eventually take the title, they will become the first club ever to win all three Senior League trophies in the same season.

However, last night's slip-up gives second-placed Great Wakering Rovers a new lease of life.

Already virtually guaranteed of the top two place that will almost certainly win them elevation to the Ryman League for next season, the village outfit could yet depart as champions if they win at home to bottom club Eton Manor on Saturday.

Other news on the Senior League scene is that, for the third close season, Canvey's Concord Rangers are searching for a new manager.

The club have amicably parted company with this term's boss Terry Braney and anyone interested in the post should contact Mick Stephens or Carol McKenna at the club.

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