It is a big night on the Schweppes Essex Senior League scene this evening with three of the five title contenders in action.

Basildon United go to lowly Sawbridgeworth knowing that victory will keep them hot on the trail of the top two.

In fact they would be five points behind current top dogs Great Wakering, who are not in midweek action, with two games in hand.

Village side Wakering will, however, lose the leadership tonight if current second-placed team Saffron Walden pull off their expected success at Canvey-based Concord Rangers.

Burnham Ramblers will also be expect to take all three points and stay third by winning away to Hullbridge Sports.

Just outside the top group, Southend Manor are enjoying their best season for years under the managership of Mark Jenkins.

They have drawn too many games, eight in all, to be in with a chance of honours, but have lost just four times in 17 starts and with their current rate of progress could well be a team to watch next season.

Tonight they should move smoothly into the top six when Stansted, suffering a torrid recent time second from bottom in the table, come to Southchurch Park.

Tomorrow the action switches to Crown Avenue in Pitsea where another side with clear championships ambitions, Bowers United, host East Ham.

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