West Bergholt stayed in the hunt to take second place in the Border League premier division as they beat mid-table Weeley Athletic 4-1.

There was a dramatic opening to the encounter with just three minutes gone, when referee Gary Mead issued a red card to Weeley's Gary Cullip after he fouled Darren Revie inside the box as the last defender.

Revie stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Visitors Weeley then suffered further misfortune as they were reduced to nine men when Ross Nash joined Cullip on the sidelines after a foul, leaving them with an uphill task to rescue anything from the game.

After several near misses, Bergholt's numerical advantage took its toll on Weeley and Simon Ashurst's fierce 25-yard drive found its way past Scott Wass in the vistors' goal on 31 minutes.

Eight minutes later, the home side were 3-0 ahead when Sam Drysdale fired home from the edge of the box to give them a healthy lead to take into the break.

And it was 4-0 four minutes after the interval when Ashurst got his second of the game.

Weeley continued to battle, though, and they got their just reward in sensational style when Steve Palmer's wind-assisted free-kick sailed in from the half-way line.

However, there was to be no way back as Bergholt kept their eyes on the runners-up spot with another three precious points.

Earls Colne gave leaders Gas Recreation a shock as the reigning champions went down to a 3-2 defeat at home. Earles Colne made a bright start as Steve Coote's header went inches wide, before Paul Davies scuffed a shot past the post from a free-kick.

The visitors also had to be alert at the other end as their crossbar was rattled by a header, but it was goalless at half-time.

Gas took the lead on 55 minutes when Taylor headed home, but Colne's endeavours were rewarded soon after as Coote tucked a shot away for an equaliser and on 70 minutes, Mark Wiskin's well-struck volley flew in for a 2-1 lead.

The hosts showed why they are perched at the division's summit, though, when they came back again and Matt Greenley headed home, but that wasn't the last of the goal action as Coote broke the offside trap to slot home to seal the win.