ESSEX SPARTANS 13 COL GLADIATORS 38 British American Football League Division two south east Colchester Gladiators evened their record for 2008 at 2-2 with a comfortable 38-13 win over county rivals Essex Spartans.

Before the game, head coach Matt Roberts stressed the need for a good performance to avoid a third straight loss, which would have made the Gladiators' target of play-off football a faint hope.

However, the players responded with another dominant defensive performance, holding the Spartans without a first down until the fourth quarter and backed up by the best offensive performance of the season.

Running back Alex Robinson was the undoubted star of the show, racking up 334 yards from 37 carries and four touchdowns.

The Spartans won the toss and elected to receive the ball, but heir first possession was short-lived, with linebackers Neil White and Mark Gilbranch making their presence felt early.

Robinson was soon into his rhythm, rattling off 19, 12 and ten-yard gains for first downs before completing the drive with a seven-yard run for the score. He then stepped up to slot the extra point for a 7-0 first-quarter lead.

Gladiators' offence was really clicking, making short work of the yardage, with veteran Duncan Flack barrelling through a big hole created by offensive linemen James Martin and Dave Hogarth, for a 16 yard touchdown, although the extra point was missed for a 13-0 lead.

Spartans' offence was struggling to control the Gladiators at the line of scrimmage and David Walton collected a sack to stop the next drive, before Robinson again took over, with a spectacular 64-yard run for his second touchdown and Robinson's PAT increased the score to 20-0.

The hosts dived over the line for a gift score to give them a glimmer of hope for the second half, but the Gladiators soon snuffed out any hope of a comeback with a nine-play, 70-yard drive, picking up five first downs.

Robinson again finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run for his hat-trick, extending the lead to 26-6.

Gladiators extended their lead when Tom Clarke returned a punt 45 yards, leaving Robinson to pick up his fourth touchdown with a one-yard run to extend the lead to 32-6.

The fourth quarter was punctuated with some sloppy offensive play from both sides, but Clarke burst into open field to complete a stunning 65-yard touchdown return for an insurmountable advantage.

The Spartans gained a consolation, late score, but Roberts was delighted with the response of his players as they dominated the Spartans, allowing just two first downs and gaining over 400 yards of offence.