IT was a miserable day for north Essex’s Thurlow Nunn League premier division contingent with defeats for STANWAY ROVERS, WIVENHOE TOWN and FC CLACTON.

Stanway suffered a surprise 5-2 loss at home to Godmanchester Rovers.

After going two-down, Angelo Harrop’s side halved the deficit with a goal from Billy Hunt.

However, rather than providing the catalyst for an equaliser, the visitors scored twice more to give themselves a cushion.

Hunt scored again with an outstanding effort before Godmanchester netted their fifth, making it a long but happy trip back to Cambridgeshire.

Stanway stay second – 16 points behind runaway leaders Mildenhall Town and four ahead of third-placed Gorleston, who have no less than five games in hand.

Wivenhoe went down 3-2 at Thetford Town, despite taking the lead through Hasan Ayten.

However, the hosts turned the game on its head with three goals in the second half.

Joe McKraken pulled one back after great work from Matthew Eve but the Dragons were unable to notch a third for a share of the spoils.

Clacton suffered a 3-2 reverse at home to high-flying Great Yarmouth Town.

The visitors converted from the penalty spot to put themselves in the ascendancy at half-time.

Their second then followed eight minutes after the break, courtesy of a tap-in following a raid down the left.

BRANTHAN ATHLETIC, in ninth, had a tough match at Mildenhall and lost 1-0.

The premier division pacesetters scored their winning goal in the first half.

In division one, it was a day of draws for Essex sides as it finishing all-square in the matches involving COGGESHALL TOWN, HALSTEAD TOWN and BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES.

Leaders Coggeshall drew 0-0 in their top-of-the-table contest at Stowmarket Town.

They remain six points clear of the second-placed Suffolk side, who also have the benefit of a game in hand.

Halstead and hosts Wisbech St Mary shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw.

The Humbugs took the lead, following some great wing play from Matt Staines.

He cut inside and delivered the ball to James Murray, who finished with aplomb.

However, Wisbech responded with an equaliser after the break.

One-one was also the outcome of the match between March Town United and Braintree Town Reserves.

March took the lead but the Iron youngsters replied thanks to a headed goal from Charlie Webb.

HOLLAND FC, who stay third, were not in action this weekend.

Their next game is against Braintree in an Essex derby next Saturday.