JASON Joseph was the hat-trick hero as rejuvenated FC CLACTON celebrated their second successive Thurlow Nunn League victory.

The Seasiders ran out 4-2 winners against lowly Ely City in a thrilling premier division contest at the Rush Green Bowl.

It came hot on the heels of last week's 2-0 success against Long Melford, in which the two-goal hero was Michael Brothers.

And it was Brothers again who got the ball rolling on Saturday with a composed finish after an exquisite long pass from Louie Newland.

Joseph then scored the first of his treble with a downward header from a pinpoint right-wing cross by Harvey Cowler.

Ely pulled one back, pouncing on a short pass in defence, before Joseph restored the two-goal advantage with a spectacular effort from 30 yards.

After speeding past an opponent wide on the left, he spotted the keeper off his line and lifted an audacious effort over him into the net.

Ely netted again, this time from close range, but Joseph eased nerves with a close-range header, following up after the keeper parried Jamie Beecham's shot.

The only disappointment for Clacton was that they stay bottom of the table as fellow strugglers Swaffham Town won 3-1 at home to BRANTHAM ATHLETIC.

At the start of the day, the biggest game of the weekend was STANWAY ROVERS against Newmarket Town.

The contest pitted second against third and, to add extra Christmas spice, it was a contest between two of the four sides to have applied for promotion to the Ryman League.

By the close of play, it was the Jockeys who were celebrating after a 2-1 victory.

WIVENHOE TOWN also went down 2-1, at Ipswich Wanderers.

Matt Eve scored their consolation goal, netting after being played in by Ben Gallifant.

BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES put a fresh spanner in the works of another of division one’s promotion hopefuls as they won 3-2 at HALSTEAD TOWN.

The Iron Reserves showed the progression they have made by following recent wins against Holland FC and Haverhill Borough by taking another scalp.

Charlie Webb and Alfie Manley put Braintree 2-0 up in the first half, but they were pegged back by a stunning Shaun Avis free-kick and a leveller from Jordan Hutchings either side of half-time.

However, the Iron claimed all three points as Jack Hurley drilled home a winner with ten minutes to go.

Leaders COGGESHALL TOWN won 4-1 at home to Woodbridge Town.

Darren Mills and Tyrone Scarlett both netted twice and last year's Essex and Suffolk Border League champions are seven points clear of second-placed Stowmarket Town.

HOLLAND FC had no game.

Meanwhile, the draw has been made for the quarter-finals of the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup.

Coggeshall will host Newmarket while Stanway will head to either Walsham-le-Willows or Haverhill Rovers.