by JOHN CAMPANY

ESSEX and Suffolk Border League side West Bergholt enjoyed success in the fourth round of the Essex Premier Cup.

They travelled to Basildon Town and eased past the Essex Olympian League premier division side 4-1.

They now face a tough quarter-final tie this Saturday, away to Chingford Athletic.

Their opponents, another Olympian League side, are currently top of division one after winning 12 of their 15 matches.

Bergholt’s scorers were Jake Bethell, Liam Close, Gareth Gibson and Johnny Murrells.

They will join Gas Recreation in cup action on Saturday, with Gas away to Olympian League premier division side Buckhurst Hill.

Their opponents have been beaten only once this season, having won eight of their 11 league matches.

In the quarter-finals of the Essex Junior Cup, there was glory for FC Clacton Reserves, who overcame fellow Border League side Lawford Lads Reserves in a tight match at School Lane.

The solitary goal was scored by Samuel Thompson and they now progress to the semi-final to meet Collier Row, another Olympian League side (from division two).

In the premier division, both Tiptree Heath and Great Bentley took closer order to leaders Stanway Pegasus, who did not play.

The Tiptree side comfortably cruised past Little Oakley 3-0, with goals from Tom Earle, Benjamin Turner and substitute Ben Naughton.

They are now four points adrift of the leaders with a game in hand.

Great Bentley remain dark horses and had a good win, beating Alresford Colne Rangers 2-0 to move up to fourth in the table, having lost only two matches.

They are nine points behind the leaders but have four games in hand and are in touching distance of second-place Tiptree Heath, trailing by five points with three matches in hand.

There were good wins on the road for both Lawford Lads, 2-1 at Brantham Athletic Reserves, and Hatfield Peverel, 2-0 at Barnston.

Elsewhere, Tiptree Engaine also had away success, beating Earls Colne 3-2.

The home side’s scorers were Keiran Adams and Jamie Hudson.

At Bromley Road, Gas Recreation and Flitch United shared the spoils in a competitive 2-2 draw that saw the home side’s Kyle Bergin and Ryan Dale each receive two yellow cards from referee Ben Hughes-Day.

Flitch led at half-time but Gas stormed back with goals from Callum Rogers and Ryan Taylor, while third-placed United were thankful for the goals from Billy Sykes and substitute Joe McGuiness.

It maintains their challenge for the championship.

There was some respite for bottom-of-the-table White Notley, with an overdue win against visiting Dedham Old Boys.

They need a decent run to take closer order to strugglers Brantham Athletic Reserves, Tiptree Engaine and Earls Colne.

The Notley marksmen were Regan Farley-Hearn, Lee Ifield and Robert King.

In division one, leaders Cressing United enjoyed an easy 5-1 win at Wormingford Wanderers but are being pursued by Sudbury Sports, 1-0 winners at Little Oakley A, and Tiptree Jobserve, whose visit to Mersea Island gained them three more points, winning 4-1.

Both the challengers have vital games in hand.

In division two, leaders Hedinghams United were beaten 3-2 at home to Cavendish United.

Near challengers Shrub End United beat Brantham Athletic A 4-0 and Tavern were 2-1 winners against Wormingford Wanderers.

Results: Essex Premier Cup - round four: Basildon Town 1 West Bergholt 4.

Essex Junior Cup - quarter-final: Lawford Lads Res 0 FC Clacton Res 1.

Premier division: Barnston 0 Hatfield Peverel 2, Brantham Athletic Res 1 Lawford Lads 2, Earls Colne 2 Tiptree Engaine 3, Gas Recreation 2 Flitch United 2, Great Bentley 2 Alresford Colne Rangers 0, Tiptree Heath 3 Little Oakley Res 0, White Notley 3 Dedham Old Boy 1.

Division one: Belle Vue Social 1 Boxted Lodgers 1, Little Oakley A 0 Sudbury Sports 1, Mersea Island 1 Tiptree Jobserve 4, Wormingford Wanderers 1 Cressing United 5, Stanway Pegasus Res 4 West Bergholt Res 1.

Division two: Dedham Old Boys Res 5 Elmden Rovers 6, Hatfield Peverel Res 1 Great Bentley Res 1, Hedinghams United 2 Cavendish 3, Shrub End United 4 Brantham Athletic A 0, Tavern 2 Wormingford Wanderers Res 1, Tiptree Engaine Res 3 Harwich Rangers 3.

Division three: Boxted Lodgers Res 0 Harwich & Parkeston Res 10, Bradfield Rovers 1 Stanway Athletic 10, Cavendish Res 1 Little Clacton 1, Flitch United Res 2 St Osyth 9, Kelvedon Social 4 Hedinghams United Res 0, Oyster 3 Tiptree Heath Res 0.

Reserve Knockout Cup - round one: Alresford Colne Rangers Res 3 Barnston Res 2, Tiptree Jobserve Res 2 Gas Recreation Res 1.