A collection of some 'match reports' from the 1977/78 season courtesy of Essex County Standard.

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Colchester Sunday League leaders Woods dropped another point at the weekend when Jamie Tomkinson's second half goal equalised Neil Martin's first half effort for Gaslights.
Elmstead however picked up useful points with goals from Martin Bennett and Dave Lamont giving them victory over Birch. Brantham again upset one of the league leaders when they overcame Brantham 3-1 with goals from Whent (2) and Morgan. This enabled them to complete the double over the Colchester outfit. (NOTE: Yes, it does say Brantham overcame Brantham !! - should be Moler)

In Division Two Arclight picked up their first points since October when they beat Ancient Briton 3-0 with a hat-trick from T.Mulvey. Eight Ash Green's improvement continued when they shared the points with St Martins, M.Lissimore scored for the Green.

The top of the table clash in the third division saw Vagabonds take the points with a 4-1 win over Bourne. Robbie Hudson got a hat-trick and Keith Elmey was the other marksman. The two bottom clubs had an interesting tussle. Tartan House, despite fielding only nine men, beat Bull 5-2. J.Mason (2), S.Smith, S.Emsden and T.Fincham scored with M.Davies getting the two for the Bull.

Top match in division five saw Elmstead Reserves take an early lead through Gary Skeggs against Flying Fox but a brace from Terry Turner and one from Dave Lipscombe turned the tables.

CAV continue to improve and a 7-1 win over Caters put them in third place with S.Poole (3), A.Ashdown (2), R.Downes and K.Taylor scored with K.Bryan replying for Caters.

Courtesy ECS 3rd February 1978

Bull City ...... 2
Tartan House ... 3

TARTAN HOUSE scored a deserved win to lift themselves away from the bottom of the third division of the Colchester Sunday League for the first time this season.

The visitors fielding only nine men went all out in the first half to take advantage of the strong wind at their back and they took the lead when John Mason rounded the goalkeeper to shoot home.

Bull went close to equalising soon after when a shot smacked against the woodwork before the ball was scrambled away. Bull attacked strongly at the start of the second half and levelled matters with a hotly disputed goal after a goalmouth scramble. And when Bull added a second it seemed as though the home side would romp to a comfortable win.

But Tartan hit back to bring the scores level when Trevor Fincham converted a spot kick after being brought down in the box. After Bull had had a goal disallowed for offside, John Mason added the third for Tartan and Steve Emsden then made it 4-2.

Although Bull had the extra men they seemed unable to make full use of them and Tartan, chasing every ball were deserving winners with Steve Smith completing the scoring.

This was a highly entertaining match and all the Tartan players contributed to victory.

Tartan House: S.Harris, A.Stubbs, N.Braybrooke, A.Lay-Flurrie, G.Moynihan, T.Fincham, S.Emsden, S.Smith, J.Mason.

A THRILLER

ONE OF the best games of the weekend in the Colchester Sunday League Cup featured Cambridge Arms and QB at the Recreation ground and QB eventually came out on top by the odd goal in five after extra time.

The game started at a fast pace flowing from end to end and there was an intriguing battle in midfield. There were no goals in the first half but both sides had players carried off. Johnny Bennett of Cambridge colliding with Paul Bulow of QB. Both players needed stitches after this clash of heads.

Rolfe came on for QB and slotted well into the back four alongside Wicks, Berrecloth and Punshon. But Cambridge grabbed the lead when Jackie Parkinson floated the ball into the box and Manning forced it home.

QB levelled with an amazing goal, Williams sent over a cross and Wallace headed home as Cambridge goalkeeper Froggatt was in the act of putting his gloves on.

Manning restored Cambridge's lead with his second goal but then with four minutes to go Ray Allen levelled to take matters into extra time.

Goalkeepers Froggatt and Milburn both made two fine saves each before QB got the decider four minutes from the end from the penalty spot. Wallace was brought down and Keith Pope gave Froggatt no chance.

Richie Hewitt had an impressive game as referee, QB manager Paul Bocking was well pleased with his players.

Courtesy ECS 3rd February 1978

For the third week running waterlogged pitches caused nearly half the Colchester Sunday League programme to be postponed.

Division Two leaders Bugle Horn dropped a point to Ancient Briton, E.Higgs scoring for Bugle. This Sunday sees Bugle Horn clash with Cambridge Arms, the winners being favoourites to take the title.

Bergholt shared the points with ever-improving Eight Ash Green. Steve Bloomfield and Les King netted for Bergholt with Dick Siefers scoring for both Eight Ash Green. Layer continue to knock in the goals. A hat-trick for Dave Austin and a goal apiece for Kel Llewellyn and B.Reed saw them to a 5-1 victory over Arclight whose goal through F.Mulvey.

Prettygate rapped in nine against Bull with a hat-trick apiece from Chris Dines and John Kerry. The other goals came from John Scott, Peter Clarke and Adrian Bain. Vagabonds picked up two useful points against Telecomms with goals from J.Bibby (2) and C.Schofield. Telecomms replied through P.Licence and M.Hughes.

With division four virtually wiped out Mile End took advantage of the situation by beating the previously undefeated Middlewick 4-0. Mark Headford (2), Steve Blake and Terry Bethell got the goals.

Division Six leaders Kent Blaxill were well beaten by Royal Oak by 3-1. Oaks goals came from Banyard, Tommy Scott and the much travelled Charlie Todd.

The League Cup is still slowly ploughing through the second round and this week's star performance came from ex-Colchester United player Dave Coleman who scored four of Mersea Legionnaires goals in the their 6-2 win over St Martins. Steve Payne and Dabby Hempstead completed the scoring for Mersea with Peter and Keith Wheeler getting one apiece for St Martins.

ALAN BURTON.

Courtesy ECS 10th February 1978

Woods Vagabonds ... 3
Telecomms ......... 2

Vagabonds snatched both points with a late hit or miss effort from former Telecomms player Bibby. This was almost a repeat of the first meeting between these sides with Vagabonds again winning by the one goal.

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Newtown ........ 6
Supremos Res ... 2

Newtown gained two points in this match to take them above Supremos in the table. Newtown's victory was based on a first half performance in which they took a commanding five goal lead.

Courtesy ECS 10th February 1978

DIVISION SIX

Newtown ........ 2
Mile End Res ... 1

The game was played in treacherous conditions but the referees decision to go ahead was justified by some good football from both sides.

The first half saw Newtown being hard pressed as Mile End showed far more confidence on the surface. They put together some fine attacks but failed to take any advantage of their pressure. This was due to the good form of T.Cox and M.Ham, Newtown's central defenders.

Newtown brought K.Osborne on at half time, having seen how effective the Mile End wingers had been. However it was G.French who broke the deadlock for Newtown when he scored from a fine through ball. This tenuous lead seemed to help Newtown to settle and G.Franch extended their advantage with his second of the game.

Mile End were far from out of the game and they forced J.Winney in the Newtown goal into some fine saves before scoring in the dying minutes. After this Mile End pushed hard for an equaliser but Newtown held out despite losing a full-back with 20 minutes still to go. Thus Newtown collected two more valuable home points in their push for promotion.

The game itself was well played with very little for referee Mr D Duffet to deal with. This is all credit to him and the layers in the difficult conditions.

Courtesy ECS 17th February 1978

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