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

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Unpredictable Brantham put an end to any hopes Severalls had of the championship by beating them by the odd goal in five.

Rogers, Frost & Whent knocked in the goal for the winners. League leaders Elmstead were held to a draw by the most improved team in the league, Marquis, for whom Alan Eales scored, Steve Sharman replied for Elmstead.

Moler had an easy win against Birch by four clear goals. Mick Laver (2), Roy Sestak and Mick Edwards being on target.

Division Two leaders Cambridge Arms beat St Martins by the odd goal in three with Gerry Manning and Peter Goding being on target. Second placed Layer Fox also beat Bugle Horn by the same score. Dave Austin and Kenny Banton scoring for the Fox, with C.Harrington replying for Bugle Horn. Eight Ash Green completed their programme on Sunday with a good win over CIHE 4-1, the goalscorers eing D.Fisher (2), D.Seifers and J.Hawkins.

Prettygate by beating Vagabonds 2-1 have won the division three title and defeat of Vagabonds has let in Langham who now look like taking the runner-up spot. Langham walloped Waggon & Horses 9-1 with Kevin Monger going nap. Risby, Combes, Eales and James completed the rout.

Everybody, with the exception of Betts seem to be dropping points in four division and Betts helped themselves to eight against Birch Reserves. R.Smith getting a hat-trick the other coming from Vanvevord, Gandolfini, Lee, Richardson and Keeble.

Gary Skeggs got the only goal of the game in Elmstead Reserves win over CAV which should be good enough for Elmstead to take runners-up spot in Division Five.

Division Six favourites Kent Blaxill beat off ther challengers Alstons by four clear goals. Beale, Bareham, McKenzie and an own goal being on the score sheet.

This Sunday sees the League Cup semi-finals being layed at King Harold Road (ko 10.30am) when the only side from Division One Elmstead, take on division three champions Prettygate in a repeat of the Fowler Cup Final. The other semi-final features two teams, both from division two, Layer Fox v QB. Both matches should be very close, but my prediction is an Elmstead v Layer Fox final on April 23.

ALAN BURTON

Caters ........ 4
Fingringhoe ... 1

Caters were placed under immediate pressure by Fingringhoe who forced several corners in the first 15 minutes, one of which resulted in a goal after a defensive error.

However, Caters stayed cool and equalled with a well-taken goal by P.Dunnett.

After this Caters gained confidence and went ahead five minutes before half-time with a Girling goal.

In the second half Fingringhoe came out determined to level the score, but Cater's defence kept their heads especially when Fingringhoe had a player sent off for dissent.

Fingringhoe did not recover from this setback and while trying to push for goals Caters' punished them with fast breaks which resulted in two more goals for Girling.

Rangers ............... 8
Hedingham Omnibuses ... 2

Although Rangers got off to a marvellous start and were 6-1 within 30 minutes with goals from R.West (three) B.Woodcock (two) and V.Jeffries their play deteriorated and they only managed to score two further goals through D.Darby and V.Jeffries. Hedingham's second goal came from the penalty spot.

Courtesy ECS 24th March 1978

As predicted last week the League Cup Final on April 23 will be between Elmstead and Layer Fox.

Both sides won 3-1 after going a goal behind. Prettygate took an early lead through John Kenny against Elmstead by goals by Harry Heard , Steve Sharman and Paul Aldsworth saw Elmstead through to a comfortable victory.

In the other sem-final Layer Fox, one down at the interval against QB came back strongly to win through two goals from Trevor Bond and from Lloyd Pettican.

AB

Courtesy ECS 31st March 1978

Last weekend saw many issues decided in the leagues but division one still remained wide oen after Sunday's results.

The only challengers to collect full points were Moler who beat Marquis by the odd goal in three, Roy Sestak and Wayne Munson were on target for Moler.

Mervyn Oliver of Marquis got his marching orders after only 15 minutes.

Woods had to be content with a point against Severalls. Jamie Tomkinson getting getting the equaliser five minutes from time after it seemed that Keiron O'Toole in the Severalls goal was unbeatable.

Elmstead also had to be content with a oint against Brantham Steve Sharman scoring for Elmstead with Brian Rogers getting Branthams goal.

Cambridge Arms made sure of the division two title after sharing the points with Layer Fox for whom Trevor Bond and Dave Austin scored.

In division three Langham took runnres-up spot after a convincing 5-1 win against fellow challengers Bourne. A hat-trick for Stuart Risby and goals from Kevin Monger and Colin Combes saw Langham through. Kevin Howard got Bourne's consolation goal.

Tartan House for the first time this season are out of the bottom two following their good win over Vagabonds. John Mason (2), Andy Lay-Flurrie and Alex Jones got the goals with Brian Leach and John Bibby replying for Vagabonds.

Betts look a good bet for the division four title following their narrow victory over Supremos. Dick Lee getting the only goal of the game for Betts.

Kent Blaxill have taken the division six championship following their win over bottom club Hedingham Omnibuses and Royal Oak have finished runners-up after their 12-1 trouncing of Gaslights. M.Fletcher got six of them. The others coming from C.Todd (2), K.Shailes, A.Lyness, A.Banyard and M.Reckless.

This Sunday sees the league representative side taking on Clacton SL in the semi-final of the Home Counties Inter League Championship.

The match will be played at Bromley Roas with a 3pm kick-off.

The winners of this match play Thurrock SL in the final. The Colchester League squad is G.Warner (QB), S.Thompson (Gaslights), P.Smith (Severalls), D.Miller (Elmstead), G.Sharman (Gaslights), S.Shaw (Coggeshall), D.Lamont (Elmstead), G.Bennett (Elmstead), D.Mayhew (Elmstead), G.Powell (Moler), S.Sharman (Elmstead), P.Aldworth (Elmstead), D.Knight (Elmstead), W.Death (Middlewick)

ALAN BURTON

Courtesy ECS 7th April 1978

Woods Vagabonds ..... 2
Tartan House ........ 4

Tartan House greatly improved their chances of avoiding relegation to division four with a fine victory at Woods.

The home side began strongly but Alex Jones gave Tartan the lead. Midway through the opening half Tartan were reduced to ten men when Nigel Radcliffe was taken off with an ankle injury.

Vagabonds soon equalised after this but John Mason drove home a cross to restore Tartan's lead. Vagabonds levelled again just before the break.

Tartan defended well in the second half but looked dangerous on breakaways. It was from such a move that Tartan went ahead again late on when a home defender could only head Andy Lay-Flurrie's cross into his own net. Mason scored again to clinch the points for Tartan.

Betts ..... 1
Supremos .. 0

Betts stepped closer to the fourth division championship on Sunday with a narrow win over Supremos.

Betts only goal came from an individual effort from Dick Lee who struck the ball hard and low to the keeper's left from 15 yards out.

Supremos showed that they were a much-improved side and perhaps if they could have fielded as strong a side as this week they might have proved to be stronger contenders for the title.

Betts also completed a successful tour of Belgium and France over Easter, winning 3-1 against Groen Witt of Belgium with goals from Glenn Williams and Dick Lee (2). They also won 1-0 against French side Adrovica - the solitary goal being scored by Bruce Hallpike.

Newtown ..... 9
Aquarius .... 2

Although this was Newtown's last game of the season and could not affect their division six league position, they were in no mood to be charitable.

Both teams had suffered in previous weeks against sides whom they should have beaten. However Newtown had been able to rest over the last two weeks while Aquarius were in action.

The return to form of Newtown was highlighted by the finishing of their forwards who scored eight of the nine goals.

It must be said that Aquarius were not as much out of the game as the scoreline suggests.

They created a number of chances but could not find the finish. This was due to a large extent to a great performance by J.Winney in the Newtown goal.

At the other end the Aquarius keeper made some fine saves but could do nothing as Newtown began to tear his defence apart. The Newtown scorers were G.French (3), K.Regan (3), S.Marchant (2) and D.John who was one of an outstanding midfield trio which also included M.Gentile and D.Bull.

Courtesy ECS 7th April 1978

In the league Moler gained two useful points against Woods, who after going two up through Freddie Whymark and Micky Stephenson allowed Moler to come back and scored three through Graham Powell, Malcolm Edwards and Mick Laver.

Division two champions Cambridge Arms continue to pick up points, Peter Godney (2), Ron Brooks and Kevin Cook getting the goals against CIHE.

Division three winners Prettygate finshed their programme with a win over Tartan House. John Scott (2), Steve Lamb and Peter Clarke being on target.

Betts with a further two points against Fountain Dynamos, look a good bet for the Division four title.

Two goals from Robin Smith and an Ian Richardson goal doing the damage.

In division five a good win by Elmstead Reserves over Balkerne Wands ensured that they take runners-up spot. A hat-trick from Dave Baxter with further goals from Gary Skeggs and Martin Bennett gave them victory.

Division six champions Kent Blaxill rounded off their programme with a 4-1 win over Supremos Reserves. A hat-trick from B.Manning and one from G.McKenzie doing the damage. Supremos Reserves had two players sent off from the field for fighting - not their opponents, but each other!

ALAN BURTON

Layer Fox football club completed their league programme on Sunday by beating St Martins 4-0. This means they finish in second place in division two with promotion to division one next season.

Since joining the league four years ago Fox have gained promotion every year by either winning the division or being runners-up. This has only been achieved by a handful of clubs.

This season also sees Fox as league cup finalists against Elmstead on April 23.

Courtesy ECS 14th April 1978

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