EKCO Monarchs and Trojans now have just two matches remaining to avoid the ignominy of completing a winless T.Rippon Mid-Essex League Premier Division season.

The Southend-based side have now lost all 16 of their matches, the latest being a seven wicket defeat at home to Pegasus and Corringham.

Ekco would have been confident of securing their first victory of a woeful season when totalling 236-4 form their alloment of 45 overs.

However, this was not enough as Pegasus raced to victory for the loss of just three wickets.

Ekco now have two games, at title-chasing Bentley and at home to mid-table Little Baddow, to save themselves from losing all 18 of their fixtures.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Stock should be safe, despite suffering a thumping 166 run defeat at the hands of second-placed High Roding.

Ingatestone are looking good for promotion from Division One following a fine 69 run win at relegation-threatened Broomfield.

Adam Pudney was the star, taking five wickets as Broomfield were bowled out for just 91 in pursuit of Ingatestone's 160 all out.

The victory took the winners 12 points clear of Brookweald, who suffered a thrilling eight wicket defeat at struggling Great Baddow.

Hockley remain marooned in mid-table after going down to a 105 run defeat to leaders Old Chelmsfordians.

Bottom side Great Burstead finally showed a bit of fight, but their six wicket win over Burnham Sports has come too late to save them from the drop.

Canvey Island had plenty to shout about in Division Two after toppling leaders Little Waltham by three wickets.

Batting first, Waltham were pegged back by the bowling of Ellis Skidmore (3-19) and Gary Snowdon (3-40), and could only muster a total of 168-8.

Canvey opener Ross Clarke then hit 40 before a stand of 76 between Skidmore (35) and Neil Casson (26 not out) carried the Islanders home with an over to spare.

Rayleigh look odds-on to join Canvey in Division Two next season after thrashing second-placed Great Totham by 59 runs in Division Three.

Cross-town rivals Rayleigh Fairview appear to have completely blown their chances of going up, going down to a three wicket defeat to Navestock to leave them 34 points behind Totham with just two matches remaining.

While Pegasus and Corringham II appear destined for the drop following their home defeat to Danbury Queens Park, South Woodham Ferrers' win over Boreham has pulled them to within two points of safety.

Rankins are down to second place in Division Four after losing their third consecutive match, this time by five wickets at the hands of Little Waltham II.

However, despite the dip in form, the Rochford-based side are almost certain to join Hatfield Peverel II in Division Three next season.

Ekco Monarchs and Trojans II went down to a narrow nine run defeat to the leaders, but Eastwood gave themselves a great chance of staying up by holding on to beat bottom side Woodham Mortimer by 29 runs.

Rettendon and Great Wakering have both secured promotion from Divison Five.

Leaders Rettendon stay nine points clear after beating Ashingdon by 14 runs in a close contest.

Having lost to Hullbridge the previous week, the table-toppers were helped to 190-8 by Colin Hunt (34) and Marcus Plummer (38) before Dan Roworth chipped in with a fine 43 at the end of the innings.

The pick of the visiting bowlers was Green (4-46).

Ashingdon went off like a train with the bat, reaching 105-2 from 25 overs and looking firm favourites to win.

However, the turning point came when the unfortunate Gration was forced to retire hurt on 28 after top-edging the ball into his own face.

Suddenly, wickets began to tumble with Phil Everitt (4-28) the main tormentor.

Martin Everitt also chipped in with 2-25 to bowl Ashingdon out for just 176.

The top two meet this weekend.

Into Division Six and Rayleigh II are 15 points clear at the top and almost guaranteed of promotion following an eight wicket win over Old Chelmsfordians II.

Foulness are still looking over their shoulders after going down by six wickets to second-placed Brookweald.

The visitors could only muster 149-8 from their 45 overs, despite 51 from Trevor Nunn and 39 from Mark King.

Brookweald reached their target with two overs to spare. Nunn was Foulness' top bowler with 2-13 from 12 tight overs.

Ingatestone II romped to a 74 run win over South Woodham Ferrers II thanks to a fine 130 not out from Graeme Valentine.

Hockley II look good for promotion from Division Seven after completing a seven wicket win at Havering-atte-Bower II, while Stock II are still in the hunt to join them after beating Herongate II.

Great Burstead II are down and failed to field a team at Rankins II.

Eastwood II are in grave danger in Division Eight after a thrilling tie at Ekco Monarch and Trojans III - both sides scoring 166.

Canvey Island II have secured promotion from Division Nine with an eight run win over Springfield IV.

Canvey scored 216-6 thanks to Dave Schroder (69), Alex Diamond (36) and Martin Robinson (35).

Andrew Downey (2-35) and Robinson (3-60) then restricted Springfield to 208-8.

Ekco Monarchs and Trojans IV are also nearly up from Division Ten after beating Hullbridge II by five wickets in a low-scoring affair.