by JOHN CAMPANY

TIPTREE Heath kept the pressure on Essex and Suffolk Border League leaders Stanway Pegasus after a comprehensive win at Dedham Old Boys.

Benjamin Turner spearheaded their win with a hat-trick and Cameron Ward added the fourth.

With a game in hand, they are now three points behind.

In what is developing into the most open premier division title race for years, Flitch United overcame visiting champions Gas Recreation with a solitary goal from Shane Pyne.

It was his 12th of the season and Flitch now occupy third place, also trailing the leaders by three points.

Alresford Colne Rangers won 2-1 at Barnston, whose goal was scored by Harry Hearn, while Hatfield Peverel and West Bergholt shared four goals at the Keith Bigden Memorial Ground.

The visitors' goals came through Lee Townrow and David Weir.

Lawford Lads and Earls Colne both picked up a point apiece in their 2-2 draw at School Lane.

The home side led 2-1 at the break, with goals from Reagen O’Brien and Alex Stocker, but Kieran Adams and Connor Randall were on target to claim a vital point for the visitors.

Struggling White Notley gained a point at home in another 2-2 draw.

However, this was not sufficient to get them off the bottom of the table and they remain a point behind Brantham Athletic Reserves, who were idle.

Robert King and Jack Stacey scored vital goals for the home side while Harry Windred got a brace for the visitors, who had Mark Palmer sent off.

Stanway Pegasus reached the third round of the Essex Premier Cup with a 7-1 trouncing of Redbridge Reserves and now have a tie against Corinthians FC on November 23, joining six other Border League sides who qualified earlier in October.

There were plenty of goals in division one, with a host of sides in contention.

The frontrunner was Colne Athletic, who humiliated Stanway Pegasus Reserves 11-0 with Luke Rogers netting five of the goals, bringing his seasonal tally to 15. Scott Yearling hit a brace while Daniel Bradley, Jordon Ellis, Luke Goldie-McSorley and Harry Watts scored the remaining goals.

Meanwhile, second-place Gosfield United went on a goal spree with seven goals in each half against a plucky Little Oakley A side to consolidate their aspirations. Dean Gilder scored four, Liam Brown a hat-trick and there were two each for Andrew Turner, Steven Hill, Edward Killin and one from Bobby Pike.

FC Clacton lost ground as Cressing United moved into third spot with a tight 2-1 win.

Samuel Thompson scored the home goal.

Bures United were another side involved in a goal spree, beating visiting Belle Vue Social 5-4 with Ashley Drew, Jack Hubbard, Harry Liskus, Courtney Prince and substitute Tom Wingfield getting the goals.

At Cage Lane, Boxted Lodgers beat Stanway Rovers Reserves 4-3 in another exciting match.

However, Michael White was unfortunate to be on the losing side, having helped himself to a hat-trick.

The Lodgers were indebted to a brace from Paul Goddard and one each from Danny Griffiths and Jack Keeble.

At the Mel Group Stadium, Sudbury Sports, in fifth place, hit Mersea Island for six without reply and trail the leaders by five points, with two games in hand.

On target were Jake Banyard and Luke Hipkin, with two each, and Shane Temple and substitute Joshua Ambrose completed the rout.

At Florence Park, unbeaten Tiptree Jobserve maintained their challenge for promotion with a comfortable 3-0 success over West Bergholt Reserves, with goals from Kevin Banyard, Perrie Flatts and Daniel Williams.

Results: Essex Premier Cup: Stanway Pegasus 7 Redbridge Res 1.

Premier division: Barnston 1 Alresford Colne Rangers 2, Dedham Old Boys 1 Tiptree Heath 4, Flitch United 1 Gas Recreation 0, Hatfield Peverel 2 West Bergholt 2, Lawford Lads 2 Earls Colne 2, White Notley 2 Little Oakley Res 2.

Division one: Alresford Colne Rangers Res 7 Wormingford Wanderers 0, Boxted Lodgers 4 Stanway Rovers Res 3, Bures United 5 Belle Vue Social 4, Colne Athletic 11 Stanway Pegasus Res 0, FC Clacton 1 Cressing United 2, Gosfield United 14 Little Oakley A 0, Sudbury Sports 6 Mersea Island 0, Tiptree Jobserve 3 West Bergholt Res 0.

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

Division three: Bradfield Rovers 1 St Osyth 6, Cavendish Res 2 Kelvedon Social 9, Little Clacton 2 Lawford Lads Res 6, Stanway Athletic 7 Boxted Lodgers Res 1, Tiptree Heath Res 2 Oyster 3.