By JOHN CAMPANY

THE second round of the prestigious Essex Premier Cup took place and there were notable successes for Essex and Suffolk Border League sides.

The teams who moved into the third round were Gas Recreation, White Notley, West Bergholt, Earls Colne, Lawford Lads, Tiptree Engaine and Alresford Colne Rangers.

Stanway Pegasus could join them with their second-round tie scheduled for this Saturday.

Probably the most impressive win came from Earls Colne, who defeated Old Southendians, from the premier division of the Essex Olympian League.

Their goals came from Kieran Adams, Benrico Stripe and Callum Tracey and they now travel to West Bergholt next month for an all-Border League clash.

Bergholt’s home draw was earned after a solitary goal from Liam Springett, at Galleywood.

Lawford Lads were involved in a thrilling tie, defeating Harold Wood Athletic Reserves after extra time.

The Lads trailed 2-1 at half-time but stormed back to draw level on 90 minutes.

They then triumphed with further goals in extra time.

Goal machine Oliver Mann spearheaded their success with a hat-trick to bring his seasonal tally to 15 so far, while Adam Punchard and Macauley Watson completed the scoring.

They now have a plumb tie, entertaining holders Buckhurst Hill at School Lane.

Tiptree Engaine were taken to penalties in their tie at home to Ilford Reserves after sharing two goals after extra time, with Adam Collier on target.

The Border League side prevailed 8-7 on penalties to send them into the next round, where they will travel to Lakeside.

At Ford Lane, Alresford Colne Rangers triumphed 2-1 against Toby, with Elliot Aves and Gareth Evans ensuring their passage into the next round where they travel to Waltham Abbey Reserves.

In the all-Border League clash, White Notley overcame Tiptree Heath in a tight tie with a solitary goal win and now they have an attractive home tie at Oak Farm against Grays Athletic Reserves.

Gas Recreation, who played a week earlier, beating Old Forresters, are drawn at home against Epping Town, who beat Great Bentley 3-1.

Flitch United also exited the competition, sustaining a heavy 6-1 defeat at home to Leigh Ramblers.

This Saturday, Stanway Pegasus have the chance of joining the third round at home to Corinthians, if they dispose of Redbridge Reserves.

Meanwhile, Brantham Athletic Reserves have lifted themselves from the bottom of the table with two great wins.

In midweek they beat Alresford Colne Rangers 2-1 at the Leisure Centre with goals from Kieran Lawler and Jonathan Lee.

They then followed it up on Saturday with a spectacular surprise success at home against leaders Stanway Pegasus in a seven-goal thriller.

On this occasion, there were two goals each from Samual Gunn and Louis Mott to inflict a third defeat on the leaders.

There was another notable success at much-improved Barnston, when Joshua Hutchins came off the bench to get a late equaliser against champions Gas Recreation in a 1-1 draw.

Luke Taylor responded for the visitors.

Hatfield Peverel earned the points against visiting Dedham Old Boys, winning 2-1 with goals from Ryan Pitt and Cosmin Rotaru to move into fourth place.

In the first division, Colne Athletic moved to the top with a resounding 7-0 win at home over Wormingford Wanderes.

There was a brace each for Luke Goldie-McSorley and substitute Joshua Milburn and a goal apiece from Ryan Brown, Josh Vaughan and Ben Fowler.

Results: Essex Premier Cup - round two: Alresford Colne Rangers 2 Toby 1, Earls Colne 3 Old Southendian 2, Epping Town 3 Great Bentley 1, Flitch United 1 Leigh Ramblers 6, Galleywood 0 West Bergholt 1, Tiptree Engaine 1 Ilford Res 1 (8-7 pens), White Notley 1 Tiptree Heath 0.

Premier division: Barnston 1 Gas Recreation 1, Brantham Athletic Res 4 Stanway Pegasus 3, Hatfield Peverel 2 Dedham Old Boys 1.

Division one: Boxted Lodgers 1 Alresford Colne Rangers Res 6, Bures United 1 Gosfield United 0, Little Oakley A 0 Cressing United 3, Stanway Pegasus Res 1 FC Clacton 0, Tiptree Jobserve 3 Belle Vue Social 1, West Bergholt Res 3 Sudbury Sports 4.

Division two: Cavendish 7 Brantham Athletic A 2, Dedham Old Boys Res 0 Tavern 0, Gas Recreation Res 3 Wormingford Wanderers Res 1, Harwich Rangers 4 Tiptree Engaine Res 2, Hedinghams United 7 Tiptree Jobserve Res 1, Rowhedge 1 Elmden Rovers 0, Shrub End United 2 Tollesbury 3.

Division three: Bradfield Rovers 0 Hedinghams United Res 6, Little Clacton 4 Cavendish Res 1, Oyster 0 Harwich & Parkeston Res 1, St Osyth 4 Flitch United Res 1, Stanway Athletic 3 Barnston Res 5, Tiptree Heath Res 1 Kelvedon Social 2.