HARWICH AND PARKESTON gained the bragging rights after celebrating a 2-0 victory at neighbours LITTLE OAKLEY.

The rivals met in an eagerly-anticipated Thurlow Nunn League first division south derby at the Memorial Ground on Boxing Day.

Both sides went into the festive fixture in red-hot form, with the Shrimpers having won seven in a row, scoring 25 goals, and having not lost since October 13.

Oakley, meanwhile, had won their last three and were unbeaten in four, during which time they had plundered a dozen goals.

On this occasion, it was Harwich who had the upper hand and they carried on where they left off on Saturday, when cruising to a 4-0 victory at previous leaders White Ensign.

Kieron Shelley’s side drew first blood when a free-kick was deflected to the far post.

Tyler Rose was well-placed to turn the ball home from close range.

Rose then grabbed his side’s second, latching onto a precision through ball and confidently firing past Acorns keeper Dan Joyce.

Elsewhere in division one south, third-placed HALSTEAD TOWN came from behind before thumping WIVENHOE TOWN 7-2.

The Humbugs had drawn two and lost one of their December fixtures but got off to a perfect start when Tom Cook scored at the second attempt, after a low cross from Callum Vincent.

Jake Richardson levelled from the edge of the box and Wivenhoe, who had lost their previous six league and cup fixtures, were ahead by half-time after Luke Barnard found himself one-one-one and coolly slotted past keeper Jack Cherry.

However, Halstead turned the match on its head when Jordan Pavett’s free-kick deflected past keeper Aaron Reid.

Cook then fired home from the edge of the area to put his side ahead and Pavett added the fourth after good work from Chris Harris.

Vincent’s brilliant solo effort, after beating two men, stretched the lead further and substitute Ross McClintock half-volleyed the Humbugs’ sixth.

Pavett then completed his hat-trick with a brilliant lobbed effort.

A waterlogged pitch meant the fixture between COGGESHALL UNITED and BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES was postponed on Christmas Day.

In the premier division, BRANTHAM ATHLETIC stretched their unbeaten run to four games after a 4-2 victory at home to FC CLACTON.

Andrew Wood’s angled finish gave them the ascendancy but the visitors levelled just before half-time.

The Imps regained the lead but after Clacton equalised, Brantham notched twice more – their fourth goal being a stunning solo effort from Jack Marshall.

The Thurlow Nunn League programme continues on Saturday with Clacton hosting Wroxham and Brantham going to Gorleston.

There are more derbies in division one south, with the fixtures including Braintree Town Reserves against Brightlingsea Regent Reserves, Harwich against Wivenhoe, Holland FC against Oakley and Wormley Rovers against Coggeshall United.