by JOHN CAMPANY

HATFIELD Peverel returned to form with a vengeance when entertaining fourth-place Great Bentley, in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.

It was a dynamic performance by the home side but more specifically Lawrence Hale, who helped himself to six of the goals in a 7-2 thrashing.

It is the second time Hatfield have hit eight in the league this season and Hale has now netted 14.

Bentley’s plight was not helped by the sending-off of Jack Burch, while Charlie Durling and Joseph Hurd replied.

Also in the premier division, ambitious Stanway Pegasus consolidated their position at the top of the table with a 5-1 win at Little Oakley.

In a feisty affair, both sides were reduced to ten men at the final whistle.

The visitors had eased into a 4-1 interval lead with goals from Max Booth, Sam Clark, Josh Dillon and a brace from Reife Marangou, with a solitary reply from Robert Pratt.

Flitch United maintained their purple patch with a 1-0 home win, leapfrogging opponents Alresford Colne Rangers to move into second place, while the visitors have now dropped to third.

Daniel O’Brien was the marksmen to extend their unbeaten sequence to seven games.

Sam Crisps was the two-goal hero for West Bergholt, who travelled to Barnston and picked up useful points, while Dedham Old Boys were victorious at Brantham Athletic.

They won 2-1 with goals from Liam Macklin and Mathew Randall to inflict more pain on the struggling side, who are firmly placed at the bottom of the table.

Gas Recreation’s faltering season continued when held at Bromley Road by Earls Colne, who gained a valuable point.

Aston Firkins and Jonathan Ogunsanya were on target for Gas, while Ronnie Edwards and Callum Tracey ensured parity.

It was left to two substitutes, Ryan Knill-Jones and Benjamin Turner, to get Tiptree Heath over the line with second-half goals, beating Lawford Lads 2-0.

White Notley picked up a vital point on the road after some indifferent results that have seen them slip down to 15th place in the table.

A 2-2 draw at Tiptree Engaine was much-needed after such an encouraging start to the season.

The home side were well-served by goalscorers Jordon Marsh and Harry Runnicles, with Josh Goodey Patrick Wilkinson responding.

In division one, leaders Colne Athletic were held 2-2 by the Islanders of Mersea and now hold a slender one-point lead at the summit.

In contrast, this was a welcome point for Mersea as they get accustomed to life in division one.

The home side’s scorers were Andy and Dan Gibbons with the visitors' marksmen being Luke Goldie–McSorley and Scott Yearling.

At Rush Green, FC Clacton Reserves maintained their fine start to the season with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Stanway Rovers Reserves to strengthen their second place in the table.

They now trail the leaders by one point but have two games in hand.

Cameron Dolphin hit two, with one each from Lydon Bramhall and Bradley Smith, while Christian Walsh got the consolation goal.

An Alfie Adams hat-trick and one from Shane Temple set up an easy 4-0 win for Sudbury Sports at Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves.

Bures United romped to a 6-0 success over Wormingford Wanderers with a brace from Thomas Bailey and Courtney Prince and a goal each from Adam Dolling and Ashley Drew.

There was a goal feast at the Lorkin Daniel Playing Field where West Bergholt Reserves beat pointless Boxted Lodgers 8-5.

The remarkable statistic, apart from the game’s 13 goals, was that Bergholt produced eight different scorers while Paul Goddard struck four goals for Boxted.

Results: Premier division: Barnston 0 West Bergholt 2, Brantham Athletic Res 1 Dedham Old Boys 2, Flitch United 1 Alresford Colne Rangers 0, Gas Recreation 2 Earls Colne 2, Hatfield Peverel 7 Great Bentley 2, Lawford Lads 1 Tiptree Heath 8, Little Oakley Res 1 Stanway Pegasus 5, Tiptree Engaine 2 White Notley 2.

First division: Alresford Colne Rangers Res 0 Sudbury Sports 4, Bures United 6 Wormingford Wanderers 0, Cressing United 2 Bell Vue Social 0, Gosfield United 2 Tiptree Jobserve 2, Mersea Island 2 Colne Athletic 2, Stanway Pegasus Res 1 Little Oakley A 2, West Bergholt Res 8 Boxted Lodgers 5.

Second division: Dedham Old Boys Res 1 Tiptree Engaine Res 1, Great Bentley Res 3 Brantham Athletic A 0, Hedinghams United 8 Harwich Rangers 0, Rowhedge 3 Gas Recreation Res 2, Tavern 2 Hatfield Peverel Res 0, Tiptree Jobserve Res 2 Cavendish 6, Tollesbury 3 Shrub End United 0, Wormingford Wanderers Res 1 Elmden Rovers 6.

Third division: Boxted Lodgers Res 1 Bradfield Rovers 4, Cavendish Res 1 Lawford Lads Res 8, Kelvedon Social 1 Barnston Res 1, Little Clacton 4 Harwich & Parkeston Res 3, St Osyth 3 Oyster 1, Stanway Athletic 2 Hedinghams United Res 2, Tiptree Heath Res 1 Flitch United Res 4.