Earls Colne got back into Kent Blaxill Essex and Suffolk Border League division one action and won 3-0 at home to Mersea.

The visiting team included three ex-Halstead Town players in Liam Springett, Micheal Lynes and Luke Passfield.

Colne had early chances, with Coote, Bright and Davies all failing to pull the trigger or shooting wide, before the home side took the lead when Liam Bright tucked a left-foot shot under goalkeeper Powell.

It was his first senior goal for the club.

A half-time team talk emphasised the need to keep passing the ball and creating chances.

The back four of O’Brien, Lesiak, Theedom and Nice kept Mersea at bay, as they pushed another man up front.

Wingers Hill and Exley then started to get the better of the visiting full-back and, after a series of corners, one deep flag-kick from Hill was met at the far post by Mel Nice and he smashed a volley into the roof of the net for Colne’s second.

Mead, Burle and Whitnell replaced tired legs as the previous week’s call-offs took their toll.

Steve Coote was then set free but his shot went inches over, before a good cross from Theedom found Coote at the far post and his looping header was not dealt with by the keeper.

The ball found itself in the net to secure the points, moving Colne up to fifth.