Early chance - Tyler Rose causes problems for Iron pair Ruben Kennedy and James Waters. Soon after, the latter suffered a nasty head injury leading to the game being postponed

Picture: Steve Brading (www.stevebradingphotography.com)

AWAY teams had the upper hand in three of the four Thurlow Nunn League division one south fixtures involving Gazette sides.

Two of those matches saw our sides return home with maximum points, although LITTLE OAKLEY'S success came at the expense of another Tendring team, BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT RESERVES.

HOLLAND FC had a happy trip back up the A12 after running out 5-1 winners at Newbury Forest but WIVENHOE TOWN suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Frenford.

COGGESHALL UNITED and HALSTEAD TOWN shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw while in the premier division BRANTHAM ATHLETIC had the edge against Whitton United but FC CLACTON went down at leaders Histon.

Our award for performance of the day goes to Holland, who continued their great form with an eye-catching victory at Newbury Forest.

It was a fabulous result for Rob Batten's side, who also hit five in Tuesday's First Division Knockout Cup success against BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES.

Jimmy Webb's penalty midway through the first half got the ball rolling and the same player soon added a second.

Newbury Forest halved the deficit before the break but Steve Eaton netted early in the second half to make it 3-1.

The Eastcliff side then finished with a flourish, with Terry Rymer notching twice in the last five minutes.

Elsewhere, Oakley secured a 3-1 victory in their Tendring derby at Brightlingsea.

After scoring in each half through Harry Mann and Stephen Polley, they gave themselves a cushion before the hosts pulled one back.

However, Polley's strike from the edge of the area restored the two-goal lead.

Unfortunately, it wasn't such a good day for Wivenhoe, who suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Frenford.

They fell behind but Markel Greenidge volleyed them level from the edge of the box, after a cross from Aaron Donaldson.

The visitors netted twice more, including a great strike from distance, to open a 3-1 lead before Donaldson grabbed a late second for the Dragons.

Coggeshall played host to high-flying Halstead and the sides shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw.

Andy Fennell put the Humbugs ahead midway through the first half but Kane Gilbert's well-worked equaliser made it all-square at West Street.

The contest between HARWICH AND PARKESTON and Braintree's reserves was abandoned after just 23 minutes, following a nasty head injury suffered by Iron keeper James Waters.

The shot-stopper came to deal with a right-wing free-kick but collided with Shrimpers player Joe Knight.

Knight's elbow struck Waters on the side of the head - totally accidentally - and the referee immediately called for medical help from the sidelines.

An ambulance was called and, after a lengthy spell of treatment, a decision was made to abandon proceedings.

A new date will now have to be found for the fixture, which was still goalless.

Clacton had been hoping to cause an upset in their premier division trip to leaders Histon.

The Cambridgeshire side had won six out of six at home but Clacton were also in form, unbeaten in three league matches and still going strong in the FA Vase and League Challenge Cup.

In the end, however, the Seasiders ended up losing 3-0.

Over at Brantham, new boss Ben Swan and assistants Jack Sibbons and Craig Hughes were preparing for their first match at the Leisure Centre.

Whitton were the visitors and after Andrew Wood rattled a post and other chances went begging, it looked like it might prove a frustrating afternoon for the Imps.

However, substitute Harry Barley made an instant impact, scoring soon after coming on following great work from Hughes and George Clarke.

Mason Lumley nearly added a second but his long-range piledriver struck the bar, so it finished 1-0.

Meanwhile, the draw has been made for the quarter-finals of the First Division Knockout Cup.

Holland will entertain May and Baker while Coggeshall or Benfleet will travel to Hashtag United.

The matches will be played on Tuesday, February 12.