by JOHN CAMPANY

RENOWNED cup fighters Gas Recreation have moved through to the quarter-finals of the Essex Premier Cup.

The Essex and Suffolk Border League side defeated Waltham Abbey Reserves 5-3, after extra time.

The score after 90 minutes was 3-3.

The Gas scorers were Ryan Dale, Luke Edwards, Aston Firkins and a brace from substitute Callum Rogers.

West Bergholt could join them in the quarter-finals if they win their pending third-round match against either Barkingside Reserves or Basildon Town.

Stanway Pegasus maintained their lead at the top of the premier division after a comfortable 3-1 win over Brantham Athletic Reserves.

The second and third-placed teams, Tiptree Heath and Flitch United, were inactive while Alresford Colne Rangers slipped up 3-1 at Hatfield Peverel and dropped to fifth.

The home side’s scorers were Lawrence Hale, with a brace, and substitute Martin Young, with Michael Runicles replying for Rangers.

Great Bentley could do no better than secure a home point against Barnston and are now fourth, following a goalless draw.

It was an impressive 5-0 win for Earls Colne against visiting Little Oakley Reserves, with goals from Jack Charnock, Connor Randall, Jeffrey Ashong and a brace from Keiran Adams.

Elsewhere, White Notley remain in trouble at the bottom of the table, losing 2-1 at home to Lawford Lads.

Oliver Mann struck another two goals for the Lads while Josh Goodey replied for the home side.

In division one, it was a good day for Colne Athletic, who leapfrogged Cressing United to move to the top after a 5-3 win over visiting Mersea Island.

Joe Hawkins helped himself to a hat-trick and Ryan Brown and substitute Freddie Saunders completed their tally.

Cressing United, who dropped to second place, were held at West Bergholt Reserves, with both sides sharing four goals.

The home scorers were Christopher Sambou and Lee Townrow.

Tiptree Jobserve were surprising losers - their first league defeat - going down 2-1 at home to FC Clacton Reserves.

It was a fiery contest in which referee Ricky Johnson branded six yellow cards to the Seasiders.

They were indebted to their substitutes, Andreas Antoniou-Garcia and Ross Nash, who each scored for the visitors.

Sudbury Sports gained a good 5-1 win over visiting Gosfield United to move into fourth place as United dropped down to fifth.

Little Oakley A gained crucial points over mid-table Bures United, winning 2-1 to climb a place above bottom two sides Boxted Lodgers and Wormingford Wanderers.

Jack Caudill and Tyler Sullivan got the important goals while Jordon Melia scored the visitors' consolation.

Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves and visitors Stanway Pegasus Reserves played out a 1-1 draw at Ford Lane, with George Barron equalising for Pegasus.

In division two, Tavern took closer order by beating leaders Hedinghams United 1-0, moving into third place, eight points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand.

The performance of the day came from Haydn Taylor, who netted five times for Cavendish as they beat Shrub End United 6-4.

Luke Nicoll completed the demolition.

In division three, the match of the day saw third-place Oyster host leaders St Osyth.

In an exciting match, the leaders strengthened their position at the summit, winning 3-2 with goals from Oscar Cowler, Kalom Harms and Ben O’Hara.

Danny Clements struck two for the hosts.

Results: Essex Premier Cup - round four: Waltham Abbey Res 3 Gas Recreation 5 (AET).

Essex Junior Cup - round four: Bowers & Pitsea U21s 9 Great Bentley Res 1.

Premier division: Earls Colne 5 Little Oakley Res 0, Great Bentley 0 Barnston 0, Hatfield Peverel 3 Alresford Colne Rangers 1, Stanway Pegasus 3 Brantham Athletic Res 1, White Notley 1 Lawford Lads 2.

First division: Alresford Colne Rangers Res 1 Stanway Pegasus Res 1, Colne Athletic 5 Mersea Island 3, Little Oakley A 2 Bures United 1, Sudbury Sports 5 Gosfield United 1, Tiptree Jobserve 1 FC Clacton 2, West Bergholt Res 2 Cressing United 2.

Second division: Brantham Athletic A 1 Hatfield Peverel Res 2, Elmden Rovers 1 Wormingford Wanderers Res 2, Gas Recreation Res 3 Harwich Rangers 1, Hedinghams United 0 Tavern 1, Rowhedge 0 Dedham Old Boys Res 0, Shrub End United 4 Cavendish 6, Tiptree Engaine Res 0 Tiptree Jobserve Res 2.

Third division: Barnston Res 4 Harwich & Parkeston Res 1, Boxted Lodgers Res 4 Little Clacton 2, Cavendish Res 0 Tiptree Heath Res 3, Flitch United Res 4 Hedinghams United Res 2, Kelvedon Social 2 Bradfield Rovers 2, Lawford Lads Res 1 Stanway Athletic 2, Oyster 2 St Osyth 3.