County Cup Double Once Again

It all started back in September when Frenford Senior completed the double of senior and reserve challenge cup wins.

After missing out last season White Ensign won senior division one for the third time in four seasons. The margin of their win was not however as large as it appeared it would be at the beginning of May and Kelvedon Hatch took runners up position just two points behind.

Kelvedon Hatch also won the senior division cup when they beat White Ensign in an exciting match at Billericay Town.

Whilst we knew from the middle of april which two teams were going to be promoted from senior two it was not until the last game that Benfleet defeated the long time leaders Shell Club Corringham to take the title by a single point from their south Essex rivals.

After new boys Potter Street had run away with reserve division three it was not until their last game of the season that M & B Club managed to overtake both Metpol Chigwell and Leytonstone United to take the runners up position.

Reserve division one provided the tightest finish of the season with Harold Wood Athletic taking the title on goal difference from last seasons winners Frenford Senior.

Reserve division two was won by what was undoubtedly the team of the season Shell Club Corringham.

Not only did they come top five points clear of runners up Runwell Hospital and also defeated Harold Wood Athletic to win the reserve division cup, they also became the first team from our league to win the Essex junior cup for 15 seasons.

New team M & B Club won reserve division three by ten points with Basildon Town finishing second.

A solitary goal made it a double of county trophies for our league when Takeley overcame Ongar Town to put a new name on the County Premier Cup.

Eric Gallacher was the worthy winner of the clubperson of the season award and the Patrons Award went to John Pickering who has served as an officer of the league for the past 36 seasons.

This seasons top referee was Keith Ashley and the club linesman of the year was Richard Fisher of Barnston.

Mike Daniels of M & B Club was the leagues top goalscorer.

Linford Wanderers did not win one league game during the season and finished at the bottom of senior divsion three with only two points. This was only one point more than Barnston A.F.C. achieved in 2001-2002.