Andrew Livid

Goresbrook's 3rd XI lost out in the title chase on Saturday afternoon following a dawn postponement of their away fixture against Old Chelmsford's 3rd team. Following the previous days torrential downpour, the fixture at Bedford Fields was called of by the groundsman at some time prior to 7.21am, which was when OC"s tweeted that the game was cancelled. This early cancellation ensured that nobody wasted time travelling to a potential washout, as it provided sufficient time for somebody in West Wales to make alternative plans, let alone West Essex/East London.

With only one other non result in the entire Trippon league on Saturday captain Brad Winsley was less than impressed, his frustration being compounded by a 5 point deduction as nobody confirmed the result, or lack thereof, with the publicity officer.

'It was way to early to call the game off, I cant understand why is wasn’t given a chance like every other game in Essex this weekend. The ECB have a #getthegameon campaign running, which apparently hasn't reached the groundsman at the school that OC's play at.'

Brad added (in the longest speech he's ever given - Ed)

'My vice captain has family in the area and with a suddenly spare sunny afternoon he popped over to visit them and checked the ground out whilst in the locality. He reported that it was fine and the game could easily have been played'.

Vice captain Gillham confirmed this, 'There was nothing wrong with the pitch by that stage', he said, with a nod of confirmation.

Gillham did confirm though that his tea on Saturday was the best for a few weeks. 'Having been stuck at Fords and the temporary tea at Tillingham from Tess it was nice to get stuck into some decent fare, the Ginsters Chicken and Mushroom slice from the Chelmsford service station was excellent, filled with chicken and adequately seasoned and it was washed down with a fantastic Costa latte'.

Geographically, although six miles apart, Bedford Fields is located on the same flood plain and storm valley as Ingatestone. Ingatestone is famed for its storms of biblical proportions and in the summer of 2014 the first XIs fixture against them was washed out while no other game was impacted, such was the severity of the micro storm.

As news of the pitches apparent playability reached Goresbrook's sun drenched headquarters, Andrew Livett, approaching his 1,000th game for the club, was incensed, 'I have planned my entire season on these next few weeks to get my 1,000th appearance at just the right time, I may now have to try and play in the under 16s game on Monday afternoon to keep things on track or failing that we will have to arrange some more games at Belhus in September'.

Joe Wilkinson, last weeks aggressor, was equally as peeved, although when interviewed by the website at 9pm the reason wasn’t totally clear, and if it was it was soon forgotten as the Repertoire Dogs belted out another classic.

The 3s now face an uphill task if they are to be promoted this season and must win their remaining five games and hope that one of either Tillingham or Thurrock capitulate over the coming weeks. Those two sides meet next week in a match that could decided the outcome of the division.