OLD rivals Gas Recreation and West Bergholt will meet in the final of this season's Essex and Suffolk Border League Knockout Cup.

Both were in semi-final action on Saturday and progressed against Tiptree Heath and Hatfield Peverel respectively.

However, it was far from plain sailing.

Premier division leaders Gas left it late before seeing off second division Tiptree 2-1.

Ryan Taylor's early header put them on the front foot but Cameron Ward equalised.

However, any thoughts of an upset were dispelled when substitute Harry Willoughby grabbed a late winner for Gas.

It was even closer in the other semi-final, where a penalty shoot-out was needed to separate Bergholt and Hatfield Peverel.

After a goalless draw, followed by a period of extra-time, it was the former who kept their cool to win 4-3.

With Gas in cup action, second-placed Coggeshall United took the opportunity to move level at the top of the table after a 5-0 thrashing of Hedinghams United.

Both frontrunners now have 66 points, although Coggeshall have played two more games than their Bromley Road rivals.

After missing chances, a late flurry of goals gave them a comfortable win and their goalscorers were Ricky Loveridge, Marley Okosi, Lewis Soraf and substitutes Tayo Adeyemi and Ben Madden.

Second-placed White Notley played host to Harwich and Parkeston and came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3.

Scott Lodge notched two of their goals and he was joined on the scoresheet by Charlie Palmer.

Luke Barnard, William Finlay-Hughes and Sam Thompson were on target for the Shrimpers.

The other top-flight fixture on Saturday saw basement boys Barnston and Brantham Athletic Reserves draw 1-1.

The weekend's Border League programme had started with a Friday night fixture between Little Oakley Reserves and Kelvedon Social, which the hosts won 3-0 thanks to goals from Leroy Eade, Luke Mayhew and Daniel Roots.

First division champions Great Bentley beat runners-up Lawford Lads 1-0.

Jack Burch scored their second-half winner and they are now within one game of an incredible unbeaten league campaign.

Third-placed Brightlingsea Regent Reserves flexed their muscles with a 6-0 success at home to lowly Bradfield Rovers.

Konnor Oughton hit a hat-trick and there were also goals for Richard Meadows, Ashley Sauka and James Watts.

West Bergholt Reserves beat Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves 4-2, with their marksmen being Bobby Bethell, Christopher Edin, Callum Gildea and Piers Hobson.

In the second division, Flitch United beat Belle Vue Social Club 3-0 and Connaught Red Star pipped hosts Kelvedon Social Reserves 1-0.

Division three champions Colne Athletic maintained their 100 per cent league record with a 7-1 success at Wormingford Wanderers Reserves.