OLD Southendian & Southchurch secured promotion from Essex League Division Three with a 99-run win over Epping.

And the Old Boys’ hopes of winning the league were also boosted as Westcliff on Sea defeated their title rivals Oakfield Parkonians by 18 runs.

“It’s a nice feeling to know that we are already promoted with two games to go and we are in the position to win the division now,” said Southendian captain Aaron Lucas.

“The boys did really well against an Epping side that I can only describe as a shambles. They arrived 30 minutes late with only five players to start with.

“But we stuck to our game plan and went all out to get maximum points from the match to keep ahead of Oakfield Parkonians.”

Matthew Austin was the man of the match for the Old Boys. Promoted to opening the batting due to Max Craddock’s unavailability, he scored 77 runs.

Further down the order Matt Wilson (63) and overseas player Jamie Robinson (53) helped the hosts to 255-5 declared.

Austin (3-10) claimed both Epping openers and fifth XI player Georgia Holdaway, playing as a subsitute fielder for the injured Lucas, caught Epping’s Kunal Solanki to leave the visitors on 34-3.

Spinners Adam Hunt (4-26) and Robinson (2-68) helped bowl Epping out for 156.

Lucas retired with a back injury at the crease and will miss this weekend’s trip to Walthamstow.

Westcliff captain Chris Gladwin was delighted to see the season’s work come to fruition with victory over Oakfield Parkonians.

The Westcliff hosts lost a couple of early wickets but Jack Stead (53) steadied the innings and Lewis Groves (35) and Charlie Lockhart (33) helped them to 170 all out against an attack led by B Mann (4-19).

Shahbaz Sattar (4-56) and Tom Baker (3-35) got among the wickets as Oakfield were bowled out for 152 in reply.

“It was a very, very good win,” said Gladwin. “It put everything we have been doing this year into perspective; the determination, the character and will to win.

“We have the nucleus of players who could have won the league this year but it’s not about that. We have been competitive and have not been destroyed.

“Maybe four of the games we should have won we gave away through lack of experience and that’s made the difference, but Saturday proved we can beat the best sides.”

Benfleet took a seven-wicket win in their derby with Basildon & Pitsea at Woodside Park.

Skipper Michael Gray anchored the Basildon innings with 36 but Ben Munday (25) and Paul Singleton (20) were the only other batsmen to prosper before the visitors were bowled out for 142.

Paul Frensham (5-69) continued his good form with the ball and Mark Acraman (5-33) took his maiden first team five-for.

Benfleet’s reply started badly when openers Tony Russ and Rob Zammit went for ducks.

But Gavin Blowes (55), Callum Wheeler (41no) and Samuel Coelho (32no) guided Benfleet to a winning 143-3, with Dan Bedford taking 2-36 and Ben Munday 1-19.

“We were delighted especially as we did not start well in the field and I thought they’d carried on from last week,” said Benfleet captain Gareth Steed.

“But Paul and Mark stopped the runs and to bowl them out for 142 was good.

“I feared the worst when we lost two quick wickets but Callum and Sam are only 16 and it was great to see them batting like that.”

Basildon skipper Michael Gray said: “It just sums us up; we beat Old Southendian and, no disrespects, lose to Benfleet.

“We were 50-0 at one point but after myself Paul went, no one did anything and a total of 140 was never going to be enough.

“We got a couple of wickets but Gav and Callum batted really well and the match sums up a frustrating season for us.”