BRENTWOOD cricketer Joe Buttleman admitted he will never forget the starring role he played in his side's win over the Lashings All-stars.

Buttleman took three wickets and then hit an unbeaten 49 as the home side secured a five-wicket win in the third successive match up between the sides.

It means Brentwood now have a 2-1 advantage over the World XI, and plans are already being made for next year's clash.

Buttleman removed Inzamam Ul-Haq, Mohammed Yousuf and Wasim Jaffer in his figures of 3-35, before whacking his 49 from 26 balls to help his side home.

And he said: "It was good, it's probably my favourite fixture of the year. It's a great experience to play against them. You raise your game when you play against them.

"But it's the same whether you're bowling at a club cricketer or a Test cricketer, if you get the ball in the right area then you've got a chance of getting a wicket."

A crowd in excess of 500 turned out to watch the fixture, with the Lashings side also including former West Indies greats Gordon Greenidge and Courtney Walsh.

And Buttleman believes the professional attitude his side showed was a key component in their success.

"We try and be as professional as we can as a side," he added. "We pride ourselves on being as good club cricketers as there are in the country.

"Most of us have played at a level where we were professional or just short of professional and we're just keen to keep playing and be as good as we can.

"It was a great crowd, I like playing up to the crowd as well so to have 500 people there to see you do well and obviously you've got friends and family there so it's a great day for Brentwood Cricket Club.

"It's up there with the best days of cricket I've had in my career certainly, and the batting as well, that's particularly pleasing because you've got Saqlain Mushtaq turning it both ways so you really have to concentrate. It's nice when it comes off and all the practice and hard work through the winter and training comes off.

"The pressure's off because you've got nothing to lose against such a fantastic bowler with such a variety of different deliveries.

"You go out there and although you don't play with complete freedom because there's obviously still nerves, you do play with a certain amount of freedom because if it comes off, it comes off and if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. Sometimes when the pressure's off I play my best cricket."

Lashings may be full of now-retired cricketers but the loss they suffered at the Old County Ground was only the second defeat of their 2013 campaign, and Buttleman admitted it was a tough game.

He added: "They do take it seriously because we've had two close games with them before.

"We said to the captain Jon Walford that we thought they'd bring a strong side and they did, certainly with the batting and we're lucky that we were able to keep them down to a total we could chase.

"We've got a very strong batting line-up, so even though we lost a couple of early wickets we still fancied ourselves on that wicket."

ESSEX Spartans American football team saw victory slip through their fingers against the Watford Cheetahs, going down 19-14 in one of the team's better performances of the year.

In stifling heat, the Billericay-based Spartans travelled with a depleted squad and showed great strength of character to push the Cheetahs to the closing minutes, but were unable to claim their second win of 2013.

After a mistake-riddled opening quarter, the home team opened the scoring early in the second with a questionable aerial strike to take a 7-0 lead. As both teams struggled with the weather, the first half came to an end with the Spartans still only a score behind.

The Spartans' defence were in fine form, and an interception of the Cheetahs quarterback was quickly converted into points by the elusive Craig Willis. With Nick Mayer tacking on the conversion, the Spartans were level at 7-7.

Their joy was short-lived, however. The Cheetahs scored again through the air, but were able to convert thanks to Kieron Murphy's tackle of the Watford kicker, and the score read 13-7.

Murphy kept the Spartans hopes alive with a sack of the Watford quarterback in the final quarter, and while the visitors seemed to be struggling, the Spartans were beginning to take hold of the game. Willis broke free for another long score, and with Mayer again converting, the Spartans led 14-13.

Sadly, it was not to be, with Watford scoring their third passing touchdown of the game to regain the lead 19-14. Essex had a chance to win the game, but their efforts were in vain and Watford wound down the clock to claim a hard-fought victory.

Spartans head coach Marc Saunders said: "This was a great and necessary step in the Spartans road to winning games. Under tough conditions and with low numbers, every player gave 100 per cent effort and we were close to snatching victory."

"A solid practice next week should help us get closer to those elusive wins in our remaining games."

The Spartans next face the Milton Keynes Pathfinders away from home on August 3, with their final home game at Hannakins Farm on August 18.

For more details, visit www.essexspartans.co.uk

A SECOND place finish behind the hosts Colchester Harriers helped ease relegation fears for Havering Mayesbrook AC's Southern League squad in a closely contested division where 14 of the 16 clubs were covered by just four league points before the fixture.

Lydia Hallam comfortably won the 800m and returned to the track soon after to win the 400m. Her B string partners both won, with Sarah Wilson taking the B 800m honours and Michelle Hughes the 400m. Hughes was also second in the 200m and added triple jump points. Another U17 Rachel Forder won the discus and Laura Drew was second in the B string.

The seniors in the squad were not to be outdone with five wins including a B hurdles double for Claire Brennan and B high jump win for Chloe van Wulven who was also second in the sprint hurdles and third in the 400m hurdles.

Emma Christmas and Zoe Young won A and B javelin and Christmas improved her hammer best. Vicky Smith earned second place points in the 1500m and steeplechase and Gemma Phillips also bagged two runners-up spots in the 3000m and B 1500m.

Ellie Watson was second in the B long jump and another second place came from Bethan Siddons in the high jump and Siddons also improved her triple jump best, for third. More points were added by Lucy Bailey (100m), Katie O'Sullivan (3000m), Mercy Gutteridge (pole vault) and Nina Brennan (pole vault and shot).

Rob Warner produced the only A string win for the men taking the chase in a new season's best with Paul Berrett winning the B and there were six other B string wins. There was a B throws double in the discus and javelin for Mark Bishop, who also added long jump runners-up points.

Arron Bonning took full points in the B triple jump and also placed second in the A javelin, B vault and shot. Another B success came from Lewis Middleton in the long jump and Jeremy Watson won the B sprint hurdles and was second in the triple jump while Jack Edgar-Hill was runner-up in the A hurdles. Ian Anthony's 1500m PB was enough to win the B event and he added 3000m points. Robbie Clarricoats set sprint PBs in both 100m (where he was second) and 200m, and Daniel Margiotta was second in the B 100m. Danny Wilson was second in the discus and added shot and 400m points.

BRENTWOOD Town boss Les Whitton is preparing to whittle down his squad after this weekend's friendly fixtures.

The Blues take a side to Barking and another XI to Harold Wood on Saturday, and after those fixtures, the squad will be reduced in size as work starts in earnest before the start of the new season.

Sam Bantick's goal earned a 1-1 draw in their opening pre-season game at Little Oakley on Saturday, and Whitton was pleased with the workout his side had.

"It was very good," he said. "Especially bearing in mind that we haven't really kicked a ball yet, we've been working hard in training, there's been a lot of physical work, we haven't really done any short sharp stuff, we've been working on stamina.

"We were a little bit rusty around the goal, but in the main I was pleased, we had some good performances and I saw some things there that will benefit us in the future.

"I had 23 players there, put two teams out and there's obviously people there that are just being assessed and we're seeing if they're what we want.

"You're not going to get everyone you want though. It was a good game of football in hot conditions, it was quite a good tempo as well, so I was pleased with it. Defensively we were solid, their goal was the only chance they had, we were just a bit rusty up top."

Bantick is one player who was with the club last season who is still part of the Brentwood set-up, and Whitton – who has brought a number of players with him from Grays – was pleased with his efforts, as well as some of his other new faces.

"It was very good, a great finish," he added. "He had two strikes, one from a 25-yard free-kick which the keeper saved well.

"There's a few of them, the new boy Jake Cass was man-of-the-match and John Bradley who we've got from Concord played well too. We played some good stuff, we kept the ball for long periods and it was good."

The Ryman League season is scheduled to start on August 10, and although it could yet be delayed after Thurrock lodged an appeal against their relegation to an arbitration panel, Whitton is planning as normal.

"You don't know what they're going to do," he added. "Whether they'll stop the Thurrock games or stop all the games but we've just got to carry on and keep preparing for the tenth.

"We've got two games on Saturday, Barking and Harold Wood.

"We'll take a team to each and after those games I'll probably decide on quite a few players and we'll whittle the squad down to probably 20 and then we'll start working on formations, passages of play and individuals."

CRUCIAL paperwork that could have shaped the future of Upton Park has been mislaid by the Diocese of Brentwood.

West Ham United are set to complete a move from their Boleyn Ground home in Upton Park, London, to the nearby £486 million Olympic Stadium in 2016, with the old stadium to become a retail park and luxury flats.

But title registers filed with the Land Registry show a missing historic agreement exists between the club and the diocese.

If found it would give the diocese the right to enforce restrictive covenants thought to outline for what purpose the land can be used.

The land of the club's current ground was purchased by the Westminster Diocesan Education Fund in 1869 to build St Edward's Reformatory for boys.

In 1904 the Irons took a lease on part of the land before the closure of the reformatory in 1907.

The lease was renewed in 1924, by which time the Diocese of Brentwood had been created to include the area.

While the freehold has since been sold to the club, the historic agreement would still be likely to hold legal weight it if its details were discovered.

However a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Brentwood told the Gazette the documents could not be found.

She said: "Land Registry records suggest that there were some restrictive covenants placed on the club at that time but neither the diocese nor the Land Registry can locate any documents relating to them."

With the top-flight club hoping for a new development on the site it is possible West Ham United may have sought to try to buy out the diocese and relinquish themselves of the church's influence.

The Gazette approached West Ham for a comment but they had not provided one by the time we went to press.

REDBACKS Baseball & Softball celebrated a "terrific day" when they hosted their first softball tournament on Sunday.

Forest Glade in Billericay played host to the event between teams from Wickes DIY stores across the region.

Teams from Maldon, Chelmsford, Rayleigh, Chadwell Heath and Ipswich took part in the round-robin tournament, where the winners would go through to represent the region in the national final on September 8, at the new British National Baseball & Softball Ground at Farnham Park, Slough.

The day kicked off with games between Maldon and Chadwell Heath and Rayleigh and Ipswich, while Chelmsford had the luxury of sussing out the competition before their first match.

The tournament was the latest of a number of sports that Wickes staff have tried in order to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. It's the first time that teams from Essex, Suffolk and North London have taken part in the national softball competition.

As the day went on, Maldon and Ipswich emerged as the teams to beat. Ipswich won all three of their first games while Maldon, who lost to Ipswich, won three of their four throughout the afternoon. However, in order to win the tournament it came down to Ipswich's final game against Chelmsford.

But a shock was on the cards as the Chelmsford team defied their position in the standings as they kept it close against the talented Ipswich side. In the bottom of the final inning, things got very tense and some tactical changes from Ipswich backfired as Chelmsford nabbed the victoryhanding the title to Maldon on run-difference.

Redbacks softball coordinator Michael Jones said: "It was a terrific day for softball at our Forest Glade home and I'm delighted to have seen so many people trying the sport and enjoying it here with the Redbacks, especially given the high-level of energy and competitiveness they brought to the afternoon.

"We look forward to working with Wickes stores more regularly in the future and helping Maldon to prepare for the national final later this summer.

"We'd also like to thank the Wickes staff, BaseballSoftballUK and our volunteers on the day for helping the event run so smoothly."

This year the Redbacks have been running softball development sessions for new players and for people to try the sport with the club in Essex. If you are interested in taking part in softball, contact Michael Jones at: mike@essexredbacks.com or on 07712 717470, or visit: www.essexredbacks.com/softball for more information.

BILLERICAY Town boss Craig Edwards has revealed he is close to completing his squad for the new season.

The Blues have signed up 15 players for the Ryman League Premier Division campaign, with two more set to follow this week.

And after tomorrow night's game with Tilbury, Edwards is expecting to release the remainder of his trialists and begin focusing on the season.

"We've let most of them go now," he said. "We've got Tilbury on Thursday and what we see to be the last of the trialists will be playing there.

"Then we'll have a settled squad that will see us through to the season.

"I am looking to strengthen in a couple of areas, but we won't do it unless the right ones are available.

"We've got 15 signed and we're signing two more on Thursday, we'll look for one or two more."

The Blues were due to host Hemel Hempstead at home on Saturday, but that game has now been cancelled, although it could be switched to an away fixture.

Last weekend, the Blues hosted Romford on a special day at New Lodge.

The day began with a team of Blues fans playing 30-minute games against the two senior sides with the winners – unsurprisingly the two senior sides – then clashing at 3pm.

And James Robinson marked his home debut with the winner as the Blues won 2-1 on a day Edwards enjoyed.

"Physically it was very tough," he added. "First of all we had the game with the supporters, that was after Romford played them. Romford were excellent all day, they really got into the spirit of things.

"The main thing was obviously the game itself. It went really well, the supporters had a great time and bearing in mind the heat, and the pitch, it was a very good game of football.

"The pitch is very dry, we haven't managed to get enough water on it.

"It was good for the fans. Since the very first day we've walked in here, we've tried to get them all together, the supporters, the players.

"Last year when we got relegated the supporters followed us all over the country and they were magnificent.

"It was nice to have a game with them and show that we appreciate them and also give them a load of stick when they were playing!"

Edwards also had praise for Robinson, and the rest of his new-look squad, adding: "He looked very good and he'll fit in very well within the system we're playing.

"We've changed it round considerably from last year, with the personnel we've got.

"We've got basically two players from last year, we've had a big change around, the players have changed and with that we're changing our pattern.

"And so far with the four or five games we've played, it's been very encouraging."

THE Brambles Surgery in Brentwood is to be closed, leaving around 1,500 patients needing to find an alternative doctor.

The Geary Drive health centre was brought under new the management of Malling Health, a private healthcare provider, in March last year.

But the business, which has several centres dotted around the country, have now confirmed it is set to close at the end of September.

Letters are currently being sent out detailing the plans to patients.

There are concerns that the borough's existing surgeries are already overstretched and overall healthcare provision in the town will suffer as a result of the closure.

Nigel Williams, 55, from Pilgrims Hatch, was dismayed at the news.

He said: "The surgery has less than 2,000 patients but we will all now have to be shunted to other surgeries that are already overstretched. I think it's a disgrace and something should be done.

"My wife is at New Surgery which is where I will probably go, but it has thousands of patients and I worry that it will be very difficult to get an appointment.

"I think The Brambles is a great surgery and it is such a shame that we are losing it.

"I feel very strongly about it. The way I see it is that the many of the other surgeries are very overstretched and you can't get in on the day. It has to be an emergency.

"It just seems to me that Malling Health were interested in making a quick buck and it seems not to have worked out for them. I just think something needs to be done.

"The surgery may not have very many patients, but it has been a building site for years."

The latest information shows that the surgery has a relatively modest number of staff with Dr Sohail Hameed, the sole GP, a practice nurse, a practice manager, a secretary and two reception staff.

A spokesman for NHS Property Services, which owns the building, said there were no plans to dispose of the building for development, even though a major housing development is being undertaken around it – Linden Homes and Bellway are currently redeveloping the former Highwood Hospital site into more than 200 homes.

Carolyn Larsen, head of primary care for Essex at NHS England, said: "Malling Health, which provides GP services from The Brambles, have confirmed their intention to cease running this service from 28 September 2013.

"NHS England is committed to ensure patients who currently use Bramble Practice have continued access to GP services.

"We have explored all available options around the future of this service and are writing to all patients registered at the Brambles to invite them to an engagement event to share their views.

"We are also having ongoing discussions with the management team at Malling and the overview and scrutiny committee about what this may mean for future service delivery."

BRENTWOOD Town boss Les Whitton is preparing to whittle down his squad after this weekend's friendly fixtures.

The Blues take a side to Barking and another XI to Harold Wood on Saturday, and after those fixtures, the squad will be reduced in size as work starts in earnest before the start of the new season.

Sam Bantick's goal earned a 1-1 draw in their opening pre-season game at Little Oakley on Saturday, and Whitton was pleased with the workout his side had.

"It was very good," he said. "Especially bearing in mind that we haven't really kicked a ball yet, we've been working hard in training, there's been a lot of physical work, we haven't really done any short sharp stuff, we've been working on stamina.

"We were a little bit rusty around the goal, but in the main I was pleased, we had some good performances and I saw some things there that will benefit us in the future.

"I had 23 players there, put two teams out and there's obviously people there that are just being assessed and we're seeing if they're what we want.

"You're not going to get everyone you want though. It was a good game of football in hot conditions, it was quite a good tempo as well, so I was pleased with it. Defensively we were solid, their goal was the only chance they had, we were just a bit rusty up top."

Bantick is one player who was with the club last season who is still part of the Brentwood set-up, and Whitton – who has brought a number of players with him from Grays – was pleased with his efforts, as well as some of his other new faces.

"It was very good, a great finish," he added. "He had two strikes, one from a 25-yard free-kick which the keeper saved well.

"There's a few of them, the new boy Jake Cass was man-of-the-match and John Bradley who we've got from Concord played well too. We played some good stuff, we kept the ball for long periods and it was good."

The Ryman League season is scheduled to start on August 10, and although it could yet be delayed after Thurrock lodged an appeal against their relegation to an arbitration panel, Whitton is planning as normal.

"You don't know what they're going to do," he added. "Whether they'll stop the Thurrock games or stop all the games but we've just got to carry on and keep preparing for the tenth.

"We've got two games on Saturday, Barking and Harold Wood.

"We'll take a team to each and after those games I'll probably decide on quite a few players and we'll whittle the squad down to probably 20 and then we'll start working on formations, passages of play and individuals."

AN EMBATTLED community near a picturesque country park has called for help to stop the onslaught of weekend day trippers ruining their environment.

Homes near Thorndon Country Park South, off Brentwood Road, have been caught up in a deluge of "out-of-town" visitors enjoying the recent warm weather.

But residents say the park cannot cope with the number of visitors, resulting in weekends of "traffic chaos" and people urinating on their doorsteps.

Police were called to a gathering earlier this month as cars blocked Brentwood Road , preventing drivers' access to their homes.

Revellers left eight container bins overflowing and the park's single toilet over-used.

"It's got bigger and bigger," began Sean Farrelly, 39, who has lived in the area all his life. "There's always this big explosion that happens whenever the weather is nice.

"You get a week like we've just had and because it happens so rarely it goes bonkers in there.

"I'd have thought if the council want to run this barbecue it should be properly organised.

"On the weekdays and the rest of the year it's fine but last Sunday I counted about 115 cars that couldn't get into the car park.

"They've got to provide some alternative because the toilet in the Pavilion Café is the only facility in that park."

An action plan was drawn up following an emergency meeting between Essex County Council chiefs and police in June 2009.

The authorities agreed police would:

Target visitors who park illegally outside the park, including along the grass verge on Brentwood Road

Issue £80 fines to culprits

Signs would be erected to warn culprits illegal parking could result in prosecution

Consider banning barbecues from the park.

Mr Farrelly's near neighbour, Sharon Watts told the Gazette nothing has been done and now the barbecues must be stopped.

"I was on the phone to the police to ask for help but all I was told to do was to stay in my home.

"The only police there were community support officers who do a good job but all they can really do is concentrate on parking up cars.

"The police should be doing what police are meant to do and bring some order."

"The local people can't use the park on a Sunday but we're the people who pay the council tax – we can't even get into our own park.

"I generally try not to go out on a Sunday but if I did it would be mad trying to get from the A127 to the A128."

Mrs Watts added she did not consider there is the infrastructure at the park to cope with the weight of demand.

"If they want to run this they've got to consider where all the vehicles can park.

"There's only one toilet and it's totally overwhelmed but all the council care about is the money.

They've got to enlarge the car park and put in toilets.

"It appears to me that the council don't want to do anything to help."

Mrs Watts's husband Stephen added that the situation was often "manic" outside the park and agreed the infrastructure of the park cannot match the demand.

"I was walking the other day and a guy in his 50s was urinating in the ditch in front of the house. This is on the side of this main road he's not trying to conceal himself.

"I saw another man who had a bit of tissue in his hand, he saw me and stopped and I walked on. But I looked again and he was behind the bush.

"It's unbelievable; it can't go on like this."

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: "Essex County Council is aware of the current situation regarding Thorndon Country Park South. We are looking at this carefully to investigate what potential measures can be taken to minimise disruption and support local residents."

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Police work with local authorities to ensure residents are able to live, work and play in our county in a safe environment.

"Officers would urge anyone who experiences threatening behaviour, dangerous road conditions or any incidents of antisocial behaviour at Thorndon Country Park to contact police on 101 or 999 if an emergency.

"Matters of illegal parking should be raised with the relevant local authority."

Any residents wishing to discuss their concerns with police should contact Insp Paul Wells at Brentwood police station on 101.

DUCKS have been barred from entering their own duck house following the involvement of Essex Police and wildlife officials.

Four years after Parliament was engulfed in scandal involving expense claims, a duck house has caused political red faces once more.

What was intended to be an upbeat community project to encourage wildlife to Mosbach Pond in Hutton has ended with the entrance to a wooden duck house being stuffed with a cushion by the very councillor who put it there.

For, just weeks after it was put in place, the duck house has been condemned because it may attract feathered wildlife that eat endangered great crested newts.

It was only last year that residents cleared out the small pond, off Mosbach Gardens in the Thriftwood estate.

As reported by the Gazette they were even more delighted when a pair of devoted ducks were found cruising up and down in February, three years since waterfowl were last seen.

And to add to the aesthetics, Cllr Mark Reed, who co-ordinated the clear up, had added the final touch of a happy home for any ducks wishing to breed.

The plans and efforts of the community initially went unnoticed by an anonymous female amphibian admirer – until the arrival of the duck house. Essex Police were then informed.

The woman, who does not want to be named, said: "Mosbach Pond is a breeding pond for several amphibian species including common frogs, common toads, smooth newts, palmate newts and the protected species – great crested newts.

"Their siting of a duck house is completely inappropriate and also illegal as ducks will predate the newts."

PC Adam Long, Essex Police wildlife officer, has since advised Mr Reed to remove the duck house.

He said: Wildlife Law is not simple. People are advised to seek advice from wildlife offices, Natural England or the Wildlife Trust before they do something like this.

"If the ducks want to go there on their own accord, that's fine.

"The residents have got together to improve the pond and that should be applauded but you can't do something that might attract them through human intervention."

Mr Reed, who has since blocked up the duck house, said: "I am sorry it has come to this. It was done with all the best intentions.

"But on a positive note we have a pond that is thriving beautifully."

Roy Ormsby, head of Street Scene at Brentwood Borough Council said: "We appreciate the efforts made by Councillor Reed and residents to clean up the pond. However, the duck house that has been erected might be better situated in an area where there is not a breeding population of newts and our officers are meeting with Cllr Reed this week to agree a relocation."

SHAUN TAIT was delighted to put his previous Oval nightmare behind him as he helped Essex to defeat Surrey on Monday night.

The 30-year-old was a main figure in the Eagles' win and relished the chance to play in London again, despite bad memories of the Ashes series in 2005 for Australia.

"It was a bit of a blur because I was a young guy back then and there was lot riding on that game," Tait said.

"I didn't go too well. I remember mis-fielding a lot, they weren't good memories.

"I had a good time, though, against Surrey on Monday and I played a one-day game at the Oval once before which I won, so it's not all doom and gloom.

"It was good to come and beat a team like Surrey. They're a pretty strong county and I think we needed to win this game as well.

"It takes a little bit of pressure off but we've got a good rest now and haven't got a game until Sunday.

"Our bowling wasn't great as we were a bit loose in the first overs and it was a slow wicket.

"I didn't adapt that well but the last three overs were much better."

Essex made relatively easy work of their run chase, with Hamish Rutherford and Greg Smith in brutal form.

And it turned out to be an expensive evening for sponsors Kia, who had to shell out £1,000 three times to eagle-eyed spectators for catching three of their sixes in the crowd.

"These guys in the crowd with beers in their hand are taking hangers themselves – it's a joke," said Tait.

"Hamish was good, and we were saying in the changing room that a big score was around the corner for him.

"Most games he's started off our batting really well and he's going to be a serious player for New Zealand in the future."

Meanwhile, another top hitter in the form of Surrey's Ricky Ponting also drew praise from his fellow countryman.

"It was nice to see him bat again," Tait said. "Of course, it was nice for us to win but nice for him to get some runs too.

"He was my first captain for Australia, and my only captain pretty much, but he's a good man and respected here in England."

Tait is certainly enjoying his time playing for Essex and says it was important he knew a few of the players before joining.

"It's been good and there are a good bunch of blokes here," he said. "I knew a few of the guys before I came here, so it was easy knowing three or four of them.

"I had played with Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate in Bangladesh, and I had played against a few of them too. It's relaxed and good to be a part of."

BURNHAM RAMBLERS boss Keith Wilson admits excitement is building around the club after the Ryman League fixtures were released on Wednesday.

Wilson's newly-promoted side will begin their season at Waltham Abbey on August 10, with their first home game against Needham Market three days later.

Erith & Belvedere visit on August 17, while seven days later comes their first derby clash of the season when they travel to face Maldon & Tiptree.

A trip to Waltham Forest awaits on Boxing Day, with the return against Maldon on New Year's Day, while the games with Heybridge Swifts are on November 30 and March 29.

And Wilson said: "It's definitely hit home now.

"It might be a little bit strange for some of our lads playing Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but that's what it's about, it's organised, serious football now.

"You've got to play everybody, so we can't moan and groan too much.

"Waltham Abbey away, it could have been an easier start, it could have been a tougher start. Their pitch is notoriously poor so it will be nice to go there when it's probably at its best.

"Then it's Needham Market at home, they're one of the bigger teams so that will be a tough test and then Erith who have just come up from the Kent League.

"The first three games, I'm not going to set a points tally but we've got to play everybody, it could have been worse and it possibly could have been better.

"I'm not going to complain, we're pleased to be in it and the excitement is starting to build, so roll on August 10."

Aside from the clashes with Needham and Maldon, the Ramblers have a decent start to life in the Ryman League Division One North, and Wilson believes they have an opportunity to set a good foundation for the season.

"We have got a chance," he added. "The season won't settle down, especially with the cup competitions, until late September so if we can get a couple of results under our belt early on then you never know.

"Barring Needham and Maldon we haven't really picked out any of the supposed big spenders in the early weeks so there's a chance for us there to make a good start."

Wilson's men began their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Canvey Island on Saturday, and he admitted he was frustrated by their first-half showing.

"We didn't do ourselves justice first half but a lot better second half," he added.

"I've had ten or 11 trialists turn up, which has been good and hopefully we've picked out three or four of them to add to the squad, so we're just starting to narrow it down a little bit.

"Everyone's worked hard, they're enjoying it and all getting on, so I think we just want the season to start now."

Meanwhile, the club's groundsman Shaun Pugh has again been nominated for the FA's Groundsman of the Year awards, a nomination which Wilson said was "well-deserved".

The full list of Burnham, Maldon and Heybridge's Ryman League Division One fixtures is available on our website, www.essexchronicle.co.uk.

THE death of a man after a fire in Chelmsford this week could have been prevented by a working smoke alarm.

Firefighters were called to the property on the corner of Eves Crescent and Kings Road, Melbourne, shortly before 7pm on Monday evening where they found a man dead from smoke inhalation following a small fire in the bedroom.

The death is the third in Essex in just eight weeks where officers found broken or powerless smoke alarms in the home.

"When we were in the property we found the man had two smoke detectors present but one was not switched on, and the other had a dead battery," said divisional officer Neil Fenwick.

"A working smoke alarm could have been enough to save this man's life. It would have given him and his neighbour's a warning that something was wrong.

"Although the fire was only small, it was the smoke it created which proved to be deadly. This is the case with all fires; it only takes a few breaths of toxic smoke to kill.

"That is why smoke alarms are so important. They give vital early warning at the first sign of smoke giving everyone in the home time to get out safely before calling the fire service."

The fatality follows the death of an 82-year-old grandmother in Skerry Rise, Chelmsford, on May 25. She suffered horrific burns to 70 per cent of her body following a cooking accident.

And just three weeks earlier a father from Stanley Road, Clacton, perished following a blaze in his terraced house.

In both cases officers found smoke alarms had been fitted but were not working as batteries had either run out or been removed.

Following Monday's death fire officers were stationed in Kings Road yesterday morning (Wednesday), speaking to residents about fire safety to prevent future casualties, while people gathered to sort through the victim's belongings just minutes away.

They refused to comment.

"These three fires have all come in quick succession and illustrate how important it is to regularly test your smoke alarms once a month," said DO Fenwick.

"It takes less than a minute to test an alarm. If it doesn't work then replace the batteries or the alarm straight away and hoover out the inside to clean it thoroughly. These alarms are absolute lifesavers."

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service carries out home fire safety visits in which a trained technician will visit your home and do a full home fire safety check, including fitting smoke alarms, completely free of charge.

To arrange a home fire safety visit, call 0845 601 2495.

HUNDREDS of pupils enjoyed a great day at the Brentwood Middle School District Athletics event.

The annual event at Hutton All Saints' Primary School was, as always, carried out over two days.

The teams of pupils from Years 3-6 took part in various events, beginning with the field events – high jump, long jump and throwing. The finale was made up of the running events.

Competitors took part in the sprints – 60 or 80m – a long distance race and a relay.

Bentley St Paul's led by four points from St Joseph's after the field events, and they managed to hold on to win by three points on 117 points, with St Joseph's second with 114.

It was the first time the school had won the competition and a fitting finale for Diana Dawson, a parent who has voluntarily trained the Bentley St Paul's team for the past 15 years.

Sports teacher Lisa Kemp said: "What a fantastic achievement for Mrs Dawson and the pupils, which they thoroughly deserved after all the effort and hard work they have put in.

"The school is very grateful to Mrs Dawson for her time and effort and I hope I can continue where she left off."

Joe Durham, the PE co-ordinator at Hutton All Saints, said: "It was a very successful day.

"The sun was shining and it was great to see so much support for the children.

"It was a pleasure to host the event and we look forward to doing so again in the future."

JESSICA JUDD was disappointed to finish second in her quest for a national title in Birmingham last week – but the Chelmsford AC runner still did enough to earn a spot at the World Championships in Moscow next month.

Judd won silver at the Sainsbury's British Championships in Birmingham as Marilyn Okoro ran a tactically more astute race to take 800m gold.

The 18-year-old will now look to the European Junior Championships in Rieti this weekend, where she'll seek to upgrade her world 800m silver from 2012.

And, after a season that has seen her win her first Diamond League race – the Sainsbury's Grand Prix in Birmingham – the European team title and carve more than a second off her personal best, she has been named on Britain's Moscow-bound World Championship team.

But such is the pace of Judd's progress this season, she admitted being beaten by experienced major championship performer Okoro was still a big blow.

"The race didn't really go how I wanted it to. I never really felt good or in control, which for me was a bit of a bummer straight away," she said.

"The first lap was slower than I thought and as soon as I saw it was over 60 seconds I knew Marilyn had got it, I worked my socks off down the back straight but it just wasn't enough.

"I am really happy to come second but I am disappointed at the same time because I go into every race to win. I guess everyone has to have one bad run but I am devastated it was the final.

"I have done enough to get selected for Moscow and before that I am looking forward to Rieti."

Judd – a national bronze medallist 12 months ago – left the Alexander Stadium with strapping on her calf and admitted the untimely injury also impacted on her preparations for a medal upgrade.

"I had a bit of a calf problem which is a totally new experience for me," she added.

"I felt like I had a tight calf and it is a tendon in my Achilles that is inflamed.

"I've been taking tablets and icing but unfortunately it wasn't enough. But it should be fine.

"I had never had that before and it is probably nothing serious but mentally it is quite hard to get around. I felt upset before the race and extra nervous and that nervous energy cost me a win."

Sainsbury's British Championships is the second event in the Sainsbury's Summer Series. For more information on Sainsbury's support of world class athletics and disability sport go to www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/occasions/anniversary-games/

WITH nothing but a small pair of red trunks, a few sponges and a bucket of water, a group of friends raised hundreds of pounds over the weekend from a charity car wash.

The four topless hunks gathered in the car park opposite the Riverside Inn, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, on Saturday to offer passing motors a hand wash – and a pleasant view while they waited – in exchange for a donation toward their upcoming expedition in aid of the Prince's Trust.

"I think our outfits went down pretty well with customers actually," said one of the 'hunks in trunks', James Hirst, who was joined by brother Tom, and friends Lee Moore and Chris Wilson on the day, with fifth team mate Chris Diggle unable to take part.

"We had no complaints or children crying at least, so I it seemed like it went really well, and we managed to raise £485 in the process," said James.

"I wanted to choose something to wear which was eye-catching and a little bit ridiculous too, so that's how the trunks came about.

"But it was actually harder than we thought it would be in the heat.

"I imagined washing one car then stopping for a bit of a chat and a rest, but as it turned out we had six or seven queuing up at any one time."

All funds raised from Saturday's efforts will be put toward the Chelmsford boys' fundraising challenge in September for which they will hike, bike and kayak 100 miles over three days, racing coast to coast across Somerset and Devon.

The UK Wild Challenge has so far raised about £1 million for the Prince's Trust, which supports young people in their business ventures, and helps them to turn their lives around.

"One of our team has worked closely with the charity and even mentored some of the kids himself which is why he was keen to put a team together this year," said James, 31.

"He's done it before and this time around he's looking for us to win as a team, but we're feeling pretty confident. We're training really hard with Essex Boot Camp and enjoying it – now we just need to raise the money."

The five must raise £5,000 before the event from September 6 to 8 and have a number of other fundraisers planned in the coming months.

"We've already had lots of support from business Rates Ford in Grays, and BRN Groundwork, so a big thank you to them," said James, who runs boot camps in Cambridgeshire.

"And anyone who donates over £20, including at the car wash, will be in with a chance to win an iPad 3."

BRENTWOOD motorists are facing a summer of severe disruption with the start of a major scheme to lay a high voltage underground power cable across the borough.

Many are angry at the lack of warning ahead of the start of a prolonged period of roadworks as a cable is laid from Brentwood Station to Wash Road straight through the middle of the town.

Work also started on Wash Road, Hutton, on Monday, causing disruption, with two-way traffic lights in place until August 10.

From today (Wednesday), Middleton Hall Lane in Brentwood will be closed until August 15 as part of the UKPower scheme.

The works are not scheduled to finish until October.

The scheme has taken many by surprise.

Adrian Tidbury, asset and technical manager at Brentwood Borough Council tried to organise a presentation to the Highways Panel, but Essex County Council did not consider it relevant – despite the contractors and UK Power Networks being willing to take questions.

The works in Brentwood are part of a £14 million scheme that will see 27km of power cables replaced between Shenfield and Dagenham.

The company is seeking to improve the reliability of supply for customers in Brentwood, Romford and Gidea Park.

In an e-mail Mr Tidbury told Hutton ward councillor Russell Quirk : "This work will be disruptive and will be handled totally by Essex County Council.

"I have been able to insist that the majority of the works, particularly adjacent to schools etc, is completed during the holidays and that there will be a number of teams all working at the same time to get the work done in different areas, although I don't recall seeing any temporary closure notices sent through."

Gerry Bender of Save Brentwood Action Group said he was dismayed at the lack of warning.

He said: "I attended the pantomime that purported to be an Ordinary Council meeting last week.

"Not one word about this impending chaos was mentioned.

"One would have thought that a project, which closes off Queens Road for two months, Rose Valley and other roads was of significance.

"At the end of the day it is the electorate residents, businesses and our poorly-maintained environment that will suffer."

Councillor Barry Aspinall, who had experience working on power cabling for the London Underground, could not see why the cable could not run along the railway – the two substations are both situated close to the tracks.

He said: "This is outrageous. As far as I am concerned there is no reason why they can't put the new cable along the side of the railway.

"It would remove the need to dig up the road, which is going to cause chaos and in all likelihood, the contractors will end up damaging pipes and drains that are already beneath the road.

"Remember this is going past seven schools."

Mr Quirk said: "It is appalling that Brentwood councillors are not informed about such a significant thing as major road closures that effect the whole of the borough."

Keith Parker, chairman of Brentwood's highways panel, has insisted that councillors have known about it for some time.

He added: "It seems the contractors have decided to do road closures and have responded to our request.

"We asked for road closures, which would be quicker than having a two-way traffic light system."

An Essex County Council spokesman said: "While Essex County Council is aware of these utility works, they are the responsibility of the utility company and not the county council.

"If residents wish to find out more information about these works, they can contact UK Power Networks."

UK Power Networks says that in built-up or residential areas power cables are normally placed underground to reduce the risk of damage.

Project manager for UK Power Networks Chris Sugars, who is heading up the scheme, said: "This is a large-scale project which shows our commitment to ensuring power supplies remain reliable for our customers now and into the future.

"We have worked closely with the local authorities in each area to ensure we cause the least disruption possible to residents and motorists.

"We will also be liaising with residents and businesses in each of the areas where this vital work is being carried out and keeping them informed if they are likely to be inconvenienced in any way."

A SUPERB weekend for Alex Lynn brought him a race win to top a hat-trick of podium finishes in the latest round of the FIA Formula Three European Championship at the Norisring in Germany.

Lynn won the second race of the weekend and was third in the other two.

The victory was his second in the European Championship, and his podium strike rate represented the first time he has finished in the top three in all races at one race weekend in the series.

The 19-year-old from Dunmow was one of the pacesetters throughout the event, held on the tricky streets of Nuremberg. It is a track he had only raced at once before and he was not convinced that he would be as strong as at other venues.

But Lynn qualified his Mercedes-powered Prema Powerteam Dallara fourth, second and third. Incredibly, his fourth position on the grid for race one was just seven thousandths of a second from pole position in an unprecedented close session.

"It's amazing," he said. "That's unbelievably close. Our pace looks good and I'm close enough to pole for all three races.

"I was actually a tenth of a second up in the first sector on one lap in qualifying for races one and two, but I made a mistake and still went faster.

"That could have been pole, but possibly everybody would say that they lost time somewhere."

In a dramatic first race, Lynn moved up to third at the start and remained as one of the closely bunched top six in a race that featured two safety-car periods.

In race two, Lynn made a terrific start to beat poleman Marciello into the first corner. From then on he built a one-second lead over Rosenqvist, but try as he might he could not stretch it any further, as the leading group set a relentless pace in 30-degree heat.

But eventually Rosenqvist had to start defending, and that gave Lynn a useful buffer.

"I made a great start to that one," he said. "I managed to pass Raffaele into turn one.

"For three quarters of the race I was pushing like crazy to pull away from Felix, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief when I could see that he was having to deal with Lynnander Sims and Raffaele behind him.

"That gave me a nice cushion for having to cope with the backmarkers towards the end of the race.

"It was a really hard race, especially when you're out front, leading the way. I wasn't very strong here last year, so I've come away with a win that I really wasn't expecting. It feels nice."

In the final race, Lynn maintained his third position from the start. After fending off a challenge from his friend and ex-Formula Renault team-mate Tom Blomqvist, he was able to challenge Marciello for second place but could not find a way past the Italian.

The results move Lynn up to third place in the championship, a big confidence boost as the series now heads into a five-week summer break before the next round, which is back in Germany at the Nurburgring on August 16 to 18.

MAKING rockets to launch across the classroom, solving a murder, programming Lego robots and building bridges out of newspaper were the fun tasks set as an induction to secondary school life for more than 130 girls.

Swapping their primary classrooms for the labs at Chelmer Valley High School, the girls, aged nine and 10, from nine different schools, spent a day taking part in science and engineering experiments.

"This is really cool and exciting," said Samantha Stacey, 10, from Great Waltham Primary School.

Chelmer Valley has been holding these girls-only engineering days for its feeder primary schools for about seven years.

Its director of engineering Suzanne Mycock explained: "The aim is to show young girls that engineering and science are not macho subjects. They require skills such as creativity, team working and problem-solving, all of which many girls have a natural ability for. Since we have started promoting these subjects to girls we have seen a much bigger intake in the subject by females at GCSE and A-level."

Dressed in a NASA spacesuit, physics teacher James Hannan swills a water cooler bottle with alcohol, then lights a touch paper and sends it flying across the room. Highly impressed, the girls then create their own rockets from plastic bottles.

Emma Pass, 10, from Ford End Primary School, said: "It's brilliant. I never realised science could be so much fun."

Emma is working with Eloise Barron, 10, from Boreham Primary School, who said: "It's nice to meet different people and make new friends."

In another room girls are using newspaper to make a bridge which will support weights of between four and five kilograms. They are aided by representatives from Chelmsford-based E2V.

Chris Hawkins, apprentice manager at the company, said: "They're doing really well. The first group came up with some fantastic designs, which were really strong and could hold a heavy weight."

Katie Mitson, 10, from Great Waltham, said: "I'm really enjoying it today."

In the technology rooms the girls are using simple programming to make a Lego robot move around a straight line course.

They test the robots and have to tweak the programs until they are successful. Sue Anderson, head of technology, explains the task and then sits back and allows the girls to get on with it.

"They all rise to the challenge," she said.

"They quickly learn the task is about problem-solving decision-making, cooperation. They're totally focused."

Upstairs in a biology lab the fourth and final task is taking place

Ten-year-old Nyah Law, 10 of Little Waltham Primary School explains: "This is a CSI investigation. There has been a murder and there are three suspects. We had to use chemicals to find the DNA of the guilty person.

"I liked science before I came here today but now I think it's even more fun."

The primary schools involved in the day were: Great Waltham Primary, Little Waltham, Broomfield, Boreham, Newlands Spring, Ford End Great Leighs, St Pius and Melbourne Park.