Dunmow Town edge past Earls Colne, but High Easter beaten by Barnston

The Royals took the lead within 80 seconds as Stuart Zanone played Mitchell May through to slot home.

And they would double their advantage in the 15th minute when Dembele fired a thunderous shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Zanone went close to making it 3-0 before the break when his shot rattled the woodwork.

And the Royals had more chances to extend their lead in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, before the tide began to turn.

The visitors started to get more of a foothold in the game after the hour mark and had a good chance to halve the deficit from close range on 84 minutes but could not take it.

They did find the net three minutes later, though, with a header from a cross to set up a tense finale and went close to levelling in stoppage time.

But Royals had a let-off as the header was sent over the crossbar and they claimed the points.

Action from High Easter's clash with Barnston (Image: Jon Weaver)

*High Easter were edged out 2-1 by AFC Barnston in the Braintree & North Essex Sunday League's John Horrocks Memorial Trophy.

They had to start with only 10 players due to a late arrival and were then reduced to that number again when Lewis Roe suffered an injury, due to a lack of substitutes.

Josh Breeze and opposite number Louis Martin had to produce good saves in the opening stages, before Barnston took the lead from the penalty spot through Isaac Falk, whose effort was pushed onto a post and found the net.

Barnston hit the upright in the second half and Roe had a shot saved by Martin, before Connor Fincham made it 2-0 with a good strike.

High Easter managed to pull a goal back thanks to a brilliant shot from distance by Warren Baines and had chances to get back on terms, but Barnston held on for victory.