Excitement is growing as the remaining clubs in the BBC Essex Senior and Saturday Premier Cups aim to finish their campaigns with a prestige County Cup final and the prospect of some silverware following the broadcast of their quarter-final draws.

The later stages of both competitions are now taking shape and the pairings were revealed on-air by BBC Essex’s Glenn Pennyfather and Nick Alliker, who were the special guests pulling out the ties on Thursday 13th January.

Senior Cup

With a couple of Fourth Round games still to complete, the Senior Cup is almost down to the last eight clubs. Three National League South clubs are still involved, and Billericay Town’s reward for a 3-1 home win against Canvey Island is the right to host Hashtag United, who triumphed 2-1 at home to Heybridge Swifts.

Bowers & Pitsea impressively beat Chelmsford City on penalties following a 2-2 home stalemate in the last round. Now they host another Step 2 club, Braintree Town, who were 4-1 victors against Basildon United. Whoever progresses from Aveley, Barking or Grays Athletic welcome Concord Rangers, winners on penalties at home to Colchester United after a 1-1 draw.

The other tie consists of a pair of ‘either-ors’ as East Thurrock United or Coggeshall Town will eventually go head-to-head with Brentwood Town or Tilbury. Both their Fourth Round ties are scheduled to take place next Tuesday (18th January) and all the Quarter-Final matches are due to be completed on or before 5th February.

Saturday Premier Cup

Three-nil down at half time in their Fourth Round tie at Colne Athletic, Catholic United fought their way back to win 5-3, and their prize is a home Quarter-Final against Essex & Suffolk Border League leaders, Stanway Pegasus.

Elsewhere, the top two in the Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Basildon Town and Hutton, are still to determine who’ll reach the Quarter-Finals and travel to Sungate, who secured an excellent 5-1 victory against Harold Hill at home. Clapton Community, victorious at home to Leigh Ramblers, now play Manford Way, impressive winners at home to Chingford Athletic.

There’s a potential local derby in one of the other ties as Tiptree Heath, who went to Alresford Colne Rangers and did very well to win 4-1, host either Dunmow Town or Woodford East. Those quarter-final ties are scheduled to take place on Saturday 29th January.

BBC Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Finals (on or before 5th February)

Aveley or Barking or Grays Athletic vs Concord Rangers
Billericay Town vs Hashtag United
Bowers & Pitsea vs Braintree Town
East Thurrock United or Coggeshall Town vs Brentwood Town or Tilbury

BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup Quarter-Finals (Saturday 29th January)

Catholic United vs Stanway Pegasus
Sungate vs Basildon Town or Hutton
Clapton Community vs Manford Way
Tiptree Heath vs Dunmow Town or Woodford East