ON a day when many matches were off due to unfit pitches, defending Premier champions White Ensign climbed four places to ninth spot with only their fourth league win in 13 starts.

They triumphed 2-1 over Manford Way, who they now trail only on goal difference from a game more, with all the goals coming in the second-half at the Len Forge Centre in Eastwoodbury Lane.

With a number of established players unavailable, Ensign fielded two more teenagers in their starting line-up.

The visitors took a 68th-minute lead through Joe Lovell’s deflected effort, but Welcome Mtshali levelled with a volley from Dave Birnie’s left-wing cross eight minutes later.

And a powerful effort into the top corner from Birnie brought the points to the hosts seven minutes from the end.

Ensign are due to host Harold Wood Athletic at the Eastwoodbury Lane venue tomorrow. They have already pulled off a big win over the Southend side at the Len Forge Centre earlier this season and this was due to be Harold Wood’s home game.

But it has been switched to Eastwoodbury (7.45pm) as their home surface is currently unfit.

The only other local side to get into first team action were Linford Wanderers, who won 4-0 at Leytonstone United in Senior Division One.

Here postponed games included Rayleigh Town v Herongate Athletic, Hannakins Farm v Shell Club Corringham and Leigh Ramblers v Burnham Ramblers Reserves.

Ramsden v Basildon Town and Barnston v Runwell were off in Senior Division Two.