LPA South need to arrest their poor form quickly if they are to salvage their season in the Sceptre Sunday League.

The Wickford-based football club have had a torrid season to date, losing eight of their nine games in Division Four and sitting rock-bottom with a negative goal difference of 45.

But the team are hoping to bring some law and order to their play as the season continues, with the team of police officers confident of turning their dip in form around.

Manager, player, secretary and PC Chris Burch started the team at the beginning of the 2012/2013 season, in Division Eight of the Sceptre League, where the picture was much rosier.

And the Pitsea-based PC admits the side, which was originally made up entirely of local coppers but is now down to about 25 per cent police force, needs to start picking up results.

“It has been a funny season but we have lost some important players,” he said. “We used to have a squad of about 25 to 30 but we are now down to 16 and that makes things hard in one sense as we have lost good players, but it is easier to keep more people happy with a smaller squad.

“Being a PC, the shift patterns do vary and it is hard to get a stable team together at times. But we have had officers with ranks as high as sergeant and inspector turn out for the team and we would love for other officers to play for the club.

“Although we have struggled this season, we have enjoyed playing which is the most important thing for us.”

Burch previously coached the Basildon Upper Academy football team but, such was the interest from local bobbies in the south of the county, he started up LPA South.

In fact, Burch says the third season is proving the most testing of all, after back-to-back fourth-placed finishes and division cup final finishes in the previous two terms.

“Some of the boys went on to play semi-professional football after they left us,” said the 32-year-old. “That is great for them, but rebuilding is difficult. But we should certainly have enough about us to get out of this position.”

Canvey Phoenix sit at the top of the division, with 11 wins from their 13 games and are the next side to visit LPA South. Phoenix sit nine points clear of ShrimperZone FC in second, although third-placed Westcliff United could climb to the summit if they win their five games in hand.

In Division One, Attero (Basildon) remain top of the pile with six wins from seven games. Harry Fosh is top of the scoring charts for the league leaders, with 17 goals to date.

Trinity United (Billericay) are bottom with no points from their eight games to date.

In Division Two, Westwood Rangers (Hadleigh) sit top after nine games, four points ahead of second-placed Thamesgate (Southend).

The Southend-based side owe their lofty league position in part down to Chris Hall, who sits seven goals clear at the top of the scoring charts (19 goals).

In Division Three, Grange Celtic Bhoys (Southend) are eight points clear of chasing Prospects United (Canvey), with the chasing pack all pushing hard.

In fact, a third of the league’s top 15 scorers play for the league leaders, including the top three (Aaron Comerford, 18, Jason Mulligan, 17, and Dave Collins, 15).

Callback FC (Basildon) are propping up the table with only one win from 11 matches.

East Park (Southend) and Woodys (Canvey) are fighting it out for top spot in division five, although a host of midtable clubs have games in hand on the top two.

Thundersley Rovers and Berry Rangers Reserves (Basildon) are the bottom two.

Mornington Reserves (Canvey) remain top of Division Six, with 11 wins from 12 games, with their closest rivals, Richmond Rangers (Benfleet) 14 points adrift.

Foundry Athletic (Hadleigh), Benfleet Villa and Smithys (Southend) are the bottom three sides.