WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from opening weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

Corinthian football returned for a new season at the weekend and it saw a familiar name putting themselves back at the top end of the table as Flyhouse Athletic produced a terrific opening day performance to beat league new boys, Club 1017, in a 4-0 scoreline. Jake Fenton, Solomon Ogunwomoju, Abs Thompson and Kieran James were all in scoring form to send them to victory.

Sitting in second after the first round of games are FLY who overcame a scare in their game away at promoted Total Football, coming from behind twice in the game to eventually settle it 6-3 in their favour. Carl Parsons netted two and Oliver Marshall once for the Loughton based hosts but the visitors’ extra bit of fitness told towards the end to give them the points.

Over at Newbury Park, another of the promoted sides was in opening day action as Critics made the short trip to Brook Athletic and will have been pleased with the outcome, taking a point from a tricky away game to start the season in a 2-2 draw. Warren Kayembe and Will Gleeson scored for Brook with Dylan Florence and Hayes Thomas goals levelling it for Critics.

DIVISION ONE

The first Division One fixture of the season saw a Benchviews make the trip to Dagenham to take on Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. In what proved to be a tightly contested game, it was settled by in Benchviews’ favour by the odd goal as Connor Leon and Joseph Belcher goals won it 2-1, despite Nick Read’s strike from the hosts.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, promoted Belfry have moved straight to the summit with a win at the weekend, defeating fellow promotes, Ainslie, at Wadham Lodge. Nial Mullins struck for the hosts but Belfry goals from Luke MacDonald, Nathan Casey and Jamie Redington ensured they returned home with the points.

Over at Chigwell Lane, it was a winning start to the new campaign for Debden Sports Reserves who were up against FC Galaxy on Sunday, the sides producing a five goal thriller to kick things off. Will Osmond scored two for the hosts with Joseph Cloake netting the other, rendering Galaxy goals from Mihalache Dumitru and Mihai Mareniuc as just consolation.

It was a winning start to the season for Cloud 9 who followed up a positive pre-season campaign with a win in the league, defeating new boys East London Ballers by the odd goal in a 2-1 victory. Elliot Hastings and Jake Griffin were both on the scoresheet for the hosts to give them the best of starts for the new season.

And that same scoreline was reflected in the division’s other fixture which saw Daglanta make their debut in the competition with a home game against Leytonstone Athletic at Ashton Playing Fields. Another close game was settled by the odd goal with host goals from Excellence Muhemba and Gersi Lika giving them a 2-1 win, despite Jack Kaminski’s effort for the visitors.

DIVISION THREE

City Site are the early leaders in Division Three as they opened up their season with a strong performance against new members, South Ilford Catholics. The promoted side had Frederick Mattock to thank as he scored twice with one apiece from Alex Paraskeva and Robbie Farrell making it a 4-2 win. Dylan Friday and Jaudaan Zubair both struck for South Ilford in their debut fixture in the league.

It was a winning return for Asianos Vets who had a late winning goal to thank for their victory, overcoming Barking late on to win 3-2. Morli Bangura and Berty Fritch goals looked to have given the hosts a share of the spoils but Zubeer Chohan, Anjum Malik and Yaaseen Patel efforts meant that it was Asianos who took a narrow victory.

Up at Town Mead, Upshire Forest made a winning start to the new season as they took on a highly fancied JP8 side making their competitive debut in the competition. Owen Rice struck with the JP8 goal but Rhys Thurgood and Freddie Bose efforts ensured the points headed home with the hosts in a 2-1 scoreline.

There was a six-goal thriller to round off the division’s action as two of last season’s mid-table finishers, Singh Sabha Barking and Valence United, went toe-to-toe in Newbury Park. Emmanuel N’Daw and Indervir Virdi goals were equalled by strikes from Rowan Newland (2) and Ryan Knight as the game finished in a 3-3 draw.

DIVISION FOUR

It was a terrific start to the new season for Colebrook Royals Reserves who after ending last season unbeaten in the league, started this term in good form, beating debutants Kit Out London in an 8-1 soreline. A hat-trick of braces from Oscar Simmons, Kamran Latif and Brandon Fulton set Royals on their way with Brandon Richmond and Phorell Brooke completing the scoring.

Byron Red Star were also in goalscoring form in their first outing of the new season, last year’s cup finalists producing five goals in a 5-2 home success against Eastern Avenue at Hylands Park. Adrian John scored two, Alfie King, Denzel Mensah and Nahad Salim the others as Byron racked up their first three point haul of the campaign.

It was also a winning start for Prospect Protégé who travelled to Horse & Well on the opening day of the new season and came away with all three points. Joe Powell struck twice and James Connolly once for Well but Alexander Brennand’s brace in reply, plus goals from Tommy Burke, Jevonte Cassar and Ethan Kieran handed the victory to Prospect, 5-3.

Over at Westlands, it was also a good start to the season for Warren Senior who got their second season underway with a solid 4-1 winning performance against Woodford Town. Samuel May-Parrott scored twice for the visitors but Warren goals from Harry Glenister (2), Lewis Gardener and Anthony Cooke ensured the points went their way.

DIVISION FIVE

Ace Athletics are setting the early pace in Division Five as they picked up a big opening day win against promoted Young Royals in the Barkingside derby match. Paul Bergamini and Alex Mason both scored twice with Joshua Craske and Louie Seaman efforts completing a 6-1 win for the hosts to kick-start their campaign in a positive fashion.

It was also a good start for Manford Way who got their season underway with a trip to Dagenham to take on league debutants, May & Baker EC. Cieran Fox, Jake Crump and Brandon Pointer were all on the scoresheet for Manford as they made a 3-0 winning start to the season while Bakers will hope for a better showing next weekend.

Over at Castle Green, Alpha will have been pleased with their start to the new season as they defeated last year’s cup winners, Lonsdale, on the opening day of the new season, winning 3-1 through a brace of goals from Ryan Dodd and a Lee Avant effort. Christopher Roberts was the man on target with the Lonsdale consolation goal.

Another side making their debut in the competition were Coppice Row who opened up their first season in the league with the visit of promoted Royal Lions B to Loughton. Jack Speakman and Afolabi Olugbile were both on target for Row on the opening day to ensure they took a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw to get their first point.

DIVISION SIX

The goals were flying in Division Six with two sides locked at the top after the opening day of action, beginning at Whitbreads where Woodford Town Reserves started their season with a 4-1 home success against Barking Colts. Barney Kiernan scored two, Conor Medhurst and Thomas Murphy scoring the others to render Emmanuel Fowowe’s goal as consolation for Colts.

Over in Barking, it was the same scoreline for Valence United Reserves who made a good start to the season to beat FC Mexico B. Ryan Crowley scored two, Malakye Meade and Eligijus Dapkus one each to set Valence on the way to a 4-1 win, Alan Liddell netting in reply for the Mexicans as they hope for a better result next time out.

Mayfield Kings will have also been happy with the outcome of their seven-goal thriller against London Legacy, coming from behind to eventually edge the game 4-3 in Loughton. Ahmed Ali, Lloyd Barfour and Zakaria Najmi goals had put Legacy into the ascendancy but Kings responded with efforts from Tobi Ladipo, Younes Ferhani, Kiz Myaz and Farhan Subhan to secure an exciting win.

DIVISION SEVEN

Emerson & Upminster’s debut in the competition was a positive one as the young side put in a 5-1 winning performance at home against Zone 4 Athletic to start their season with all three points. Charlie Monaghan came off the bench to score twice, adding to strikes from Louis Cook-Forrester Archie Larkin and Flynn Treanor. Jon-Erik Bellot was the man on target with the Zone goal.

Colebrook Royals A were also in adult football action for their first outing, taking on fellow youth football graduates, Gatcliffe, at Old Dagenham Park. And it was Royals who will have ended the day the happier of the sides, taking a 3-0 win to move second in the standings after the opening round of fixtures.

It was a good morning for Debden Sports’ A side as their new season kicked off with a thrilling win by the odd goal in beating Epping Forest Falcons at Ashton Playing Fields. The visitors were 3-2 winners at the end of the game to record win number one of the campaign.

Completing the action in the division, Ping City Phoenixes and Warren United renewed acquaintances from the back end of the last campaign, competing in the Forest Road derby in Barkingside. The sides proved to be well matched once again, both having to settle for a share of the points in a 1-1 draw. Jack Flood was the man on target to “Ping” in for the hosts.