WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's opening day league action

The new Corinthian football season got underway on Sunday with a host of fixtures across the five divisions.

PREMIER DIVISION

Newly promoted Emerson Park opened their maiden campaign of Premier Division football with an opening day win at Repton Park. Last year’s Division One runners-up saw off their opponents in a 4-2 victory with Ross Fraser and Jesse Spearing goals proving not quite enough for the Repton boys.

DIVISION ONE

Newly formed Ultimate Vision took the opening day honours in Division One as, after a scoreless and closely fought first half, a goal-filled second period saw eight goals. Bekim Dushku scored a brace for East London Old Boys but a Vision hat-trick for Ryan Chapman and further strikes from Joseph Morris, Luke Thomas and Sean Bush completed a 6-2 win and maximum points.

Also securing a big opening day win were promoted Park Tavern who travelled to Aldborough Hatch and came away with a 5-2 win. David Hornsby was back amongst the goals with teammates Tyrell Philips, Rodney Sarsah-Wilson, Ricky Beard and Sipho Mtyanda also getting on the scoresheet to render Hatch goals from James Gibbings and Daniel Wright as consolation.

A topsy-turvy clash between Barking & Dagenham Wanderers and promoted Waltham Athletic was only settled by an odd goal as Waltham started their maiden Division One campaign with a 4-3 win. Hamzy Jomanday, Nick Read and James Coupland were all scorers for the Wanderers but proving not quite enough on the day.

The final match in Division One saw a very closely fought match as Charlie Saywood scored Leyton Celtic’s first competitive goal in their club history. Promoted outfit FC Mexico fought back however to level the game at 1-1 and take a share of the spoils to open their points account.

DIVISION TWO

There were plenty of goals in Division Two’s opening clashes with Upshire the biggest winners, securing a 9-1 opening day victory against Lonsdale in Waltham Abbey.  There was a familiar surname on the Lonsdale scoresheet as Gjergji got the consolation goal… not Anton but Arjan on this occasion.

Flyhouse Athletic’s opening match in the league saw a comfortable looking 5-1 opening day win on the road at Masterman. Kevin Davidson scored the Masterman goal on their return to league action but Tyler Rothon’s hat-trick and goals from Josh Davis and Joshua Robinson were enough to settle the match for Flyhouse.

Another new side in the league this year, Barca, opened their league account on Sunday with a win at Dagenham United at Manor Road. Ryan Mallett’s goal scoring ability was undoubted as he netted four for Barca with Billy Bradley rounding things off. Joshua Craske and Jay Simmons were the Dagenham scorers who will look to bounce back strongly.

Chingford Athletic made their return to Corinthian action with a very tightly contested match away at Westferry Elite on the opening day. James Clarke netted a brace with Michael Boahene and Tom Pearce also scoring as they edged the match in a 4-3 victory.

DIVISION THREE

There was no shortage of action in the most entertaining match of the day on Sunday as promoted Goresbrook opened their Division Three campaign against new side Dagenham United Reserves at Warren School. Goresbrook led 4-1 at the break but were eventually pegged back to 6-6 at the end as Dagenham refused to give up. Charlie Barrett scored a hat-trick for Goresbrook with Liam Coney, Samuel Berry and William Cox also netting. However a Sean Thomas hat-trick in reply plus goals from Nathan Thomas, Gary Adams and George Martin levelled things in dramatic style.

There was another Dagenham derby on the opening Sunday also as Roneo Colts made their league debut with the visit of Morfdown Elect to Robert Clack. Another closely fought clash saw Blane Barwick and Adam Davis both score for Elect. However, goals from William Chapman, Reece Carter and Jamie Hart confirmed a 3-2 win for Colts to open their account.

The remaining game of the day in Division Three saw Ridgeway Rovers resume battle with fellow Division Three side from last season, Alpha. Rovers continued the positive work of their first season with a solid 2-0 win to open their season in style.

DIVISION FOUR

The early leaders in Division Four are Central Colts as last season’s cup finalists started their season in emphatic style with a 6-0 win at home to newly formed Bata United. Jimmy Turner scored twice with Grant Lungley, Tunde Olagunju, Curtis Taylor and Shannon Nyabunze also netting to take home the points.

One of the league’s new sides, Thames Ironworks Community, opened their debut season with a hard fought victory as they beat Epping Forest Falcons 4-2 in an entertaining match. Tony Bones’ brace plus strikes from Liam Tracey-Cesay and Kurt Smith completed the win, cancelling out a wonder strike from Epping’s Ryan Lawless and a goal from Peter Andrew.

The remaining match in the division saw two of the league’s newest outfits come face to face on the opening day as Custom House Community took on Highams Park Royals. A very close match was settled by just a single goal as Ashley Mills scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory to hand Royals the win.