WEEK 10 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

With the top two both in cup action on Sunday, the sides in the chasing pack managed to cut the gap at the top with FC Ballr now sitting second in the table following their victory, a narrow 1-0 win against United Dian, a result which ended the latter’s perfect start. A single goal from Bari Allai was enough to separate the sides.

Also making up ground on the sides above, Baiteze Squad are now third with a game in hand on the sides above after they made it three wins and a draw from their first five games, beating Secret 5-2. Shomari Barnwell is a man who knows where the goal is and he scored twice, adding to strikes from Shermandin Artmeladze, Domingos Pires and Timi Kofoworola.

El Valiente were in some form on Sunday with a thumping 13-0 victory as they beat Alliance Stars by a big margin at Flanders. Aaron Marston came off the bench to score four goals, Rohan Francis and Calvin Poku both scored hat-tricks, Umar Ali netted a brace and Matt Ball grabbed the other to confirm a third league win for the hosts.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, Flyhouse Athletic took advantage of their closest rivals dropping points to close the gap at the top to four points. They were 6-1 victors on Sunday with a home win against Avintul as Tyrone Scarlett’s four goal haul set them on the way to the win. Kieran James and Lloyd John goals finished the job, rendering Dumitras Olari’s goal as just consolation.

There was an almighty comeback from third placed Belfry who fell 3-0 down against Roose with just twenty minutes to play. But two Jamie Redington goals plus a Sam Harold effort saw them recover the game to take a point in a 3-3 draw, though they did drop out of the promotion places as a result for the time being.

The final game saw a top versus bottom clash as Kulture Klub, winless so far this season, made the trip to Newbury Park to face Brook Athletic. In a game which was heavily stacked against Klub, they managed to take a point in a 2-2 draw, giving them much confidence for the weeks ahead. Tyrell Holder and Tim Monsiju scored the Brook goals to ensure they took a point.

DIVISION ONE

As both of the top two sides took part in cup ties, this enabled Abridge Village to cut the gap at the top somewhat with them making the trip to FC Mexico A in Hainault. A close game was narrowly won by the visitors as Perry Clarke and Leon Adeyemi goals made the difference for their side in a 2-1 scoreline, despite a Sam Bowles effort for the Mexicans.

The division’s other clash came from Harold Hill where Emerson Park were the hosts facing up to the challenge of AC Milano, the two sides starting level on points going into the game. By full-time, AC Milano had edged a narrow affair 3-2 with Joseph Mensah, Nadeem Khankhara and Umar Zinga goals all on the scoresheet.

DIVISION TWO

It’s as you were at the very top of Division Two with Eastbrook United sitting three points clear, aided by their hard fought win on Sunday against Korona Redbridge. Sebastian Bialas scored twice and Dawid Smolarek once for the hosts but United goals in reply from Fredericus Cunningham, Regan Downes and Matthew Morris gave Eastbrook a 4-3 win.

There was a win also for second placed St Augustines who completed a solid win against Total Football in Walthamstow to position themselves within striking distance of the league leaders. Goals from James Edelman and substitute Aaron Francis proved enough to separate the teams with the game ending 2-0 in Saints’ favour.

Roneo Colts are sitting third in the table but do see other sides around with games in hand. They continued another positive run with a big 8-1 victory on Sunday, defeating East London Harriers in Dagenham. Jack Hurley grabbed the Harriers goal but a Rob Kilminster hat-trick off the bench, two each for Dwayne Francis-Riley and Keenan Gravillis and a Shermar Marshalleck goal made it a Colts win.

The division’s final game came from East Ham where Thames Ironworks Community were the hosts to a Frenford side who were looking to build on some decent form in recent weeks. The sides started six points apart and finished the same as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Gaz Dauti netting the only goal for the hosts.

DIVISION THREE

In one of the tightest divisions there has been in a while, it’s all change again at the top of Division Three where Debden Sports Reserves completed the double over Alpha this season with a 6-2 win yesterday at the Flats. Will Osmond scored a hat-trick, Charlie Harper scored twice and keeper James Crowe also got on the scoresheet in a solid win for the visitors.

Monkhams are another of the sides challenging at the top for promotion and threw their hat into the mix with a win of their own at the weekend, defeating Windmill Warriors 4-1 at Loughton Playing Fields. Sam Snell scored twice with Valerio Phipps and Billy Shefford grabbing the others to move fifth in the table.

It’s been a difficult start to the campaign for Mayfield Kings but little steps are being taken though they did slip to another reverse over the weekend with a 6-2 home defeat against Inside Success. Shemar Morris and Tommy Ossei goals paved the way for victory with Abdifatah Ali and Quam Deen goals finishing things off.

DIVISION FOUR

The promotion picture in Division Four take another twist on Sunday with Blackwall Rovers inflicting a first defeat of the season on the leaders, Ainslie, Rovers winning 2-1 in just their third victory of the campaign. Nial Mullins was on the Ainslie scoresheet but effort proved not quite enough to avoid a first defeat for his side.

That result enabled United Amateurs to close the gap on the leaders to six points with a couple of games in hand, United beating Romford Athletic Dons 3-0. A goal apiece from Luke Howell, Peter Adeleye and Jack Chawner proved pivotal in taking the points and keeping their side well in the race for the title.

It was also an important morning for Ace Athletics who managed a third win of their season on Sunday with a narrow, hard fought win away at Titans United. Lee Huckle and Tom Mason were on the scoresheet for the visitors with the crucial goals which saw them close the gap on the sides above to a single point.

Hillside’s form in recent weeks has certainly been improved and they picked up an important point at home in Barkingside as they were visited by Chingford Athletic Reserves, the teams starting five points apart. Hillside were able to take a well earned point however with Buttrint Lecaj’s brace making it 3-3 on the day.

DIVISION FIVE

The gap at the top of the Division Five table has been cut to four points following the weekend’s results as Colebrook Royal Vets made ground on the leaders with a solid home win, defeating Ultimate Vision A 3-0 at The Grange. Joe Cole, Ben Sitki and Alexis Nicolas all found the back of the net to supply Royals with their sixth win of the season.

Custom House United also closed the gap on the sides towards the top as they earned themselves a point at home against leaders Belfry Reserves in Beckton. Alex Robinson and PJ Marcus scored for Belfry but Dockers goals from Russell Jones and Jamie Wooster secured a point in an eventual 2-2 draw.

Over in Hornchurch, it was good morning’s work for Byron Red Star who kept themselves in the top five with a big 8-1 win against Young Royals. James Thorne set the tone with a Star hat-trick, Adrian John and Ryan O’Connell both struck twice with Perry Robinson’s effort finishing things off and rendering Jakilan Rasan’s goal as just consolation.

Over at Hainault Rec, there was a close game between Royal Lions B and Eastern Avenue where the hosts were looking to improve on their recent form but came up against a confident Avenue outfit, the sides produce a five goal thriller. And it was Avenue who will have been the happier of the sides on the day, edging the contest 3-2 to go sixth.

DIVISION SIX

There were some important results in Division Six over the weekend where Mansfield Rangers were able to extend their lead at the top to eight points on their closest rivals as they ran out big 6-1 winners over Epping Royals. Daniel Booker grabbed the visitors’ goal but a four-goal performance from Jay Kanber plus efforts from Charlie Weston and Kemston Allen gave Rangers the points.

That result became even more important after second placed Royal Lions C slipped to their very first defeat as previously bottom of the table London Legacy pulled off a great result. Legacy fought back from 3-0 down to win it incredibly 4-3 as Chukwuemeka Atumonyogo, Yaqub Khichane, Mohamed Noor and Rommel Wilson goals stunned the visitors.

The final league game of the day came from Walthamstow where Ping City Phoenixes were the hosts to an improving Woodford Green United side, Green starting the game three points behind their opponents in mid-table. By full-time however, that deficit had been wiped out as they defeated Ping 6-2 to take a second league win and moving fifth.

COUNTY CUP

There were some great results for our clubs in the county cup competitions, starting in the Essex Sunday Junior Cup where Chingford Athletic made it into the hat for round three, defeating Runwell Sports down in Wickford. They now face Rochford Sports & Social in the next round.

There was a similarly impressive result for Theydon Green who travelled to Woodham Athletic and will have enjoyed the journey home having beaten their opponents in a 6-1 result, setting up a trip up to Colchester to face Feering Village later in the month.

There was a real close battle in the all-Corinthian tie of the round where Division Two’s Royal Lions A put up a real fight against Division One leaders Oceana, the game separated by just a single goal. Oceana were the scorers of that one goal to win 1-0 and will host Chadfleet United in round three.

The only casualties of the round were FC Galaxy who headed down the A13 on Sunday to take on Grays Athletic of the Thurrock Sunday League and having finished level at 1-1 at full time, were sadly defeated 3-1 in extra time to go out of the competition.

The Essex Sunday Junior Trophy proved equally successful for our sides with Imperial Row setting the tone for the day with a thumping 12-0 home win against a Wivenhoe United side who had made a long journey down to Aveley. They now take on Briar United in the next round.

There was a good win for Goresbrook who, of course, were finalists in the competition of two years ago and sought to repeat that feat on Sunday. They will be pleased with their morning’s efforts, defeating Newhall Rangers Reserves 4-1 at the Rec to go through to a tie against Colebrook Royals Reserves.

That match-up was made possible as Colebrook made it through themselves into the third round, seeing off the efforts of a very much in-form Old Southendian side who had only lost once this term, scoring forty six goals in the process. That makes Colebrook’s 2-1 win after extra time a very impressive feat.

There was another 2-1 win for another of our sides as Valence United returned back down the A127 with a victory under their belts, having seen off the aptly named Leigh Rockets on bonfire weekend down near the seaside.

And Valence will be facing United Borough in round three, the two Division Five rivals set to meet after the latter returned home from their trip to Harlow with a win under their belts, defeating Changing Lives 3-1 to continue their county cup quest.

Away day victories proved quite popular over the weekend and Upshire Forest clocked up a few more miles in this cup run with a further trip to Harlow where they took on Risden Wood Reserves and they again returned home victorious, winning 2-0 to set up a trip to Thames Rovers.

The final victory for our of clubs came from Highams Park where Higham Hill continued their journey with a home victory against Brooklands Reserves who had made a long trip down for the game. A 3-2 win for the hosts see them through and they will face Kenson later this month.

There were some away day blues for our clubs too as Ivory United made their exit from the competition, defeated 10-0 away in Colchester as Old Saints United made their way through while a similarly long trip for Lonsdale saw them exit the cup with a 6-3 away defeat against Catholic United A.

Singh Sabha Barking also went out of the competition and will be disappointed with their performance, losing 3-2 at home against Rayleigh Reserves while Dagenham Rangers also went out from a home clash, losing 2-1 against Feering Village Reserves at Barking Park.

Most other sides saw defeats by the odd goal with Ultimate Vision Reserves’ short trip to Brentwood Sunday League side Warley end in a defeat as they went down 2-1, while Valence United Reserves also saw a similar fate as they were beaten in a close game by Kenson, losing 3-2.

In a game between two high-flying sides, Leytonstone Athletic’s trip to Earls Hall United Reserves was a close affair as they fought back from behind but weren’t quite able to get anything from the game as Hall won it 3-2.

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, two rearranged ties were completed and Hatch Lane set up a mouth-watering third round clash after they beat Westbourne United 4-2 to confirm a trip to SE Dons in December.

East Way Athletic saw their run in the competition come to a close as they made the long trip to Hatcham in south London. They were beaten 3-1 on the day to end their participation in county cup football for another year.

Photo Credit: Brentwood Sunday League