WEEK 10 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

The cup action continued this bonfire weekend with a number of sparkling, goal-filled ties in both the Corinthian and Trophyland Cup competitions.

Getting us off with a bang was the rearranged Corinthian Cup clash between Premier Division side Liberty Stars and their Division One counterparts, Korona Redbridge. With just a single league win between the two sides going into this match, both would have been keen to kick-start their seasons with a cup victory and it was Korona who managed to achieve this. A goal from Jacek Miedzak helped his side to a 2-1 victory to see off their higher league opponents and book a quarter final slot against either Leyton Celtic or Waltham Athletic.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were no less than 29 goals in Sunday’s three Trophyland Cup ties as any hope for a cleansheet went up in smoke.

The highest scoring match saw Flyhouse Athletic play host to Hornchurch Oakmont in Hainault with a thirteen goal pyrotechnics display ensuing between the teams. George Terry scored four for the visitors and Jordan Barnes a single but their efforts were in vain as Flyhouse scored eight goals of their own to progress with an 8-5 victory.

Also scoring eight goals were Upshire who continue to show an upwards progress since promotion to Division Two and were big 8-1 victors on Sunday in Waltham Abbey despite a Timmothy Clutterbuck goal for Dagenham United. Upshire will now head to Westferry Elite in the quarter-finals in December.

There was another match full of goals in Dagenham where Alliance United played host to the in-form Goresbrook, a match which culminated into a seven-goal thriller. Alliance put in a spirited display with Jamie Rump, Darren Thomson and Riley Richards all netting. However, Charlie Barrett was once again the hero for his Goresbrook side with a hat-trick adding to William Cox’s effort to edge the match 4-3.

PREMIER DIVISION

Back into domestic action, the day’s Premier Division action revolved around the clash between Repton Park and Romford Elite in Hainault with Elite looking to pile the pressure on the leaders, Emerson Park. However, in what is becoming a regular theme with fixtures in this division this season, the sides were locked at 2-2 to take home a point apiece. Joshua Thompson and Tyrone Scarlett were the men on target for the visitors with Jayden Ambrose’s brace levelling things up for Repton.

DIVISION ONE

Into Division One, there were plenty of goals to be witnessed with Charlie Saywood lighting up proceedings in the match between Aldborough Hatch and Leyton Celtic with a scintillating six-goal performance. Ophel Idris scored four goals himself and one each from Clipper Hamilton, Zachery Leitch and James Topping rounded off a 13-3 win. Jonata De Jesus scored a brace in reply and Alex Philips one in reply for Hatch.

There was a second league win of the season on Sunday for Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who overcame Valentines United in Newbury Park in a 5-2 final scoreline. Mark Jones and Jimmy McCann both found the back of the Wanderers net for the visitors but a Robert Eden brace and strikes from Dexter Stuart, Ashton Lord and Nick Read were enough to consolidate an important victory that moves the hosts away from relegation worries.

Second placed Ultimate Vision had the chance to go top on Sunday with a victory as they played host to FC Mexico at their Chadwell Heath fortress. Sean Bush scored twice for Vision to give his side a lead but saw the Mexico boys battle back through goals from Tom Terry and Ian Tucker to steal a point in a final 2-2 draw.

Another game ending in a draw was the clash between Park Tavern and Waltham Athletic, bringing together old rivalries from previous seasons as the sides met at Castle Green once again. Never a contest for the faint-hearted, Rodney Sarsah-Wilson was on target for Tavern but Bradley O’Donovan’s goal levelled things up on the day in a 1-1 draw as they shared the spoils.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two title race sees a new leader this week as Barca made their ascent to top spot in a sparkling display against Masterman. The game looked very much in the balance at the break as the sides were goalless but an improved second half performance carried Barca to a 6-0 win. Billy Barr scored twice with further goals scored through Ryan Phipps, Nebil Saleh, Joseph Connor and Mark Frostick to earn the win.

That climb to top spot was made possible by a shock result in Barkingside where the ten men of St Augustines battled to a first league win of the season, deposing the previous leaders, Chingford Athletic, in a 3-2 win. Lee Bowers and Tom Pearce were both on the scoresheet for the visitors but Saints’ goals from Kyran Allen, Thomas Neil and Matt Scarsbrook took the victory.

Another side on the climb this weekend were Westferry Elite who travelled to Hainault to face London Fire Brigade with both sides eager to kick-start their campaigns once again. It was Elite who out in the winning performance as Lee Thomson and Freddie Hodgon both scored twice to accompany strikes from Michael Welch and Perry Loomes onto the scoresheet. Jon Wharnsby was the Brigade’s scorer as they were defeated 6-2 in the end.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, there was an important win for Morfdown Elect who picked up a third win of the season and moved up to fifth place in the table with a win against Asianos Reserves. Adam Davis done the damage for his side with a hat-trick performance with Michael Livesey supplementing the scoreline with a goal of his own to see Elect to a 4-2 victory.

There was also an excellent result for Roneo Colts who took on one of the front-runners for promotion this season in the form of Ridgeway Rovers at Robert Clack. Carlo Boamah and Kolade Ogunade both netted for Rovers but Colts goals from Shay Kelly and Jamie Hart levelled things up at 2-2 to share the points between the sides.

DIVISION FOUR

Central Colts have extended their lead at the top of Division Four with a comprehensive 8-1 victory against Bata United on Sunday in Rainham. Tunde Olagunju continued his fine form in front of goal with four goals with Curtis Taylor scoring twice and Jimmy Turner and Jay Reeves one apiece to cancel out a Stuart Beels effort for Bata.

Also scoring eight goals were Grey Area who returned to winning ways with a comfortable 8-2 victory on the road at Newham Athletic. Connor Frost scored half of their goals with a four-goal haul adding to a Jordan Rodway brace and singles from both Harrison Bedwell and Liam Pickett to see their side up to fifth in the standings.

There was a nine-goal thriller in Emerson Park where the under 21s made their competitive debut with a home fixture against Epping Forest Falcons. Both sides led the game at various stages and it looked to be heading to a draw before a late winner gave Emerson Park Under 21s the points. Gary Sare and Peter Andrew scored braces for Falcons but a Ronnie Hobbrough hat-trick and strikes from Edward Barnes and Jake Willis gave Park a 5-4 win.

Oak Royals are continuing to show why persistence pays off as they confirmed a third successive win on Sunday, as Harry Goodman’s hat-trick helped them to a 4-2 win against Custom House Community Reserves. Ryan Mitchell scored the fourth to render Custom House goals from Evangelos Shianios and Pedro Cavalho as consolation on the day.

Thames Ironworks Community have closed the gap on the promotion places, completing a fifth league win with a hard fought 2-1 win against East Ham Inter in Plaistow. Bunjamin Kamberi and Kurt Smith were the Thames goal scorers in a closely fought match between the sides which see them to within two points of the second placed Highams Park Royals.

COUNTY CUP

There was also some county cup football action on Sunday as both of our sides made progressive in their respective competitions.

In the Essex Junior Cup, East London Old Boys faced a difficult trip to Chelmsford Sunday League based Woodham Athletic. In a tightly contested match, the sides finished level after ninety minutes at 1-1 meaning the game moved into extra-time with that proving beneficial to the Old Boys as they ran out 3-1 in the end.

And in another away day trip, Dagenham United Reserves made the journey up to Witham Phoenix in the Essex Junior Trophy with a place in the last sixteen at stake for the winners. Dagenham put into a stunning performance to run out 7-0 winners and secure their slot in January’s fourth round.

CHARITY CUP

Rounding off the day’s football action, Lonsdale played host to Esprit in the opening round of the West Essex Sunday Charity Trophy in Chadwell Heath with an open, eleven-goal thriller that was eventually settled by the odd goal. Lonsdale were the scorer of that goal to win 6-5 and book a quarter-final place.