WEEK 11 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

Just three points separate the sides at the top of the table in the Senior Division where Hatch Lane continued their grasp of top spot on Sunday with a big 10-0 win away at Flanders. Daniel Florence and Lucio Vare were in inspired form with five and four goals respectively, John Oyenuga grabbing the others to secure the win for their side.

East Way Athletic sit second in the standings after they picked up a fourth league win of the campaign at the weekend with a comfortable looking 8-0 win against East Stars in the “East” derby. David Oyeleke scored twice with Andrew Tirivanhu, Emmanuel Afolabi, Mitchell Victorin, Joel Brown-Bampoe, Nathan Douglas and Lamarr Douglas all on target in the win.

Sitting third on goal difference, Baiteze Squad remain on of the sides in the frame for silverware as we approach the second half of the season and they kept their run going as they edged past El Valiente in a 2-1 scoreline. Sam Edwards got the visitor’s goal but strikes from experienced duo Callum Ibe and Jay Knight earned Baiteze the win.

There was a big result for two sides in the bottom half of the table as Warren United picked up a first league win of the season as they returned with maximum points from their trip to Newbury Park to face London Mavericks. Tyler Mason, Billy Sherrin and Alex Yearwood all scored to give United a 3-1 win.

DIVISION ONE

There was plenty of entertainment on offer in Division One with Oceana staying top of the pile as they confirmed a solid 4-0 home win in Hainault on Sunday against local rivals Valentine United. Jesse Jones scored twice with Niall Fitzpatrick and Jamie Hart goals confirming the win for their side.

Gants Hill sit just a single point further back in second but they had to come through a tough test in East Ham as fourth placed Roose made the trip down. Hill fought hard to come through with a 2-1 win which confirmed a fifth league victory in six as they go in quest of a promotion push.

Moving up to third are Abridge Village who returned home from West Ham with maximum points after an important win against AC Milano, ending their long unbeaten home record. Aaron Gurney and Kurt Freeney goals were the difference for the visitors who won it 2-1 to stay in the promotion picture.

There were nine goals in the remaining game from this division as Korona Redbridge scored four against Hornchurch Oakmont through braces from David Pietras and Konrad Stoklosa. But their efforts were in vain as a Lewis Minton hat-trick for Oak plus goals from James Bailey and Ellis Marsh saw Hornchurch win this thriller 5-4.

DIVISION TWO

FC Galaxy’s dominance in Division Two has extended to a seven point lead at the top but they had their work cut out for them over the weekend as bottom side Chigwell United put in yet another top draw performance at a promotion chasing club. Charlie Cole and Matthew Curtis netted for Chigwell but Galaxy goals from Alexandru Demidov, Luchian Grigore and Mihai Mareniuc handed them a 3-2 win.

Moving into the promotion places, Royal Albert took advantage of results around them to shift up as they took home the points in another five goal thriller against Emerson Park. That was Albert’s fifth league win in seven and sees them move two points clear of the third placed side with just three points separating sides from second down to fifth.

Chingford Athletic A continued their fine December form, adding another win to their name following their late goal last week. This time, they were up against previously second placed Thames Ironworks Community but Chingford earned a fine 2-0 win to move level on points with their opponents in fourth.

There was a big result at the bottom end of the table where previously winless Frenford were in action with a trip to Emerson Park to take on FC Mexico A. It took just a single goal to pull apart these well matched sides and that went in favour of the Ilford based outfit as they won their first league match this season.

DIVISION THREE

The Eastbrook United steam train continues to plough forwards in Division Three and they picked up win number eight on Sunday, defeating Jaffna comfortably in a 7-0 scoreline. Keiva King scored a hat-trick, Luke Gelston scored twice and one each from Callum Harris and Matthew Morris took the points.

A similarly high-scoring game was witnessed at Wanstead Flats where Blackwall Rovers bounced back from a mauling last week to put eight goals past Lonsdale in a local derby. Jani Gjergji scored for Lonsdale but Rovers braces from Ryan Radley and Billy Barr plus singles from Danny Bird, Jamie Mayo, Lee Thomson and Michael Haig made it 8-1.

Two of the division’s top half sides met at the Flats also where second placed Roneo Colts were the visitors to face Alpha, the sides starting three points apart. And that gap remained by full-time with the sides sharing the points in a 1-1 draw. Keenan Gravillis opening the scoring for Colts but a Lee Avant effort rescued a point for Alpha.

DIVISION FOUR

The lead at the top of Division Four remains at five points with Upshire Forest still leading the way but had to battle hard for the points against Romford Athletic Dons with Forest winning it 2-1 eventually. Blake Rogers and substitute Zayddin McKop got the all important goals to give their side the victory.

The leaders will take on second placed Theydon Green next Sunday in what should be a terrific game and Green warmed up for that contest with a 7-0 win against another of the promotion contenders, Leytonstone Athletic. Ben Brookes scored a hat-trick with Joseph Cloake, Max Jessop, George Johnson and Ben Harris also netting .

Total Football have closed to within a win of moving into the promotion places as they continued their fine form with a 6-2 win against Eastern Avenue. Nile Painter brushed away Avenue with a hat-trick, Chris Atkinson came off the bench to score twice and Sachin Bawa got the other.

There was a great result for Young Royals who will have been pleased to get their points tally underway after they came away with a 2-0 win against Titans United. That was their first victory in the league and saw them move off of the bottom, up to tenth, just a point from safety.

The other game was a real thriller with Chingford Athletic Reserves and United Amateurs sharing six goals in a 3-3 draw over in Waltham Abbey. Jake Griffin scored twice for the visitors with player-manager Thomas Chawner grabbing the other to help his side take a point from the contest.

DIVISION FIVE

Dagenham Rangers will be top of the table at Christmas as they opened up their lead to five points in the league with a 3-1 win at Ping City Phoenixes on Sunday. Maxwell Colley scored the City goal but that proved not quite enough as Mondi Bettaj, Aldair Doci and Klodian Meta goals completed the win in Rangers favour.

There was a local derby in Newbury Park where Singh Sabha Barking made the short journey across the A12 to take on Custom House Community at Oaks Park School with just a point separating the sides pre-match. That gap remained after an absorbing 4-4 draw in which Indervir Virdi scored twice for Barking and one each for Jagraj Rai and Jordan Hamilton.

At the other end of the table, it was an important game for both Tekkers Vets and Fairlop Rovers in their respective battles and the former will be most pleased with their work as they earned a second league win of the season in a 4-2 victory. Sourakata Dambakate, Hamden Rasheed, Kyran Chiedozie and Daniel Brissett all got themselves on the scoresheet.

DIVISION SIX

Barking Reserves assured their own place at the top of a table going into the festive break as they picked up an 11-0 win over the weekend with a big performance at home against Athletico City. Hat-tricks from Mofiyinfoluwa Ojolowo and Samuel Oramadike led the way, D’jean Holland scored twice and efforts from Georgie Downes, Emanuel Dushanova and Ben Harrington finished it off.

Sitting a few points back, East Tilbury Town will retain hopes of catching the leaders with a game in hand and they continued that quest with a 7-3 win at home against Ilford County at Old Dagenham Park. Bobby Rusbridge’s hat-trick, two goals from Danny Crandle and singles from Jo Megege and Roberto Rosero earned Town the points.

Epping Royals are now into third place in the division as they made their move on the back of a 4-2 home win against Woodford Green United. Two goals from Ben McDonald and one apiece from Matthew Winter and Louis Brownlie proved the difference as they secured a fifth league win.

Also on the move, Royal Lions Reserves started three points behind opponents Thames Ironworks Community Reserves in the standings but a terrific performance saw them end it level and with a goal difference advantage, winning 5-2. Andrew Hooper and Allen Smith got the Thames goals in consolation.

ESSEX SUNDAY PREMIER CUP

Two Corinthian clubs confirmed safe passage into round three of the competition with Secret producing a terrific performance to send fellow Corinthian side, KLIK, out of the competition on the back of a 7-2 scoreline. They will now face the winners of either Barking Riverside or Aveley United.

The other side victorious were Kulture Klub and they were up against another Corinthian side too as they faced Barking & Dagenham Wanderers at Robert Clack. Klub will have been pleased with their efforts, coming away 4-2 winners and now face either Great Lion or Frontiers.

The Brook Athletic journey in the competition has reached a conclusion however as they were beaten by the current holders of the competition, Palmers, over in Newbury Park. The Thurrock based side were 2-1 winners on the day to take their place in the third round.