WEEK 12 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The Corinthian Cup produced a cupset on Sunday as Division Two's East London Ballers produced one of their better performances to see off Division One's Cinoci in a 6-1 scoreline over in Loughton. Yaya Bamba scored a hat-trick with Ihsan Saeed, Faraz Akbar and Kishawn James all on the scoresheet to put their side through. 

ENDEAVOUR CUP

In the day's sole Endeavour Cup clash, Division Six's Valence United Reserves avoided a potential banana skin of a tie, scoring the game's only goal against FC Leytonestone Reserves from Division Seven. Kevin Bangura netted the game's only goal in a 1-0 win to send Valence into the quarter-finals.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the top flight, the big game of the day saw two of the big rivals go toe-to-toe with Baiteze Squad taking on Hatch Lane at Roding Valley, both sides sitting unbeaten heading into the clash. And that was how things remained by full-time, the game ending in an entertaining 3-3 draw to keep the sides fifth and third respectively.

DIVISION ONE

AC Milano remain the leaders in Division One and sit five points clear of the chasing pack following the weekend's results, defeating Benchviews 3-0 in the Flanders derby match. Rodney Capemba scored twice for the hosts with Nadeem Khankara striking the other to earn AC their seventh win of the season.

Moving up to second spot are Barking Riverside who took advantage of that result to shift up a place on the back of a solid 3-1 home win against Wanstead in Dagenham. Isaiah Ojo scored the Wanstead goal but Barking efforts from Kevin Ituko, Abdul Yusuf and Ryan Gardiner ensured their sides walked away with the points.

The division's other fixture saw hosts JK SIlvertown taking on St Augustines over in Beckton with four points between the sides heading into the game. And that was the way it all ended by full-time, the sides ending in a 1-1 draw to take home a share of the spoils. That result saw the Saints move up to fourth while JK remain in seventh.

DIVISION TWO

The big result in Division Two on Sunday came from Hainault where FC Galaxy were the visitors to take on the league leaders, Belfry. And it was the visitors who walked away the happier of the teams, inflicting a second defeat of the season in a 2-0 soreline. Alex Jinga and Mihai Mareniuc scored the Galaxy goals to earn a fourth league win.

That result meant that Debden Sports Reserves could go top with a victory and they duly obliged, producing a 4-0 home win against Higham Hill to move three points clear in the standings. Billy Barr and Tom Osmond each scored twice in the game, completing Sports' eighth win of the campaign.

Condor's recent form has seen them make a surge up the tables and they now sit in fourth spot after the weekend's results, this week completing a 4-1 home win against Daglanta in Hainault. Valentin Siciov and Grigore Voicu both scored twice for the hosts to ensure they continued their positive run.

It's also been a good spell of form for eighth placed Ainslie who moved further clear of danger with an important 4-2 away victory against Leytonstone Athletic. Eric Kelly was in good fine once again, netting a hat-trick, William Hunt scoring the other and rendering Leytonstone goals from George Burton and Bruno Dos Santos as consolation.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, AC Milano Reserves are sitting three points clear at the summit, completing win number six of the season on Sunday with a 4-2 away win against United Amateurs at Hainault Rec. David Maculey scored twice for the hosts but those goals proved in vain as Milano netted four.

After last week's defeat in the county cup, JP8 bounced back well in their next game, completing a 3-0 away win against South Ilford Catholics to keep them well in the mix towards the top end of the table. Charly Bruce struck with two goals for their side and Jonathan Ogunsanya scored the other.

Over at Barking Park, Valence United were up against an Upshire Forest side who had led the way for the fair portion of the early season. But Valence produced the goods this weekend, shutting the gap on Forest to just two point after a 2-0 victory. Rowan Newland netted his customary goal with Ben King striking the other.

DIVISION FOUR

There were two thrillers in Division Four, beginning with the league leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves, who were up against Cardinals Athletic in Dagenham and needed the odd goal in five to take all three points. Goals from Phorell Brooke, Calvin Bell and Joel Minganu eventually took the table toppers to a 3-2 win.

It was a similarly close contest in Hainault where title chasing Woodford Town were on the road with a trip to take on Silencio, this game producing a seven-goal thriller. Luke Dimond scored two, Morgan Radley and Jack Smith netting the others to give the Towners a 4-3 win and another three point haul.

DIVISION FIVE

It's been a prolific spell in front of goal for Lonsdale who, after their glut of goals in the recent county cup escapades, scored a further seven this weekend with a 7-1 away victory against Alpha. Kalium Fletcher scored a hat-trick, Safet Rekaj scored two and Charlie Owen, a result which lifts them to seventh, two points behind their opponents.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Chingford Athletic remain three points clear at the top of the division, producing their ninth win in ten this term on Sunday, defeating Epping Royals in a 2-0 scoreline. Justin Clarke and Kwame Woodley got on the Chingford scoresheet to ensure they remain in pole position.

Second placed Woodford Town Reserves will push this one all the way and sit just three points behind with a game in hand, netting themselves a strong 6-1 home win at Whitbreads on Sunday against FC Mexico B. That was their eighth win of the season, also retaining game in hand.

Seventh placed Mayfield Kings went into their home fixture with Titans United holding a six point clear over their opponents. An expectedly tight game saw the sides finish level at 2-2 and sharing the spoils as Alex Vallance and Kiz Myaz both struck with goals for the Kings to hand them another point.

DIVISION SEVEN

In Division Seven, Colebrook Royals A have climbed up into second spot, taking advantage of sides around them being in cup action to go level on points with the leaders, defeating Zone 4 Athletic in a 4-2 win.Teraun Davis scored twice for the hosts but Royal goals from Zak Woolf, Lenny Hunt, Jake Austin and Harvey Webb ensured their side of the win.

Over in Upminster, Gatcliffe made the trip across to take on an Emerson & Upminster side with the sides starting the day with just two points between them. But by full-time, Emerson had moved up into fifth place and five points ahead of their opponents, winning the game 3-2 at Hall Lane. 

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Premier Cup, the rearranged tie betwen FLY and Brook Athletic finally took place with the sides in action at the new Parsloes Park Hub for the first time. Brook took an early lead but FLY came back quickly and stormed to a 7-1 win to head into round three.

In the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy, Warren Senior ensured themselves of a place in the third round but needed an odd goal in seven to eventually take the win, defeating Harold Wood Athletic Reserves 4-3 at Westlands. 

May & Baker EC ensured themselves of a place in the next round, avoiding a potential banana skin slip-up against lower ranked opposition, defeating Ridgeway Rovers in an 8-1 scoreline to head on through.

Division Five's Manford Way caused a cupset against higher-ranked opposition as they took on Prospect Protege in the Hainault derby. Manford completed a 3-1 win to knock out the Division Four side and head on into the third round,

Also safely through are Mansfield Rangers who faced a potentially tricky tie up against Division Six's London Legacy in the late game in Loughton. But it was Rangers who eventually prevailed through the tie and won 3-2.

Byron Red Star are another side into the hat for round three, coming away winners by the odd goal in seven after a victory against Eastern Avenue at Hylands Park. A 4-3 scoreline in favour of the hosts means they head on into the next round.

There was an exhillerating game involving Royal Lions B as the Division Five side almost knocked out higher ranked opposition, Tigers Senior of the Brentwood Sunday League, the game ending 5-5. But a shootout victory for the Tigers put them through into the hat.

Coppice Row were also in action against higher-ranked opposition, facing a MATES side from Division Two of the Chelmsford Sunday League. But it was a 2-0 win in favour of the higher side by full-time to end Row's involvement for this season.

Also heading out will be Barking Colts who were up against higher-ranked opponents too, heading into east London to face a Lymore Gardens side from the Hackney & Leyton League. An 8-3 soreline in favour of the hosts means that it was Lymore heading through.

The big Debden derby saw Sports' first team, playing out of the Brentwood Sunday League, taking on their third team counterparts at the weekend. And it will be the firsts who head on into round three after a 15-0 success.

In the Kent Sunday Premier Cup, the league will have fourth round representation after Club 1017 put themselves through to that stage, coming away 5-2 winners against Long Lane to put themselves in the hat.