WEEK 14 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The line-ups for the quarter-finals of the Corinthian Cup are now almost complete and there will be representation from Division Two once again as Colebrook Royals put themselves into the hat with a cupset away at Division One’s Wanstead on Sunday, winning 3-0 at the Flats. Ivan Machado scored twice and Presley Evans once to put them through.

There was a battle between two giants in the last sixteen on Sunday too as last season’s beaten finalists, Flyhouse Athletic, took on rivals Hatch Lane in Loughton with the winner taking up their spot in the quarters at home. An expectedly tight game saw Flyhouse come away winners by the odd goal, winning the tie 2-1.

Also into the hat and due to face Flyhouse now will be Critics who ensured themselves of their place in the last eight of the competition as they avoided any potential slip-up against Division One high-flyers, Barking Riverside. Dylan Broadley struck with a hat-trick for the hosts, Montel Brown and Reo Griffiths netting the others for the Senior side to put them through 5-1.

TROPHYLAND CUP

The Trophyland Cup is almost at quarter-finals stage also and there were mirrored results in the two ties, beginning with the all-Division Four clash between Woodford Town and Colebrook Royals Reserves. Royals had led early on with Brandon Fulton and Oscar Simmons on target but a Luke Dimond hat-trick in reply, plus a Sam May-Parrott effort turned things in Town’s favour, winning 5-2.

And that same scoreline was witnessed in Barkingside where Division Five’s Ace Athletics were up against higher ranked opposition with Silencio making the short trip along Forest Road. It will be the visitors heading on through as Silencio won 5-2 courtesy of two goals from Andoel Isufi and efforts from Wojciech Szlachta, Fadhil Ibrahim and Sion Daley, rendering Joshua Craske’s goal as consolation.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the two top-flight games that took place, Baiteze Squad remain top of the table and have now opened up a three point lead over the chasing pack, their weekend’s action seeing them defeat London All Stars in a 4-0 scoreline at the Marshes. Ruben Junior scored twice, Sam Jeremiah and Darnell Kitchambo scoring the others.

At the other end of the table, it was win number two in the league this term for Club 1017 who doubled their points account courtesy of a narrow win at home against fellow relegation threatened Total Football. Marcus Painter and Ubaid Hoque both found the back of the net for the visitors but those goals were not quite enough as Club 1017 struck three times to win it 3-2.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the league leaders, AC Milano, further enhanced their start to the season, making it eight wins from eight to put them in pole position for a climb into the big time next season. Melanijus Butkus scored twice while Nadeem Khankara, Hassan Mohammed, Rodney Capemba and Abdul Rajab also struck to beat local rivals, Benchviews, 6-0 in East Ham.

DIVISION TWO

There was a Christmas cracker of a game in Loughton on Sunday as Cloud 9 and Ainslie exchanged gifts with an incredible 6-5 scoreline. Eric Kelly has been in great form in recent weeks and he scored four for his Ainslie side, adding to Nial Mullins’ effort. But those were not quite enough as Cloud 9 struck six goals of their own to win it by the odd goal and move up to seventh.

Over at the Flats, the Wanstead derby game saw hosts Leytonstone Athletic up against their co-tenants, Daglanta, with nine points between the sides heading into the contest. But it was the visitors who extended that to twelve by full-time, Daglanta scoring all four of the goals in the game to win it 4-0, rising to fifth in the table as a result.

DIVISION THREE

It couldn’t be much tighter at the top of Division Three as leaders AC Milano Reserves slipped to their first defeat of the season on Sunday, beaten by Singh Sabha Barking in Newbury Park. Omari Williams was in great form, scoring four for Singh Sabha, Victor Ferrini scoring the other as their side won 5-3 to move into second spot, just two points off the pace.

Valence United have also been slowly creeping their way into a position of authority and have now risen as high as third after the weekend’s results, their latest efforts seeing them record a big 6-3 home win against JP8 at Barking Park. Rowan Newland scored a hat-trick, Ben King and Tommy Abrams scoring the others, while Jonathan Ogunsanya, Mason Deegan and Ryan Kelland struck for JP8.

In the Hainault derby, there was a five-goal thriller between South Ilford Catholics and United Amateurs where Jordan Huggins and Mark Nikolli goals had given South Ilford a two-goal lead at the Rec to put them into the ascendency. But United fought back with Liridon Hasani scoring twice and David Maculey firing in also to turn the game on it’s head, the visitors winning 3-2.

DIVISION FOUR

Another close race is being witnessed in Division Four where Warren Senior now sit second in the standings following the weekend’s results, taking advantage of those around them being out of action to move within two points of the lead following a 6-1 success at Cardinals Athletic. Harry Glenister and Daniel Ross both scored twice with George Breen and Anthony Cooke netting too.

Over in Hainault, it was fourth versus fifth as Prospect Protégé hosted Byron Red Star, the two sides sitting level on twelve points heading into the game. The difference between the sides were Charlie Kennerson who struck with a hat-trick for Byron to give them a 3-1 win on the day. Emmanuel Alo scored the Prospect consolation goal in reply.

DIVISION FIVE

The big game towards the top of Division Five saw second play third with Manford Way in action at home against Mansfield Rangers at London Marathon, Manford beginning the day three points behind their opponents. But that lead had been slashed to nothing by the end, the hosts winning 5-0 courtesy of a Jake Li hat-trick and strikes from Herman Mwanza and Callum Owen.

Royal Lions B have dropped into fourth spot following their performance at the weekend, taking a share of the spoils in a six-goal thriller with Alpha as the teams met at the Rec. Jake Skeet scored twice and Stephen Maitland once for the visitors to make it 3-3, keeping their side in the mix in mid-table while Lions dropped a place.

At the other end of the table, another Forest Road derby match saw Hainault Athletic go into their clash with Young Royals with the sides sitting level on four points in tenth and eleventh. An expectedly tight game therefore saw it settled by the odd goal in five, Hainault the beneficiaries of that scoreline, winning 3-2 to record a first league victory in the competition.

DIVISION SIX

There was a huge battle at the top of Division Six on Sunday where Woodford Town Reserves put themselves into pole position for the second half of the season, coming from behind against Chingford Athletic to secure a vital 2-1 win. That result moved them three points clear of their opponents from the same number of games as we all eagerly await the remaining seven games.

There was a cracker of a game in Newbury Park where hosts Brymans Park and Valence United Reserves shared eight goals in an entertaining 4-4 result. Daniel Munrow, Tom Sharpe, Shane Taylor and John Clarke got on the Park scoresheet but Valence earned a valuable point with Krystus Coleman, Jamie Allen, Kamal Mahoney and Enzo Victoriano on the scoresheet.

At the other end of the standings, FC Mexico B were in home action with the visit of Titans United to Old Parkonians, the sides starting the day with just a point between them in the battle to avoid the drop. A close game was eventually settled in favour of the Mexicans, overcoming Tommy Edwards’ goal for United to win the game 2-1 and shift above their opponents.

DIVISION SEVEN

Ridgeway Rovers sit top of Division Seven and on course for a place in the higher tiers next season, remaining unbeaten on the back of Sunday’s latest victory, defeating Epping Forest Falcons in a 5-2 scoreline at Peter May. Adam Sobratty came off the bench to score twice with Ben Byrne, Dillon Woods and Sanchez Bolessa also netting to earn a ninth league win.

Ping City Phoenixes are another side who could yet muscle in on the action above them and produced a strong performance on Sunday to defeat third-placed Debden Sports A, the hosts winning 5-2 in Barkingside through goals from William Salter, Ezra Waterman, Jack Flood, Josh Flood and Buddy Green.

Just above Ping sit a Warren United side who also have a game in hand on the teams above them, making it six wins from ten so far this term at the weekend after an entertaining 8-4 success away at Zone 4 Athletic. Oliver Regan scored a hat-trick, Daniel Beresford and Harry Turner scored twice each and Coburn Watts added the other, overcoming three Teraun Davis goals and a Shyheim Gilbert effort.

COUNTY CUP

It was another great day for league sides in the county cups, beginning with the Essex Sunday Premier Cup where FLY had to come from 3-1 down against Herongate Athletic to confirm their place in the quarter-finals, eventually prevailing 4-3 to set up a mouth-watering last eight clash with Hatch Lane.

In the Essex Sunday Junior Cup, FC Galaxy will be pleased with their morning’s efforts as they made the journey down the A13 to Woodside on Sunday to face Benfleet B. They confirmed their place in round four, winning the game 3-1 to set up a clash at Chadfleet United.

Also through in impressive fashion are another Division Two side, East London Ballers, who made the fourth round draw courtesy of a 5-0 home win at West Ham Park on Sunday, beating Thurrock Sunday League side, Esperanto.

CHARITY CUP

In the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup first round, a cracker of a game in Hainault saw Division Two’s Condor knock out a side ranked two divisions above them, defeating top flight Thurrock League side, Ockendon Manor, in a 7-6 scoreline, putting the hosts into the quarter-finals.

At Robert Clack in Dagenham, it was victory for Harlow & District Premier Division side, Parsonage Leys, who were the visitors to face Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. And with the game locked at 2-2, it was a late Leys winner that edged the tie 3-2, ending Wanderers’ involvement in the competition.

In the Trophy competition, the biggest result of the day came from east London where May & Baker EC were the visitors to take on Athletic Newham at Beckton District Park. It was the in-form visitors who extended their winning run, completing an 8-0 rout to head into the quarter-finals.

There were two big shocks on Sunday, beginning at Mayesbrook Park where London Legacy overcame a three-division deficit on hosts Barking to come away with a quarter-finals place, winning 2-1 courtesy of goals from Rommel Wilson and Mohamed Noor.

There was another shock in Chigwell where Division Seven’s Colebrook Royals A pulled off a big cupset to defeat former champions in the competition, Lonsdale, the young Royals side walking away 6-1 winners to make the last eight.