WEEK 19 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

ENDEAVOUR CUP

The last of the quarter finalists in the Endeavour Cup was confirmed on Sunday with Colebrook Royals Reserves joining their first team counterparts in the last eight as they caused a cup shock against higher division opposition, beating Athletico City in a 2-0 scoreline. Royals’ form this season has been very promising and they came through this tie to set up another trip to higher opponents where they now face Valence United.

SENIOR DIVISION

The race for the title in the Senior Division took a twist on Sunday with Secret putting in a top performance against the league leaders, Hatch Lane, to see the gap at the top cut. Secret were 5-3 winners despite a Hatch hat-trick for the returning Psaul Henry-Aimomglou, giving the victors a fourth league win of the campaign.

FC Ballr have closed the gap to three points in second spot following their eighth win of the season on Sunday, putting in a convincing performance away at London Mavericks. Owen Bellamy and Ayodele Awosika both struck braces with David Akinwale and Ayomikun Odukoya striking also in a 6-1 win for the Dagenham based side.

Sitting a few points further back and with games in hand, Baiteze Squad followed up their recent cup successes with some further league points, coming away with all three points from their trip to United Dian as the sides met in Hainault. Baiteze were 3-0 winners to make it six wins in eight this season as they seek to chase down the leaders.

Over in Leyton, there was a big game for another of the sides with hopes of crashing the title party as East Way Athletic saw the visit of El Valiente to the County Ground. A five goal thriller was produced by the two sides with hosts, East Way, the side ending the game the happier as they won 3-2 to produce a fifth win of the season.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, there were wins for both of the top two sides with Brook Athletic keeping themselves in prime position for the league title following their win against Roose, wining the game 6-2 at Fairlop Oak. Tom Canham scored two with Tim Monsheju, Brandon Martin, Tyrell Holder and Liam Adams all netting as well.

Avintul returned to action for the first time this year and it was a positive return also as they came away winners from their trip to Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. A four-goal performance from Gheoca Dumitru was the tonic they needed with Dumitras Olari’s goal completing a 5-1 win for the Chigwell based outfit.

There was a three point haul also for Belfry who made it three away wins in the division this weekend with a 4-1 victory against Barking Riverside at Castle Green. Charlie Heatley struck twice for the visitors adding to efforts from Lee Newton and Reece Hewitt. That positions them fourth in the table having suffered just the one league reverse this season.

DIVISION ONE

Division One saw some close encounters with the league leaders, Theydon Green, producing a narrow victory from their local derby home game against Abridge Village in Loughton. Daniel Hearty’s effort proved the only scoring moment of the game to keep Green three points clear ahead of two huge games against their rivals.

And that rival, Oceana, will also go into the big double header in good form as they edged their way past FC Galaxy in their game over in Dagenham. Robert Coe scored both of the goals in the game as Oceana won 2-1 to remain unbeaten in the league, this being a tenth league win of another impressive season.

The third game in the division was just as exciting as Barking fought back twice from behind against FC Mexico A at Mayesbrook Park to take a draw as the sides eventually settled for a share of the points in a 3-3 scoreline. Devine Osuji was the Barking hero, scoring all three goals to counter the Mexicans’ efforts.

DIVISION TWO

The two league leaders in Division Two continue to go hammer and tong with Roneo Colts excellent form seeing them remain top of the table by a point, aided by their most recent victory on Sunday, winning 6-0 against FC Mexico B. Dwayne Francis-Riley scored a hat-trick, accompanied by strikes from Keenan Gravillis, Shermar Marshalleck and D’jean Holland to hand Colts the win.

St Augustines sit just behind the leaders and with games in hand after they took three points off a rival club, defeating Royal Lions A in a 3-1 scoreline in Hainault to confirm a ninth league success of the season. Callum Daniels has been in good scoring form all season and he struck twice, James Edelman notching the other to hand them a hugely important points haul.

Moving up to fifth, Asianos will harbour outside hopes of a promotion berth this season with games in hand placing them in a handy position going into the next few months. They came through an entertaining seven goal thriller on Sunday against Korona Redbridge, winning the game 4-3. Yaaseen Patel scored a hat-trick and Alex Akanbi also netted to render goals from Artur Jalocha, David Pietras and Arkadiusz Buski as just consolation.

Total Football steered themselves clear of the sides below them in the table on Sunday, picking up a solid victory in their trip to Frenford, winning the game 4-0. Mahnu Bhabutta scored twice, adding to efforts from Rowan Nijjar and Carl Parsons to help their side pick up a fifth league win and remain seventh in the standings.

Over in Ockendon, the day’s late game saw East London Harriers in action hosting Eastbrook United, the latter looking for a little revenge from late last year. Eastbrook twice led in the game through efforts from Heavenly Bende and Callum Harris but Harriers were up for the fight and levelled on each occasion as the teams settled for a 2-2 draw.

DIVISION THREE

There were some big results affecting the top of the table as Higham Hill continued their hold of top spot for at least another week, coming away 6-0 winners in their home game against Mayfield Kings. Charlie Saywood scored twice, Billy Jago, Michael Mesmin, Zachery Leitch and Bryan Smith striking the others to keep their side in a good spell of momentum.

In a battle between two promotion chasing sides, Leytonstone Athletic were in action against Debden Sports Reserves in a game which saw the two teams produce ten goals at Oaks Park. Six of those went the way of Debden however as they ran out 6-4 winners. Charlie Harper led the way with a hat-trick, Joseph Cloake, Joseph Lane and Jamie Wood netting the others. George Burton, Bruno Dos Santos, Talvin Sandhu and Billy Wood struck the goals in reply.

Two of the other promotion challengers went head-to-head at Wanstead Flats where Alpha were in action with a home game against Dagenham Town. Kai Brown netted for the hosts but Town scored a goal of their own to ensure they left with a point, the two teams having to settle for a 1-1 draw in a competitive game.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the two sides chasing down the leaders met with United Amateurs and Ainslie facing each other in Hainault in a crucial fixture. The teams couldn’t be separated by full-time however with the game finishing 2-2. Kieran Coyne and Jack Chawner both struck for United with goals from Harrison Riley and Jonathan Carter for Ainslie ensuring they took a point.

Chingford Athletic Reserves moved level with third placed Ainslie as a result of their latest success, coming through narrow 3-2 winners in their game away at Ace Athletics in Barkingside. Jay Simmons scored twice for Ace but his efforts proved not quite enough on the day as the visitors picked up their seventh league win.

Sitting just behind and with games in hand, Ultimate Vision Reserves may still have a significant say in the promotion race and they maintained their own push with a terrific home win in their local derby against Titans United. Vision were 4-1 winners on the day, recording their sixth league win in eleven to sit comfortably fifth.

There was an equally impressive showing by Lonsdale who gave themselves a great chance of avoiding the drop this season with victory against Blackwall Rovers. Starting the game with a seven point deficit on their opponents, Lonsdale were 4-2 winners to pick up a third league win and lift them up to eighth place in the standings.

DIVISION FIVE

Colebrook Royals Vets have put themselves in pole position for the title in Division Five as they made it two wins against their closest rivals this season following a 1-0 win at Valence United on Sunday. Paul Noonan’s strike from range proved the only goal of a close game between two good sides as Royals moved their points tally onto thirty-nine with eight games to go.

Second placed Belfry Reserves responded well to their recent reverse by taking a victory by the odd goal in five against Royal Lions B in the Hainault derby match. Daniel Lawman, Alex Robinson and Billy Harding were the men on target as they won the game 3-2 to pick up a ninth league win of the season, maintaining their chase for promotion.

Custom House Community remain not far behind, sitting level on points but with an inferior goal difference. They were able to pick another three points on Sunday after securing a home win against Dagenham Rangers in Beckton. Jack Field has been in good scoring form and he netted two with Esley Liwala striking the other to render Dylan Arthur’s goal as just consolation.

An in-form Byron Red Star are really pushing hard at present and they put another “W” on the board on Sunday with an excellent 4-1 win away at Ultimate Vision A. Max Brett scored for Vision but Red Star goals in reply from David Goff, Ryan O’Connell, Perry Robinson and James Thorne were more than sufficient to earn this side the win.

There were plenty of goals in the division’s remaining game where United Borough entertaining their visitors from east London with Eastern Avenue the opposition. A seven goal thriller was eventually edged by the hosts with two Ben Miller goals and one each from Callum Gater and Dylan Marsland the difference in a 4-3 scoreline.

DIVISION SIX

Division Six’s leaders, Mansfield Rangers, have put themselves on the brink of confirming promotion after producing a stunning win on Sunday away at Ivory United as they made the trip to Rainham. Tom Murray-Stevens scored twice, Jack Cousins, George Hamil and Chris Ttofari also netting to win the game 5-0.

Second placed Valence United Reserves sit seven points off the leaders with four games remaining and they ensured they stay in the mix for a while longer following a successful away trip to Epping Royals. Kamal Mahoney scored the only goal of a close game to help the Dagenham side win 1-0 and pick up a ninth win.

The final league game saw two mid-table sides meet in Walthamstow as sixth placed Ping City Phoenixes entertained fourth placed Royal Lions C at Low Hall with the teams separated by six points going into the contest. And that gap remained by full-time as the sides finished level at 1-1, Jack Flood scoring for the hosts to earn them a big point.