WEEK 22 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

ENDEAVOUR CUP

In the Endeavour Cup on Sunday, the quarter-finals produced a cupset with Division Seven's Warren United producing a strong performance in Loughton to defeat Division Six's London Legacy to head into the semi-finals. Oliver Regan struck a hat-trick for his side with Harry Turner adding a fourth while Tom Rogers netted the Legacy consolation in a 4-1 win to the visitors.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, reigning champions, Hatch Lane, earned themselves all three points but were made to work for that outcome with a tough home fixture against Total Football at the Marshes. Carl Parsons grabbed himself another goal for Total but Hatch goals from Montel Shalders-Gayle and Kevin Bondjanga saw the game end 2-1 in favour of the hosts. 

Critics are now up into second place in the standings in their first season at this level, the Barkingside based outfit continuing a good run of form with a hard fought away win at Club 1017 at the weekend. Dylan Broadley and Marc Porter-Brown were the players on target for the visitors to make it five wins this term for the promoted side while Club 1017 remain three points from safety at the bottom of the table.

Over at Parsloes Park, hosts FLY were looking to repeat the dose of their county cup victory in Dagenham against Brook Athletic some months ago but found their visitors in far better shape this time around, neither side able to break the deadlock in a game which ended 0-0. That result leaves the sides dead level on points in mid-table, both however still well in the mix to affect things above them.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, JK Silvertown have confirmed a place in the semi-finals of the competition after taking their wins tally to five in the competition with a solid 4-0 away victory against Wanstead in east London on Sunday. That was JK's fifth win in six so far with one game to go meaning that they now just await results elsewhere to determine their finishing position in the top four.

DIVISION ONE

Back in the league, it was third versus fifrth on Sunday at Robert Clack where hosts Barking & Dagenham Wanderers were in home action with the visit of local rivals Barking Riverside. The sides started the day with a seven point gap between them but that was extended to ten with a 3-1 Riverside win, Jonathan Mogege netting two and Soloman Asomah one to move their side second in the standings.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Leytonstone Athletic's late charge to avoid the drop is underway as they moved level with the side above them in the table with an important 2-0 win against Cloud 9 at Wanstead Flats. George Burton was the difference between the sides, scoring twice for his team, the only goals of the game to leave them probably needing three or four wins from their remaining five games.

For eleventh placed Higham Hill, time and games are running out for them to beat the drop, their latest efforts seeing them take on FC Galaxy in Highams Park on Sunday. But it was victory for the visitors, FC Galaxy winning the game 6-3 to move fifth in the standings. Mihai Mareniuc struck a hat-trick for his side, Mihalache Dumitru scored two and Tatian Radu scored the other to complete the scoring.

DIVISION THREE

The race for the title and promotion in Division Three took a bit of a twist on Sunday as leaders, AC Milano Reserves, dropped a couple of points in their away trip to Upshire Forest, the game ending level at 2-2 over at Town Mead. Kailem Gayle was on the Upshire scoresheet with a goal, a result which allows others to move into the mix.

Singh Sabha Barking were one of the sides to take full advantage of the leaders dropping those points as they closed the gap from second to first to just three points, their morning's work seeing them record a big 7-1 home win against United Amateurs. Denim Nnamudi's hat-trick and a pair of braces from Victor Ferrini and David Arshakian were the difference, despite a Gabriel Mendy goal for the visitors.

Sitting quietly in the background with games in hand, City Site could prove to be the big threat if they win their games, including against the leaders, and they ensured they remained in the frame with a hard-fought win against South Ilford Catholics. City were 1-0 winners with Kyle Dooley scoring the game's only goal to hand the visitors their seventh league win of the season.

Third placed Valence United are also well involved with big games to come against those around them, their latest efforts seeing them take on rivals Barking at Barking Park. Keiva King found the back of the net for the Blues but  another Valence hat-trick for Rowan Newland extended his scoring feats, Tommy Abrams and Ashley Collins netting the others as the game ended 5-1 in their favour.

DIVISION FOUR

The big game in Division Four came from Loughton where the league leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves, were in action with a home fixture against Woodford Town. Town will have been the side leaving the happier as Luke Dimond's double plus goals from Sonny Clarke, Courtney Cooke and Cane Sullivan completed a 5-1 for the third placed side, cutting the gap on the sides above.

Fifth placed Byron Red Star have closed the gap on the sides above them following their weekend's result, travelling to Eastern Avenue and returning with all three points following a narrow 3-2 win against their hosts. Jo-Van Mayers scored a hat-trick on his debut for Byron, rendering Milan Pajak's brace as just consolation, the sides due to renew rivalries again very shortly in the league cup.

Over at Castle Green, hosts Cardinals Athletic started the day trailing their visitors, Prospect Protege, by three points and three places, both sides entering into the final throws of their seasons. And they could not be seperated by full-time, the honours being shared as the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Joe Elsworth found the back of the net for Prospect, helping his side take a point.

DIVISION FIVE

Barely a week passes without the Division Five leadership seeing a change and that was apparent yet again on Sunday as Royal Lions B made their ascent to top spot, taking advantage of others around them being out of action to record win number nine this season, a 6-1 away win at Hainault Athletic. Ashley White and Corey Richardson both found the back of the net for the hosts but Lions scored six to complete the victory.

Over in east London, Alpha have found a bit of a resurgence in the second half of the season but started the day level with Athletic Newham on nineteen points. But it was Stephen Maitland's efforts that proved the difference between the team, his hat-trick for Alpha powering them to a 4-1 win, accompanied by Kevin Mullen onto the scoresheet, and rendering Paul Wooster's comeback goal as just consolation.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, it's congratulations to all involved with Woodford Town Reserves who have wrapped up the league title following their latest win on Sunday, defeating an in-form Mayfield Kings side 5-1 at Whitbreads Sports Ground. That was Woodford's fifteenth win of the season, just a solitary defeat blemishing what has been a strong campaign, with cup semi-finals still to come also.

Could the great escape be on for Barking Colts in Division Six after they recorded just a third win of the season on Sunday with victory against fellow strugglers, Titans United, in their game at Hainault Rec. Colts edged a close game 3-2 to move them up to nine points, just three from safety with three games of their league season left to save themselves.

COUNTY CUP

It was party time once again AC Milano on Sunday as they confirmed their place in the London Sunday Trophy final for the second season running, overcoming their local rivals and fellow Corinthian outfit, East London Ballers, in a 3-1 scoreline at West Ham Park. They will now take on Club Internacional de Fútbol Manresa 24 for the silverware in the spring.

Down in south Essex, it was a less fruitful day for May & Baker EC who made their journey down the A127 to face Southend & Basildon Sunday League side Rochford Sports & Social A at Doggetts Close. An indifferent first half showing left Bakers on the backfoot and, despite a resurgent second half, could not force a goal that would have set up a big finish, losing 4-1.