WEEK 24 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

It was quarter-final action on Sunday in the Corinthian Cup and it was a cupset as Division Two’s East London Ballers secured their place in the last four of the competition with a 4-2 home win against JK Silvertown. A goal apiece from Yousaf Mohamed, Qusay Mohammed, Ibrahim Khan and Kishawn James were the difference on the day for the lower ranked side.

SENIOR DIVISION

There was just the one surviving game in the top flight where hosts Brook Athletic were in home action with the visit of Club 1017 in an important game for both sides. It produced a result which moved Brook Athletic up into second and just two points off the top, winning 6-1 courtesy of two Callum Ibe goals and one each from Craig Jeakins, Harry Carter, Ramiz Mahmood and Santana Porter

DIVISION ONE CUP

The Division One Cup saw two fixtures completed as the group stage nears completion with a vital victory for St Augustines as they took all three points in a 4-3 home victory against Benchviews. Two Aaron Hepworth goals plus strikes from Aaron Hendricks and Taylah Cunningham were enough for the victory, meaning they now need a win in their last game to secure a top four place.

Over at Robert Clack, it was third versus fourth in the group on Sunday as Barking & Dagenham Wanderers took on AC Milano, a win for either side being enough to put their team through. But a closely fought game ensued with Adam Burgess scoring for the hosts meaning it ended level at 1-1 to leave both sides looking over their shoulders still.

DIVISION ONE

In the league, it was an important morning for Barking Riverside who kept their push for promotion alive with a strong home winning performance against Cinoci at Castle Green. The hosts were 5-2 winners as Aaron Matthews struck twice, adding to efforts from Rajpal Bumbra, Solomon Asomah and Prince Alozie. Gideon Adomakoh and Nicholas Barrett netted the Cinoci consolation efforts.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, the big result of the day came from east London where Higham Hill kept alive their narrowing hopes of escaping the drop by taking a point at home against title chasing Belfry. A high-scoring game saw the sides finish level at 5-5 in the end with Ryan O’Connell scoring a hat-trick for the visitors, Lukas Mazevicius and Jamie Redington also on the scoresheet.

That result proved even more important as it presented an opportunity for the promotion chasing clubs beneath to reduce the deficit and Daglanta done just that to move two points off the promotion places after a 5-3 home win against FC Galaxy at the Flats. Ruben Costache struck twice and Mirceamihai Donco once for the visitors but those proved in vain.

DIVISION THREE

There are new leaders in Division Three following the weekend’s results as Singh Sabha Barking moved top of the pile, taking advantage of the leaders being out of action to record a 3-1 away win against Barking. Tunju Ebun-Cole struck for the hosts but Singh Sabha efforts from Kailen Davey, Victor Ferrini and Sebastian Osei-Obengo made it ten wins for the season for their side.

Ahead of their upcoming semi-final, it was dress rehearsal time for Upshire Forest and Valence United who met at Town Mead on Sunday in the league, sitting fourth and fifth in the table. Upshire were the side to leave the happier, winning 5-2 following two Jay Digance goals and other efforts from Tony Bosher and Sam Owen, while Jordan Cook and Rowan Newland bagged for Valence.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

It was semi-final day for two sides in Division Four as Woodford Town faced a Prospect Protégé side who were looking to cause an upset. But it was the hosts who produced the goods at Whitbread Sports Ground to take their place in the final, Woodford 5-0 winners on the day to send themselves through to the final in the spring.

DIVISION FOUR

Back in the league, Warren Senior ensured they stay at the top for another week at least as they returned home from Fairlop with all three points in a 7-1 victory at Silencio, a result which sees the hosts drop into the relegation zone. Daniel Ross scored a hat-trick, Brady Jones a brace, with Alan Butt and Alaa Cheaaibi netting the others.

Second placed Colebrook Royals Reserves remain just a point behind the leaders but with games running out, their efforts seeing them record a 4-2 away win on Sunday against Eastern Avenue. Lewis McGillicuddy scored two with Jordan Rock and Oscar Simmons also finding the back of the net to confirm their twelfth win of the campaign.

There was a huge result towards the bottom of the table too where Kit Out London moved off the bottom for the first time in a long while, up into eighth spot after a 6-3 away win at Castle Green against Cardinals Athletic. Akeem Matthews scored a hat-trick with Amalraj Kakumanu, Davide Defeo and Felicien Bradeo netting the others to put them in pole position for survival.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

In Division Five, it was a big day for four sides who were competing simultaneously for a place in the final come the spring. Over in east London, Coppice Row were the visitors to take on Athletic Newham, and it produced a five-goal thriller settled by Jake Mernagh’s hat-trick performance for Row in a 3-2 win, overcoming Jordan Carson and Jamie Wooster goals for Newham.

In the day’s other semi-final over in Hainault, hosts Manford Way faced local rivals and fellow title contenders, Royal Lions B. An expectedly close contest was settled by a couple of goals for Manford who booked their place with goals from Jake Li and Charlie Moore, winning the tie 2-0 to put themselves through into a maiden cup final.

DIVISION SIX CUP

Continuing a theme of cup football, there was quarter-final action in the Division Six Cup as hosts Brymans Park had home advantage with the visit of Barking Colts to Newbury Park. A seven-goal thriller saw Colts put up a good fight but it was Brymans who headed into the semi-final with goals from Adrian Dubury, Jamie Greenoff, Daniel Munroe and Shane Taylor setting up a 4-3 win.

DIVISION SIX

Back in the league, Chingford Athletic confirmed themselves as runners-up in the division, racking up win number twelve for the season with an exhilarating 5-4 away win against Valence United Reserves. Enzo Victoriano’s hat-trick and a Kevin Bangura effort for Valence made this a real game but goals from Kyle Mavris (2), Bradley Williams, Daniel Crowie and Darryl Wilson were enough for Chingford.

Epping Royals were the biggest winners of the day as they struck nine goals in their excellent 9-3 home win against FC Mexico at St Johns School. Alex O’Halloran, Jack O’Neil and Alfie Wilkinson scored for the visitors but a Royals hat-trick from Joseph Bothwell, two from George Sack, and one each from Fraser McCarthy, Louie Brownlie, Matthew Robinson and Ben Stone gave their side the win.

Over in Loughton, hosts London Legacy were hoping to continue their push for a top half of the table finish as they took on a Titans United side fighting against the threat of relegation. A five-goal thriller ensued which eventually settled in favour of the hosts with Legacy winning 3-2 courtesy of goals from Arne Pettersen, Jordan Bolasingh and Mohamed Noor.

DIVISION SEVEN

The race for the title in Division Seven is really hotting up and Colebrook Royals A gave themselves a real shot at the silverware with a terrific 2-1 home win against fellow contenders, Ping City Phoenixes. Jedd Coster scored twice for the Royals to set up their tenth win of the season, Josh Flood scoring the Ping goal in consolation.

That result was made all the more important as the league leaders, Debden Sports A, dropped points away from home with a 1-1 draw against Gatcliffe in Dagenham. The hosts led in the game before Augustus Lawrence’s leveller saw Sports take a share of the points to slim down their lead at the top of the table.

Score draws were the theme throughout the division with another coming from Hainault Rec where Warren United were held to a point at home against Emerson & Upminster, the sides finishing level at 2-2 at full-time. Talor Gibson’s two goals for Emerson proved important, with Mitchell Peckham and Oliver Regan goals ensuring they took a share of the spoils.

That scoreline was reflected in the final league game of the day from Newbury Park where Zone 4 Athletic were able to take a point against cup semi-finalists, Epping Forest Falcons. A goal apiece from Chris Gunning and Rio Mulimira helped Zone to a point which moves them up a place into ninth spot, the game ending 2-2.

COUNTY CUP

It was a great day for Hatch Lane in the Essex Sunday Premier Cup as they came from behind in their semi-final to net twice late on against Colchester Sunday League side Wormingford Newtown at Parsloes Park, winning the tie 2-1. That result sees them set up a second Essex cup final in succession and will now face Fryerns at Bowers & Pitsea FC on 7^th April.

CHARITY CUP

There was charity cup football action to complete the weekend’s action as Corinthian side Condor were up against higher-ranked opposition with the visit of Parsonage Leys to Fairlop Oak. A five-goal thriller was witnessed, with the Harlow League’s top flight side the team to leave with the victory, winning 3-2 to make the draw for the semi-final.