WEEK 27 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

The line-up for the Premier Division Cup final in April was completed on Sunday as both semi finals took place simultaneously. The first finalists are Ainslie Wood who came through their semi-final clash at home to Valentines United, winning by the odd goal in a 2-1 victory. Ali Sumareh scored for the visitors but strikes from Eric Kelly and Ryan Radley sent their side through to Thurrock FC.

Facing Ainslie Wood in the final will be Waltham Abbey-based Upshire who could be going for the treble by the time they take to the field to face Ainslie in April.  They had a far more profitable day in front of goal as they netted nine past Repton Park with only a Jesse Spearing goal to show as consolation for the visitors. Jack Daveney and Alexander Brooks both scored twice for Upshire with further goals for David Ayres, Tyler Dangerfield, Charlie Freeman and Danny Fowler completing the tally.

DIVISION TWO CUP

Continuing the theme of big semi-final clashes at the weekend were two of Division Two’s sides as E4 Rangers hosted title chasing Park Tavern in Hainault. With Rangers having fought back to level at 2-2 through goals from Ashley Mills and Ben Hodgson, the game was eventually decided in extra time where Tavern ran out 4-2 winners. The crucial goals were scored by Danny Black, Nicholas Tormey, Kristopher Brown and David Hornsby to book a return to Thurrock for the Dagenham side.

DIVISION THREE CUP

And completing a quartet of semi-final matches from Sunday was a closely fought Division Three semi-final between AC Milano Reserves and FC United of Hornchurch. West Ham based AC Milano took a lead early lead in the second half and looked to be on top but for an incredible turnaround in the final ten minutes. Firstly a penalty was awarded for a trip that was coolly despatched by Hornchurch’s skipper, Billy Rungay, before the same man turned himself into a folk hero by stabbing home from a set piece moments later to turn the match on it’s head. A barnstorming last few minutes ensued in which the hosts could easily have won the match but FC United held on to book their place at Thurrock in a month’s time.

PREMIER DIVISION

Away from the cup action, in the Premier Division, Lactico closed the gap on the leaders to five points with a 4-2 win at home to Liberty Stars in Hainault. Gozling Jenkins scored twice with Mahir Jamal and Alex Armah also netting to keep their hopes of a top-two finish firmly in the balance.

That position could be under threat however from Warren United who scooped a seventh league win of the season on Sunday with a win on the road away at Quality Control. Trey Horne and Abdikafi Dahir got themselves on the home side’s scoresheet but braces from each of Bobby Wise and James Peagram secured a 4-2 win for Warren.

DIVISION ONE

The destination of the Division One will go to the wire this season in an enthralling end to the campaign. Emerson Park have set out their stall and put the points on the board with a 4-0 win in their last league game of the season against Warren United Reserves. Lewis Pether scored twice for Park with Joe Woolley and Harry Payne completing the victory.

In second place in the table and needing to really win both of their remaining matches, Barking sent a statement out to their rivals with a comprehensive 9-1 win against Aldborough Hatch. Danny Cook was the hero once again with a quartet of goals with Michael O’Brien and Kastriot Vata both scoring twice to add to a Charlie Surridge single. James Gibbings was the man who grabbed the Hatch consolation goal.

Much praise goes out to Dagenham United’s young side this week who picked up a point against Korona Redbridge, their first of the season and further evidence of their growing experience and confidence. Daniel Bendek was the Korona scorer for their goal as the sides finished up 1-1 in Manor Park.

Completing the action in Division One, a lot of credit goes to St Augustines who played the entire match with ten men but overcame this deficit to take maximum points against county cup semi-finalists, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. John Sullivan and Kyran Allen both scored for the Saints to cancel out a Robert Eden goal for the visitors.

DIVISION TWO

Morfdown Elect continued their much improved recent form with a real shock as they held the title chasing Docklands Albion to a 1-1 draw in Dagenham against the odds. Roberto Rosero scored the Albion goal but it could only take a point against their plucky opponents with a crucial weekend coming next Sunday for both sides in their respective battles.

Having been one of the Elect victims last week, FC Mexico bounced back from that disappointment to dispatch Romford Galaxy in a 5-2 victory. Paul Collinson and Dean Semmens both scored for ten-man Galaxy, one of which was rumoured to have been a pretty tasty effort! However, Sam Prince’s double and goals from Craig Smith, Dean Hendrickson and Alan Liddell completing the win for the cup final bound hosts.

DIVISION THREE

As tight divisions go, this one will be a classic. Upshire Reserves remain top of the table but are watching Wanstead United close the gap week-by-week. They did however suffer a massive blow in their challenge as Wanstead slipped to a 3-2 home defeat on Sunday against Ridgeway Rovers. Jason Branche and Ross Grimes both got onto the United scoresheet by Rovers goals from Jack Payne and Jordon Charles took the points home to Chingford.

There was also a big win for Partizan CMC at the weekend as they travelled to Leyton to face Asianos Reserves and returned to Chigwell with maximum points in a 4-2 win. A goal each for Charles Rood, Freddie Bright, Sean Bellamy and Charlie Palline were the difference between the sides as Partizan moved up to fifth in the table.

Also moving up in the table were sixth placed Alpha who hosted fourth placed Alliance United and took all three points in a tightly contested 1-0 win for the Wanstead Flats side. Dominic Crichlon scored the all important only goal of the game to prove the difference on the day.

DIVISION FOUR

Second placed Hornchurch Oakmont will now have to wait on the result of other matches around them before they can be confirmed as runners-up in Division Four. That is as a result of a 3-1 defeat at home to SL Menfica on Sunday as goals for the cup finalists from Connor Wheatley, William Sheehan and Thomas Rice cancelled out a George Terry strike for the hosts. Goresbrook now know they need to beat the champions to snatch second place on the final day of the season in an exciting finish to the season in this division.