WEEK 28 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup football action

CORINTHIAN CUP

It was a big day of cup football on Sunday as five clubs completed their Road To Thurrock with semi-final victories. In the Corinthian Cup, Repton Park have secured their spot at Thurrock, overcoming Emerson Park goals from Lewis Perkins and Elis Madden to secure a narrow 4-3 win. They will now head to Ship Lane in a fortnight to take on rivals Warren United.

SPRING CUP

It was also semi-finals day in the Spring Cup competition which saw four sides battling it out to book their place at Thurrock. Highams Park Royals took on Epping Forest Falcons in Walthamstow with the Royals, a new side to the league this season, looking to get something from their season against last year’s finalists in this competition. Goals from Frankie Williams, Mitchel-Christopher Edmonds, Ryan Radley and Luey Young made it a day to remember for the hosts as they secured safe passage with a 4-0 victory over Falcons.

In the day’s other cup semi-final, top of the league Central Colts were looking to carry on a simply sublime season so far by booking themselves a place at Thurrock once again, having reached a final last year also. Their opponents were a Thames Ironworks Community side who, in their debut season, were equally keen to progress on. In a closely fought match, Central Colts goals from Bradley Williams and Paul Rosen proved enough to overcome a Liam Tracey-Cesay effort for Thames to book their place in the final against Highams Park.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

In the Premier Division Cup, Romford Elite made it three wins from their four games so far in the competition, virtually securing themselves a home semi-final in the process, by beating Warren United 3-2 on Sunday. James Peagram scored twice for United but a Chris Bird hat-trick trumped that to earn his Elite side the win.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, it was quarter-final day for two of our clubs as Leyton Celtic were the visitors to Newbury Park to face Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. Celtic led at the break by two goals having had the better of proceedings but a sparkling second half from Wanderers capped by goals from Daniel John-Baptiste, Alex Leslie and Liam Roney saw them complete a great comeback and win 3-2.

DIVISION TWO CUP

There was semi-final excitement in the Division Two Cup as four sides started the day eager to see their side through to next month’s final. There was a battle of the top two sides in the division in the first of the matches as second placed Chingford Athletic took on top of the table Wanstead United. Michael Mignot scored twice, accompanying efforts from Matt Thompson, Samuel Matthews and Lee Bowers onto the scoresheet in recording a 5-1 victory. Michael Harris grabbed the United consolation but saw Chingford make safe passage into the final.

The day’s other match was also a goal-filled encounter which saw two of the division’s mid-table outfits come face to face with Trophyland Cup final bound Westferry Elite taking on Flyhouse Athletic, themselves involved in three semi-finals this year and after FC Mexico’s tag of Cup Kings!. A great comeback from Flyhouse saw them edge this thriller by the odd goal, earning a 3-2 victory to book their final against Chingford.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Valentines United have moved second in the table with just two matches to play as they took on fellow Old Parks residents, Korona Redbridge, on Sunday. A goal apiece from Mark Jones, James Gibbings and Jimmy McCann were enough to take home all three points in a 3-0 victory that maintains their promotion hopes.

The day’s other action saw a double-header involving another of the promotion and title chasing outfits, East London Old Boys, who played host to cup semi-final bound Park Tavern. The Old Boys will have come away the happier of the two sides earning a 2-1 and a 5-1 victory on the day.  Goals from Reece Morgan and Tom Quinn counteracted a Nick Tormey effort for Tavern in the 2-1 victory with Emmanuel Adade, Endrit Malaveci, Reece Morgan, Tom Quinn, Jack Stevenson and Seb Williams goals earned them their second win, Gozie Ndukwe scoring the other Tavern consolation.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Masterman enhanced their outside hopes of retaining their place in the division as they edged a tight encounter on the road away at Lonsdale on Sunday. The 2-1 win against the Chadwell Heath-based side, their second league win of the season, leaves them five points from safety with still a number of matches to play and all to play for.

There was plenty of excitement in the other league match played in this division where St Augustines were the visitors to Hainault to face hosts Barca in a battle between the fourth and fifth placed sides in the division. Nebil Saleh and Shane Barwick both netted for the hosts but Saints’ efforts from Robert Gold, Keiran Murphy and Sam Prendergast proved decisive to earn a 3-2 win.

DIVISION THREE

Goresbrook issued a statement of intent on Sunday as the fourth placed side in Division Three maintained their title challenge with a thumping 13-0 victory on Sunday against Roneo Colts. Charlie Barrett scored four goals with Ricky Cripps and William Cox also in on the act with a hat-trick apiece. Two goals from Liam Coney and a Kasey Taylor effort complete the win. With still seven matches to play, the title is in their hands but they have huge matches still to play against sides above them.

One of those sides who are still challenging for honours is Ridgeway Rovers who, with two fellow challengers still to face in their remaining matches, are well placed in second position with two remaining matches to play. Their victory on Sunday saw them put eight goals past Hornchurch Oakmont without reply to earn an 8-0 victory.

The congested top of the table also extends to the middle area of the standings where Alpha took advantage of sides around them being out of action to jump up two places to fifth, recording a 1-0 victory against Morfdown Elect on Sunday. Jason Grant scored the all-important and only goal of the game to secure all three points for his team.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, Emerson Park Under 21s have maintained their charge towards promotion and a tilt at the title following a thumping victory at the weekend in their trip to east London to take on East Ham Inter. Ronnie Hobbrough continued a sparkling season in front of goal with a hat-trick with a Jake Willis brace and singles from Liam Rooney and Mitchell McCabe rounding off an imperious 7-1 win.

The remaining football action from the weekend saw Newham Athletic on the road away at Oak Royals. And it was Newham Athletic who recorded a third victory of the season, seeing off their opponents in a 4-1 win to close the gap on ninth-placed Epping Forest Falcons to just four points. Connor Connelly grabbed the Royals’ goal but four goals from the visitors were more than enough to earn the win.