WEEK 34 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

This season’s Senior Division Cup reached it’s climax last Friday night as Flyhouse Athletic and Brook Athletic were in action at Parkside. The first half saw little in the way of clear cut chances with a couple of free-kicks and an effort back off the post from Brook the best of the action. Flyhouse had slightly the better of the second half chances, the Brook keeper needing to be alert. But it was Kieron James who made all the difference, in stoppage time, firing in a great effort from the edge of the box to give Flyhouse a winning 1-0 scoreline to lift the trophy.

SENIOR DIVISION

On Sunday morning, Flyhouse Athletic were back in action with a vital double header against Hatch Lane. And it was Hatch who produced the goods to take all six points with a 3-0 win in game one courtesy of two Jermaine Francis efforts and a goal from Ayrton Coley. In game two, it was a 2-1 success with Ibrahim Kehinde’s goal providing vital, a pair of results which leaves the title wide open.

Over in Chigwell, cup final bound London All Stars were looking to make it a league double over Baiteze Squad this season but found an improved host side in the way of that outcome. Imedd Kartita’s two goals for Baiteze along with a Jay Knight strike proved enough to send the points home with them in a 3-2 scoreline, keeping them well involved with matters around them.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the final league game of Gants Hill’s season saw them in action against Oceana with Hill seeking key points to keep a stranglehold on a runners-up finish. But it was a good showing from the visitors who saw Charly Bruce score twice and Tom Parsons once to hand Oceana a 3-0 success from their penultimate game.

DIVISION TWO CUP

It was cup final day in the Division Two Cup on Sunday as Barking & Dagenham Wanderers went in search of their maiden silverware, facing Debden Sports Reserves at Mayesbrook Park. Under sunny skies, Wanderers took a lead midway through the first half as Dwayne Francis-Riley’s turn on the edge of the box and shot found the bottom corner. The lead was doubled not long before the break as Alex Leslie capitalised on a mistake to find the net. Debden increased their intensity in the second half but a late Jamie Rones penalty was not quite enough in the end, Wanderers completing a 2-1 win to lift the silverware.

DIVISION THREE CUP

The final semi-finalist for this season was confirmed on Sunday with Colebrook Royals earning a replay victory at Upshire Forest to book a place in Wednesday night’s semi-final against United Amateurs. Freddie Bose struck twice for the hosts but two Nicholas Chrysanthou efforts plus goals from Thomas Sellers and Ben Sitki gave Royals a 4-2 win.

DIVISION THREE

The title race in Division Three took a big turn on Sunday with Ainslie’s recent form putting them well in the hunt with three games to go. They defeated top of the table United Amateurs on Sunday in a 5-3 scoreline with Eric Kelly and Ryan Radley both netting braces, alongside a William Hunt goal, to overcome two Bradley Bennett efforts and Thomas Chawner goal.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the promotion race will go to the wire as Warren Senior gave themselves a great chance of a top two finish as they completed their remaining league game with a 3-1 win at home to fourth placed Byron Red Star. Anthony Cooke scored twice and Callum Gardener once to complete a thirteenth league win of the season, leaving City Site needing seven points from three games.

The other clash from this division saw Ace Athletics’ late season surge continue with a fifth league win of the campaign in their last fixture of the year, defeating Brymans Park in a 7-2 scoreline to move sixth in the standings. Tom Mason scored four of his side’s goals, Jack McAllister, Craig Cagehin and Louis Vallis netting the others, overcoming Grant Eagle and Shane Taylor goals from Park.

DIVISION FIVE

There were goals galore in Division Five beginning in Debden where Colebrook Royals Reserves and Lonsdale renewed acquaintances from their cup final and managed ten goals between them this time around, finishing 5-5. Charlie Owen scored four and Kalium Fletcher once for Lonsdale with Phorell Brooke and Jamie Meakin netting twice each for Royals and Calvin Bell once.

Over in Walthamstow, a key game affecting the bottom end of the table saw Mansfield Rangers taking on relegation threatened Mayfield Kings. Another ten-goal contest saw Rangers walk away with the spoils, winning 8-2 as Billy Happe’s hat-trick was added to by goals from Billy Evans (2), Jack Cousins, Kemston Allen and Ben Tempero. Kiz Myaz and Younes Ferhani scored Kings’ goals in reply.

Over at Debden Sports Club, the A side were in home action with their penultimate game of the season, with Manford Way Reserves the visitors to Chigwell Lane. Alex Williams and Shane Mitchelle both scored for Sports but Manford goals from Matthew Dye, Charlie Saltmarsh, Robert Green and Jake Li turned things in their side’s favour to win 4-2.

DIVISION SIX

Ping City Phoenixes’ warm-up game for this week’s cup final didn’t quite go to plan as Warren United’s penultimate clash of the season saw them net win number four this term, coming out 6-4 winners in a ten-goal thriller. Barney Waterman-Cushway came off the bench to score a Ping hat-trick and Ezra Waterman scored the other to end their league campaign in tenth.

COUNTY CUP

On Sunday evening, it was time for this season’s London Sunday Trophy Final, featuring two Corinthian sides for the first time as AC Milano looked to cause a shock against higher league opponents, Brook Athletic. And it was AC who took a lead midway through the first half, cutting in off the left and finding the bottom corner. But an improved Brook showing in the second half saw Eamon Payne nod in to level on the hour and send the game to extra-time. Then a moment of magic from Samir Bihmoutine decided the contest as his wonderful free-kick sailed into the top corner for Brook and gave them a 2-1 victory, becoming champions of London in the process.