WEEK 7 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

It was first round day in the Corinthian Cup on Sunday with the holders, London All Stars, beginning their defence with a trip to Dagenham to take on Division Two's FC Galaxy. In a game of eight goals, it was the reigning champions who held on to win 5-3, despite two Mihai Mareniuc strikes and one from Mirceamihai Donco.

Also safely through into the second round are top flight side Hatch Lane although not without knowing they have been in a battle, edging their tie against Division Two title chasing Belfry. The odd goal in three was enough in the end, Tremayne Coley and Montel Shalders-Gayle goals countering a Daniel Lawman effort for the hosts in a 2-1 scoreline.

The biggest winners of the day came from the all-Division Two tie where Cloud 9 were going in search of some improved form, Leytonstone Athletic the visitors to Chigwell for a place in the second round. And it was the hosts who were literally on Cloud 9 following the game as they ran in a 6-0 success to head through.

Another third tier side safely through into the second round are East London Ballers who had to overcome a man deficit in their difficult away trip to Daglanta on Sunday, the two sides meeting at the Flats. But that proved no problem as Ballers won through in a 3-1 result.

Completing the action from Sunday, JK Silvertown put their name into the hat for round two following a victory against fellow Division One side Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, those sides meeting at Beckton District Park. Deji Akinyemi got on the Wanderers scoresheet but that proved not quite enough, JK running in five of their own in a 5-1 win.

TROPHYLAND CUP

In the Trophyland Cup, there were two ties completed, both of which went with the form guide in the end. An all-Division Four tie in Chigwell saw Colebrook Royals Reserves confirm their place in the next round following a 2-0 home win against Prospect Protege. Jamie Meakin and Joel Minganu struck the goals for Royals to earn the win.

After a big win for Singh Sabha Barking in their league clash with South Ilford Catholics, they could have been forgiven for expecting much the same this time out. But an improved South Ilford performance saw them finish 2-2 at full-time, Charlie Briggs and Jamie Fox goals cancelling out Barking efforts from Kailen Davey and Omari Williams. But it was Barking who held their nerve in the shootout to head through.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

There was just the one Endeavour Cup tie over the weekend but it did see a glut of goals as London Legacy put seven past their below Division Six rivals, Barking Colts, to make progress through to round two. Abiola Balogun was the hero with a four-goal performance, Vince Crosdale, Ahmed Ali and Yaqub Khichane efforts rounding off a strong 7-1 win.

SENIOR DIVISION

The FLY and Total Football quadrilogy saw it's third edition completed on Sunday and once again it saw Total take a lead with Carl Parsons and Nile Painter on the scoresheet for the visitors. But two Chaka Barnett goals in reply plus efforts from Clayton Afonso and Reece Simpson eventually saw them over the line in a 4-2 win.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the leaders Benchviews were in action with a home clash against Barking Riverside at Flanders, both sides having had decent starts to their seasons. Wit the sides well matched on the day, it was perhaps no surprise therefore that the game ended in a 1-1 draw as the teams shared the points, Rajpal Bumbra's on the Barking scoresheet.

That result enabled second placed AC Milano to close the gap down to four points with games in hand as they came away victorious from Newbury Park, defeating St Augustines in a 4-2 scoreline. Nadeem Khankhara, Aaron Browne and Rodney Capemba goals were enough to overcome Saints efforts from Aaron Hepworth and Augustine Appiah.

At the Flats, it was an improved showing from Wanstead in their third game of the season as they pushed Cinoci all the way, the latter eventually ending up 3-2 winners on the day with goals from Jack Turnpenny scoring twice and Max Nicholson once, rendering Tom Stewart-Green and Yunus Mussa goals for the hosts as consolation.

DIVISION TWO

The goals were flying in Division Two as Condor made it a couple of wins on the spin, this time defeating Higham Hill in an 8-4 scoreline at Jubilee Sports Ground. Valeriu Nenscu scored four, Liviu Tihon twice and one each from Ruslan Belecescu and Cristian Rotari completed the scoring.

Over at Wadham Lodge, there was a nine-goal thriller in the clash between Ainslie and Colebrook Royals Seniors with Eric Kelly netting four goals for the hosts, albeit in a losing cause. That's because Nedret Ozkasim's hat-trick along with Kaci Henry and Presley Evans efforts for Royals were enough to edge it 5-4.

DIVISION THREE

Seven was very much the theme across Division Three with that being the total goals in each of the games, beginning at Town Mead where Upshire Forest edged a 4-3 thriller against United Amateurs. Rhys Thurgood scored all four for the hosts with Jack Chawner (2) and David Macauley netting for United in reply.

It was a seven-goal win for JP8 too who moved third following a third league win of the season, the Dagenham based side returning home from Barking with all three points in a 7-0 success. That win was accomplished through a couple of Ryan Kelland goals plus strikes from Ben Chaplin, Andre Daley, Joseph Connor, Mason Deegan and Robert Coe,

Completing the theme of seven was AC Milano Reserves and Asianos Vets as their local derby game saw them share that tally, AC eventually taking the plaudits in a 5-2 winning performance. That result saw the hosts remain unbeaten so far from their four games, moving four points ahead of their opponents into fourth spot.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, Horse & Well have moved off the bottom and outside of the relegation zone following a first league win of the season on Sunday, defeating Silencio 4-1 in Debden and leaping above their opponents in the process. A couple of Kury Freeney goals set them on the way with Josh Rogers and Joe Powell also on the scoresheet too.

Over at Westlands Playing Fields, it was a good day for Warren Senior who moved into third spot in the standings following a big 7-1 home victory against seventh placed Cardinals Athletic. Daniel Ross scored a hat-trick for Warren, Brady Jones scored two with Lloyd Ross and Lewis Gardener finishing things off.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, it's all change at the top as Mansfield Rangers ascent sees them move top of the pile on the back of a big away victory on Sunday, defeating Alpha 7-0 at Wanstead Flats. Billy Happe struck with four of the goals, Kemston Allen, Eren Kanber and Jake Magson goals finishing things off to keep Rangers unbeaten.

That outcome was made possible as Coppice Row dropped to second in the standings following their 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Royal Lions B in Hainault, the hosts closing the gap to just three points with games in hand. Nico Macaia scored two and Jean-Luc Dibua once with Jake Mernagh on target in reply.

In the Forest Road derby match, Hainault Athletic travelled along the road to face Young Royals at Old Parks, three points seperating the sides going into the contest. And that was how it remained by full-time with Hainault securing a fourth draw from five games played, the game ending 2-2 with Luke Sutcliff netting both for the visitors.

DIVISION SIX

There were wins for each of the top three sides in Division Six on Sunday, beginning with the leaders, Woodford Town Reserves, who remain clear on merely goal difference. Their latest success saw a hard fought 2-1 home win against Epping Royals with Riley Conn's brace the difference in the game, overcoming Matthew Robinson's effort for Royals.

At Barking Park, it was Valence United Reserves who came away the happier from their home clash with Titans United as they recorded win number five for the campaign. Valence were 4-2 winners with a brace of Enzo Victoriano goals plus strikes from Malakye Meade and Ayomide Ibuola carrying them over the line.

Over in Hainault, Chingford Athletic ensured they remain in touch with the leading sides in the division, ending up on the winning side of a 5-3 win against Mayfield Kings.  Kiz Myaz netted a brace of goals for Kings, Tobi Ladipo scoring the other, those efforts proving just consolation in the end.

DIVISION SEVEN

In Division Seven, it's all change at the top as Ridgeway Rovers moved into first place with a closely fought 3-2 home success against Colebrook Royals A at Peter May. Ben Byrne scored twice for Rovers, Harley Hillman netting the other to move them a point clear at the top of the standings.

Sitting second, just behind the leaders, sit Debden Sports A who racked up a fifth league win of the season on Sunday, taking victory by the odd goal against Emerson & Upminster, winning 2-1 at Chigwell Lane. Daniel With grabbed the Emerson goal but that proved just a consolation in the end.

Epping Forest Falcons have moved to the cusp of the top half of the table as they confirmed a second win of the season at the weekend with a 4-0 home win against Zone 4 Athletic. A goal apiece from George Allen, Sameer Hussain, Emmanuel Addo and Sam Finnegan-Dehn proved enough for Falcons to take all three points.

The final league game of the day saw Gatcliffe record their first win in open age football as a team, the Dagenham based side recording a 3-0 home win against FC Leytonstone Reserves at Old Dagenham Park. That result was enough for the hosts to move up a place and into ninth spot.

COUNTY CUP

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, there were two high-scoring wins for our Corinthian representatives beginning with Brook Athletic who put themselves through to round two with a 5-2 home victory against Ball Tarks.

Also heading into the second round are Flyhouse Athletic who followed up their national cup success with progression in the London Cup, putting eight goals past Supreme Athletic in Hainault to head on through 8-4.

In the Kent Sunday Premier Cup, Club 1017's foray into the garden of England began with a trip to MSL CF on Sunday and they returned back north of the Thames with a place in the second round confirmed, winning 2-1 to progress on.

The Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action saw Lonsdale produce an emphatic performance against their fellow Division Five rivals, Athletic Newham, winning the game 9-2 to put their names in the hat for round two next month.

There was a cupset in the tie in Dagenham where Division Five's May & Baker EC put an end to Kit Out London's participation in the competition, the Division Four side going down 5-0 at Bakers to head out.

In the all-Division Four clash from Barkingside, it was a seven-goal thriller in the game between hosts Ace Athletics and Byron Red Star with the latter progressing through into round two with a 4-3 win.

Manford Way put their name into the hat for round two, avoiding any possible slip-up with a home success in their Hainault derby game against Royal Lions C, Way walking away 5-2 winners on the day.

In the day's final game, Division Six's FC Mexico B travelled into east London to take on Lymore Gardens at the Marshes but it was the hosts who finished the happier of the sides, winning 2-0 to send the Mexicans out of the competition.