WEEK 8 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The Corinthian Cup action continued on Sunday with a cupset kicking off the action in Chigwell where Colebrook Royals Seniors made their move into the second round with a huge 9-3 win over Division One high-flyers, Benchviews. Kaci Henry scored four, Nedret Ozkasim and Alan McCormack twice each, Presley Evans the other.

There were a couple of near misses also as Wanstead picked up their first win as a Sunday side, the Division One team eventually overcoming Division Two's Ainslie at the Flats in a 2-1 scoreline to head on through. Owen Thompson and Taylor White goals were enough in the end to make the draw for the second round.

The two finalists from 2022, Brook Athletic and Baiteze Squad renewed old acquantancies on Sunday in the first round of the competition and their contests are always tight affairs. It was exactly that once again, a single goal enough to seperate the sides with Brook prevailing 1-0 courtesy of Eden Nelson's effort.

Also into the hat for round two are Barking Riverside who overcame an in-form Debden Sports Reserves from Division Two, Barking winning the tie 4-2 through goals from Aaron Matthews (2), Solomon Asomah and Oussama Bennani while Charlie Thomas and Will Osmond scored the Debden goals in response.

Last year's cup finalists, Flyhouse Athletic, began their new journey in the competition with a game against Division One's St Augustines and it proved to be a close contest settled by the odd goal in five. It was Flyhouse who walked away the happier of the teams, winning 3-2 to book their place in round two.

TROPHYLAND CUP

In the Trophyland Cup competition, May & Baker EC continued their good form in the cup competitions, securing a second win in succession, this time ovecoming fellow Division Five side Coppice Row in Dagenham, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win. They now head on to face Mansfield Rangers in the last sixteen.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

THe day's Endeavour Cup first round action saw an all-Division Seven tie in Hainault as Royal Lions C were in home action with the visit of Epping Forest Falcons to the Rec. In a game that produced six goals, it was the hosts, Lions, who roared through into the second round as they won 4-2.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the top flight, there was just the one game and it was an eight-goal thriller between London All Stars and Total Football at the Marshes. All Stars walked away 5-3 winners on the day with Gianfranco Mici scoring a hat-trick, Kenedi Dariri and Zivonimir Lopes the other, rendering two Oliver Marshall goals and a Carl Parsons strike as just consolation.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, there was another eight-goal thriller of a game as Barking & Dagenham Wanderers found themselves four goals to the good courtesy of two efforts from Nick Read, plus goals from Joshua Renwick-Smith and Deji Akinyemi. But the hosts, JK SIlvertown, managed to claw themselves back to take a draw, the game ending in a 4-4 draw.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two leaders, Belfry, extended their lead at the top of the standings, defeating Leytonstone Athletic in a 4-0 scoreline at the Flats to move onto eighteen points for the season so far. Joshua Robinson scored twice with Nathan Casey and Lewis Lawrence goals rounding things off.

Over in Hainault, an in-form Condor continued their recent purple patch with the visit of FC Galaxy to Fairlop Oak. And it was a memorable day for Valeriu Nenescu who netted five of his side's six goals as they comprehensively won for the third time this term to move third in the standings, winning 6-1, Liviu Tihon scoring the other.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Singh Sabha Barking have closed the gap at the top of the table to five points as they took advantage of results around them to move second on eleven points, sending City Site to a first defeat of the season in a 6-2 result. Joe Walsh and Muhammed Camara netted for Site but those efforts proved in vain in the end.

Over in Walthamstow, a cracker of a game saw Valence United get an early lead against Asianos Vets before a flurry of second half goals eventually saw the latter net a 4-3 win late on. Rowan Newland scored twice and Aaron Legget once for Valence with Alex Akanbi's brace plus singles from Adnan Ali and Troy Hewitt once it for their side.

The league leaders, Upshire Forest, were on the road on Sunday with a trip to Dagenham to take on JP8 at May & Baker Club. Forest were unable to extend their lead at the top however as the hosts held them to a 1-1 draw, Oswald Nyahunda's goal for JP8 levelled up by a Riley Bowers effort for the visitors.

Over in Hainault, hosts South Ilford Catholics went into their contest with Barking sitting level on points but walked away with all three to move clear, South Ilford securing a 2-0 win to move into eighth spot in the standings. Mark Nikolli and Jamie Fox both got on the scoresheet for the hosts to earn their second win of the season.

DIVISION FOUR

Woodford Town have moved top of the table in Division Four following the weekend's result as they took advantage of results around them, recording a win against Eastern Avenue at the Flats to take a point clear at the top. Bayley Clarke, Liam Daly and George Miller scored the goals to give Town a 3-0 win.

Second placed Colebrook Royals Reserves slipped off the top spot as they were held to a scoreless draw away at ninth placed Silencio in Hainault. Despite going into that game with a ten point deficit, relegation threatened Silencio took a share of the spoils to move to within a point of safety.

That result enabled Warren Senior to close the gap on the top two sides to two points, coming out on the right side of a 3-2 scoreline away at Byron Red Star in the Havering derby match. Scott McGlynn, Anthony Cooke and Brady Jones were the players on target to earn Warren all three points.

Horse & Well had a profitable morning as the jumped well clear of danger and up into sixth spot in the table on the back of a big 4-0 away win at Cardinals Athletic in Dagenham. Joe Powell was in fine form in front of goal, scoring a hat-trick, Kurt Freeney netting the other for the visitors in their second win this term.

Completing the action was the five-goal thriller from Wanstead Flats where Kit Out London had got themselves into a lead against visitors, Prospect Protege. But a fightback from the visitors saw them edge the game 3-2 with Tye Gittos, Jake Ortega and Joseph Hill goals setting them on way to three points.

DIVISION FIVE

There were plenty of goals in Division Five where Mansfield Rangers extended their lead at the top of the table to three points following a 5-3 home victory against Athletic Newham in Walthamstow. Billy Happe and Jake Magson both scored braces with Kemston Allen also on the scoresheet, rendering Newham goals from Kudzai Marimira, Joe Carson and Jack Field.

Alpha got back to winning ways this weekend, bouncing back from last week's reverse to take three points on this occasion, earning a 4-2 home win against Young Royals in east London. Ryan Dodd scored a hat-trick for the hosts, Kevin Mullen netting the other to secure a third league win.

There were seven goals in the final game from the division where the Forest Road derby saw Ace Athletics head to the Rec to take on Hainault Athletic. Ryan Lockhart, Ashley White and Ryan Stacey all scored for the hosts but Ace goals from Joshua Craske, Thomas Alexander, Louie Seaman and Billy Titley turned things in their favour.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Woodford Town Reserves are now two points clear in the race for the title, producing a big 5-1 away win on Sunday against seventh placed Mayfield Kings. Younes Ferhani struck with the Kings goal, though Town goals from Max Painter, Dylan Fagan, Archie Locke, BIlly Brown and Conor Medhurst sent the points home with the visitors.

Second placed Valence United Reserves dropped points for just the second time this term, the Dagenham side renewing old rivalries with Epping Royals at Stonards Hill and settling for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Krystus Coleman scored for Valence but George Sack bagged for Royals as the game ended level.

That result allowed third placed Chingford Athletic to make up ground on the promotion places and they duly obliged, producing a strong 4-1 win at Town Mead against visitors London Legacy. Justin Clarke was in great form, scoring a hat-trick and Darryl Wilson netting the other, rendering Mohamed Noor's goal as just consolation.

In the battle of the B's, it was a victorious morning for Brymans Park who picked up a third league win of the season on Sunday, beating Barking Colts at Hainault Rec in a 5-2 scoreline. Ife Bakreen and Usman Mohammad both scored two and Daniel Munroe one for Park while Charlie Cole and Noorain Sulieman bagged for Colts.

DIVISION SEVEN

In Division Seven, it was a victorious day for Debden Sports A who moved top of the table with a 6-2 home win against Gatcliffe at Chigwell Lane, moving clear by a couple of points. Neel Patel scored two, Braeden Creasey, Antony Harvey and Montel Odunsi all found the back of the net to put their side in pole position.

There was ten goals in the game at Leyton County Ground where Colebrook Royals A picked up another victory for their tally with a 6-4 hard fought win against FC Leytonstone Reserves. Braces from James Deaney and Harvey Webb set them on their way, Lenny Hunt and George Marlborough also netting.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Premier Cup, it was last year's finalists, Hatch Lane, in action with a tough fixture against Brentwood Sunday League's Sungate. In a competitive game, Hatch were able to net with frequency and ran out 6-1 winners to head into round three.

The day's London Sunday Challenge Cup first round action saw Critics make the trip to Mehmetcik Galata in their delayed tie and they saw their run in the competition reach a conclusion, going down 3-1.

In the London Sunday Trophy, it was a clean sweep for Corinthian sides with FLY in great form in front of goal in their trip to Burrage Blues south of the water, FLY heading into the third round on the back of a 12-2 win.

East London Ballers are in form and carried that into their away day tie as Cosmos United at the weekend, following up last weekend's Corinthian Cup win with county success this time around, winning 5-1.

Completing the trio of wins for our clubs, last year's finalists, AC Milano, put themselves through into the next round and on the path to another good run, completing a solid 3-1 home success against Underdogs at Flanders.

Completing the day's action was the London Junior Cup clash as Royal Lions B were up against Westminster Wanderers 4ths in the late game at Hainault Rec. Despite leading early on, Westminster then fought back and got a lead before half-time, ending up 7-2 winners.