WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

In the latest Corinthian Cup action this weekend, Senior Division side Critics avoided a potential banana skin tie in the first round, eventually coming through by the odd goal to see off Division Two’s Condor, winning 2-1. Liviu Tihon struck for the visitors but Harvey Livings and Afolabi Obafemi goals ensured that Critics put themselves into the last sixteen.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were two further close games in the Trophyland Cup where a ten-goal thriller at Castle Green saw Lonsdale and Hainault Athletic lock horns once again. And a couple of hat-tricks from Luke Sutcliff and Tom Hockley put Hainault through in a 6-4 scoreline, coming from behind to two Kalium Fletcher goals and efforts from Denis Hilak and Conor Treadwell.

It was an equally close contest over in Debden where Division Five’s Ace Athletics were the visitors to take on Horse & Well from Division Four. But it was the lower placed side who produced the goods to complete a cupset, Billy Baldry and Louie Seaman goals overcoming Joshua French’s effort for Well in an eventual 2-1 result.

DIVISION ONE

Things have really tightened up at the summit of Division One where the leaders, Benchviews, slipped to a second defeat of the season with St Augustines proving their undoing at Flanders, the Saints walking away as 2-1 winners. That result closed the gap at the top to just a point, the visitors moving up into fifth spot as a result.

AC Milano made the most of that result to move within close proximity of the leaders, renewing old rivalries with Barking & Dagenham Wanderers at Robert Clack, the sides closely matched on the day. It took just a single goal to separate the sides and that eventually went the way of AC Milano, winning 1-0 to record their fourth league win on the spin.

Sitting a point further behind the promotion places are Barking Riverside who recorded their third win in five games this season on Sunday, returning home from Wanstead Flats with all three points in a 6-2 success against Wanstead. Juan Sosa and Omar Wilson both struck for the hosts but Barking goals from Aaron Matthews Solomon Somah and Ryan Gardiner sent their points in their direction.

JK Silvertown will be feeling much better following their performance at the weekend, completing their first league win of the season with a home victory against Cinoci in Beckton. The hosts were 4-0 winners, a result which moves them to within a point of their opponents, sitting sixth in the standings.

DIVISION TWO

Top of the table Belfry had one of their toughest tests of the season on Sunday, entertaining Cloud 9 in Hainault. The game produced a seven-goal thriller with Belfry eventually coming through the game by the odd goal to win it 4-3. Jordan Riches scored two, Isaac Idu and Jamie Redington netting the others with Jack Porter on the Cloud scoresheet.

Second placed Debden Sports Reserves are also in the picture and face the leaders very soon, warming up for that incredibly important game with another three-point haul of their own, beating Leytonstone Athletic 5-2 at Chigwell Lane. George Bird, Billy Barr, Tom Osmond, Will Osmond and Jamie Rones all found the back of the net to keep them within three points of the leaders.

The remaining game from Division Two saw another high-scoring contest with nine goals shared between hosts FC Galaxy and Higham Hill, the sides going into the game with three points between them. That was extended to six points by full-time as FC Galaxy came through 6-3 winners in horrendous conditions, Mihai Mareniuc scoring four and Giovani Paladoiu two.

DIVISION THREE

It was second versus third at the top end of Division Three as Singh Sabha Barking made their way to Dagenham to take on JP8, the teams pushing hard to chase down the current leaders. But the sides could not be separated on the day with the game ending in a 4-4 draw, Mason Deegan scoring a hat-trick for the hosts to earn them a point, Ryan Kelland netting the other.

It was a big performance on the road for South Ilford Catholics over the weekend too as they made their way to Walthamstow to take on Asianos Vets and came away with all three points in a 2-0 scoreline, moving them level on points with their opponents as a result. Charlie Briggs and Harvey Jones were the players on target to earn the visitor’s third win of the season.

Over in East Ham, AC Milano Reserves went into their fifth game of the season with the visit of Valence United, the sides starting the day with just three points between them. And that was the gap by the end of the game also, the sides settling for a share of the spoils after an entertaining 4-4 draw. Ashley Collins, Jack Howard, Ryan Knight and Kamal Mahoney goals accounted for the Valence efforts.

DIVISION FOUR

New leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves, resumed their position at the top of the standings on Sunday, taking advantage of results and inactivity around them to take a two-point lead, coming away from Hornchurch with all three points after a 3-1 win at Byron Red Star. Joseph Omole struck with the Byron goal but Royals efforts from Calvin Bell, Brandon Fulton and Lewis McGillicuddy turned things around.

Over in east London, Silencio were on the road with a trip to Wanstead Flats to take on Eastern Avenue, starting the day a point behind their opponents in the table. But that positioning had changed by full-time as Silencio earned themselves a 3-0 away win, leaping up into sixth place following that second win of the campaign.

DIVISION FIVE

Four was the theme in Division Five, starting at the top of the table where leaders Mansfield Rangers put in a strong performance to defeat second placed Coppice Row and move six points clear at the top. Jake Magson’s hat-trick and a Billy Happe effort earned Rangers a seven-goal thriller victory, 4-3 winners, overcoming two Mergim Marku goals and a Jordan Santos effort.

Also scoring four were May & Baker EC who were also on the road, the side making their way to Barkingside to take on a Young Royals side seeking an upturn in league form after a difficult start to the year. But it was Baker who left the happier of the teams, Johnny Gallagher scoring on his debut, other efforts from Harry Goodwin and Frankie Westland helping them win 4-2.

Royal Lions B were another visiting team to score four in a victorious performance, making a profitable trip into east London where they took on Alpha at Wanstead Flats. Lions went into that game with a point lead over their opponents but extended that to four by full-time with a 4-3 success, that being their fourth win of the season.

DIVISION SIX

It was a busy morning in Division Six where leaders Woodford Town Reserves ensured that they stayed top of the table, coming away 4-2 winners in their local derby game with London Legacy in Loughton. Riley Conn, Mason Strevens, Archie Locke and Billy Brown scored the goals that mattered, rendering Legacy goals from Phil Crosdale and Lloyd Barfour as consolation.

Second placed Chingford Athletic continue to keep pace with the leaders and stayed within three points of top spot, following their latest success, a 6-2 away win in Dagenham against Titans United. Justin Clarke scored two with Kyle Mavris, Shaun Scanlon, Darryl Wilson and Kwame Woodley goals rounding things off. Justin Godwin-Samuel and Jack Dooney netted the Titans efforts in reply.

Fourth placed Epping Royals solidified their position in the top four with a strong win on the road, returning home from Newbury Park with another three-point haul as they defeated Brymans Park 7-2, moving four points clear of their opponents in the process. Joseph Bothwell scored a hat-trick for Royals with Louie Brownlie contributing two, Henry Cox and Fraser McCarthy scoring the others.

In Barkingside, FC Mexico B were the hosts to Mayfield Kings on Sunday for the Forest Road derby match in the division, the teams sitting level on points heading into the contest. A well contested game saw Mayfield come out on top at ninety minutes, winning 4-2 through a goals from Younes Ferhani (2), Kelson Tomas and Kiz Myaz, while Alex O’Halloran and Oliver Wright netted for Mexico.

DIVISION SEVEN

In Division Seven, it’s all change once again in a very fluid top end of the table, Ridgeway Rovers now sit at the summit following a sixth league win of the season on Sunday, Reece Boultwood and Ammar Menouar both on the scoresheet for Rovers to give them a 2-0 win at home to eighth placed Epping Forest Falcons.

Colebrook Royals A were another side to benefit from results around them, moving up into third and within a point of the promotion places, coming away with all three points against Emerson & Upminster at Hall Lane. Oliver West struck twice and Max Sullivan once while Flynn Treanor scored for Emerson with their consolation in a 3-1 scoreline.

It was a nine-goal thriller in the Forest Road derby match between Warren United and Ping City Phoenixes with attack dominating defence. Despite starting the day trailing Warren by eight points, Ping slashed that to just five with a 5-4 win as Jack Flood swept in a hat-trick, Mitchell Edmonds and Matthew Fyfe goals completing the win.

FC Leytonstone Reserves will be much happier with their performance from the weekend, securing their first league win of the season with an away league success against Royal Lions C at Hainault Rec to get points on the board. The visitors were 4-1 winners, moving off the bottom and into tenth spot in the table.

Over in Dagenham, hosts Gatcliffe have shown some improved form in recent weeks and saw the visit of Zone 4 Athletic on Sunday, the hosts gaining an early lead before Zone levelled up almost immediately. But further Gatcliffe goals followed and they completed a 4-1 win, their second league success of the season, moving up into sixth spot as a result.

COUNTY CUP

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, Hatch Lane were on the road into south London on Sunday with a trip to take on their semi-final opponents of two years ago, SWAG, in the second round. Hatch repeated the dose of that epic game, this time winning 3-1 to head on into round three.

Also into the hat for round three’s draw coming up are Club 1017 who had home advantage in their second round tie against Spartans. It was success for Corinthian sides once again, Club 1017 running out 3-0 victors to head on through.

It was a good day for Flyhouse Athletic who were up against former finalists in this competition with Gower All Stars the side travelling east on Sunday to take on the reigning Essex champions. But it was the hosts, Flyhouse, who ended the happier of the two sides, earning a 5-2 win at Fairlop Oak.

The only reverse for one of our clubs came at Newbury Park where SFL side Hatcham were the visitors to take on Brook Athletic. It was the visitors who took the honours on the day, winning the game 2-1 to return back south of the water with victory under their belts.

In the London Sunday Trophy, hosts Daglanta were in second round action with the visit of comprehensively named Barnet Sunday League side Club Internacional de Futbol Manresa 24 to Wanstead Flats. The visitors were 7-1 victors to extend their run, ending the hosts involvement for the season.

Completing the weekend’s action, United Amateurs’ rearranged second round tie in the London Sunday Junior Cup didn’t prove to be too fruitful as they saw the visit of top flight Metropolitan Sunday League’s Thames City Blues. The visitors walked away 6-0 winners to head into round three.