WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the opening weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

The new season got underway on Sunday in the Corinthian League and it's promoted East London Ballers who lead the way after the opening round of games as they won 6-0 against Brook Athletic to kick things off. Qusay Mohammed's brace plus goals from Salim Nassor, Chaka Barnett, Derek Asamoah and Zayshaun Asamoah set the hosts on the path to an opening day win.

There was also an impressive first outing of the season for Club 1017 who, after avoiding the drop last year, started the new season in good form with a 4-1 win against promoted AC Milano to sit second. Cairo Bibbon struck for the hosts but Club goals from each of Ainsley Everett, Gabriel Benamaisia and Andrew Musungu sent the points back home with their side.

DIVISION ONE

There was a quite symmetrical look to the three results in Division One where every game ended in a 2-2 draw, beginning with the battle between Barking Riverside and Critics which ended with a point apiece. Joel Mputu and Gideon Adomakoh both scored for the hosts with Kieran Bishop and Jacob Dixon netting for Critics in reply to earn their sides a point.

That same result was witnessed in the game at Fords Newbury Park where Benchviews started their new season at their new home with a point, sharing the spoils with the returning Roose in a 2-2 draw. It was Afolabi Soyemi-Olodade who the visitors had to thank for their point as his two goals ensured a point was taken on the opening day of the new season.

Completing the action from the second tier was yet another score draw as St Augustines were up against promoted Debden Sports Reserves on the opening day, those sides meeting in Newbury Park. Aaron Hendricks and Callum Daniels both found the back of the net for the hosts but Debden scored two of their own as this game also ended in a 2-2 draw.

DIVISION TWO

The early leaders in Division Two are promoted Upshire Forest who faced their rivals from last season, City Site, in their opening game and walked away with the points in a 5-2 success. Alex Paraskeva scored twice for City but those weren't quite enough as two Leighton Hughes-Franklin efforts plus Forest goals from Jay Dignance, Reggie Pegrum and Daniel Roult turned things in their sides' favour.

Sitting second after the first round of games are FC Galaxy who were up against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in the opening game of the season, the teams producing an eight-goal thriller at Robert Clack. Rivaldo Vinda scored twice and David Boateng once for Wanderers but a Tatian Radu hat-trick for Galaxy, plus goals from Mihalache Dumitru and Mihai Mareniuc, meant that they ended up 5-3 winners.

Completing the division's action, it was a good day for another promoted side as Woodford Town's first runout in the third tier saw them face last season's mid-table Daglanta in the first game of the season, Town ending the day 3-1 winners to earn their first three points. Sam May-Parrott, Ben Smith and Morgan Radley were all on target, rendering Humoud Majid's goal as just consolation.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, newly formed Romford Town Flyers soared to the top of the table after the first weekend as they took all three points in a 7-2 win away at Valence United A. Hat-tricks from Thomas Makhan and Lloyd Ross led the way, Clinton Oduku scoring the other, to render goals from Caelan Kellegher and Ryan Knight as just consolation for the hosts.

Sitting second in the table after an opening day victory were Leytonstone Athletic as they saw off the threat of newly promoted Warren Senior at Westlands. George Burton, Reece Simpson and Jack Ferris all found the back of the net for Leytonstone to give a 3-1 victory and get them off to a great start to the new season.

Over in east London, promoted Woodford Town Reserves made the short trip to Wadham Lodge to face Ainslie in both sides' opening games of the year and a close game was edged by the odd goal in five with Woodford the side walking away 3-2 winners. Billy Brown, Joe Crawley and Jacob Richards all struck for Town with William Hunt and Ryan Radley responding for Ainslie.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the sole action came from Hylands Park where Byron Red Star opened the new season with a home game against Cardinals Athletic. Richie Morris scored twice for Star on the opening day, supplementing goals from Jimmy Fordham-Reed, Denzel Mensah and Richard Oduwole to complete a 5-0 winning performance.

DIVISION FIVE

There was a glut of goals in Division Five on the opening day with Chingford Athletic winning a nine-goal thriller against fellow promotees Epping Town, topping the table after a 5-4 success. Asaph Lomena had scored all four Town goals but his efforts were overcome by Chingford goals from Kyle Mavris, Samuel Matthews, Michael Mignot, David Donaghue and Kwame Woodley.

Athletic Newham sit second after week one on alphabetical order alone as they struck late on to take all three points in a 3-2 win in an enthralling game away at Romford Rovers in Ongar. Ronnie Wilson, Jack Field and Jack Andrews all scored for Newham on the day though Michael Rambukpitiya and Joe Hack goals looked to have got Rovers back in it late on.

That scoreline was was reflected over in Dagenham where May & Baker EC started their season with a home defeat with Mansfield Rangers the side to walk away with the points after a 3-2 victory. Jake Magson, Billy Happe and James Scott all found the back of the net to give Rangers the win, Jordan Miller and Ross Riding the men on target in reply for Bakers.

The goals were also flowing over at Castle Green where newly formed Legacy City opened their competitive action with a trip to Lonsdale on Sunday and saw both teams walk away with a point each after an enthralling 4-4 draw. Kalium Fletcher opened his goals account early with a hat-trick for Lonsdale and Emanuel Ntoi scored the other for them, with Ivaylo Todorov and Georgi Meloyan scoring a brace each for City in reply.

DIVISION SIX

There was an impressive opening day win for last season's Division Seven champions, Colebrook Royals A, starting the new campaign with a big 11-1 win at home to FC Mexico to go top early on. Oliver West scored four, Jake Austin a hat-trick, Harvey Webb, Wilfred Sills and Luke Harris notching the others to make it a comprehensive win. Alex O'Halloran was the Mexicans' scorer with their consolation goal.

Just behind the leaders on goal difference sit Newbury Drive who made their competitive debut with a trip to Debden Sports B on Sunday morning, coming away 4-2 winners to take three points. Luke Newbury-Neale scored twice with Henry Wood and Mitchell Edmonds scoring the others. Rhys and Rio Clements struck with the Debden goals in reply.

Ace Athletics kicked off their new season with all three points, taking all three points in a 3-2 win away at London Legacy in Dagenham to sit third on alphabetical order. Joshua Craske scored twice and Alex Mason netted the other for the visitors while Jevonte Small and Walid Benmouna both struck in reply for Legacy who will look for improvement in their next outing.

Mirroring that scoreline, it was success on the first day for Ping City Phoenixes who celebrated a three point haul following their promotion to this level, winning 3-2 at home to Inter Newbury at Redbridge Sports Centre. Jack Flood scored twice for the hosts with Abdelrahman Baky scoring the other to confirm maximum points. 

DIVISION SEVEN

Completing the opening weekend of action, a seven-goal thriller closes off this round-up as Emerson & Upminster edged a close contest with debutants Valence United C, winning 4-3 in Barkingside. Reece Stanley scored twice for Valence and Rasheed Fasanya once, giving themselves plenty of optimism for the challenges ahead.