WEEK 11 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from Remembrance Sunday

CORINTHIAN CUP

Division Two’s Cloud 9 have booked themselves a place in the third round of the Corinthian Cup this season, producing a shock result against higher league opposition as they scored the only goal of the game against FC Galaxy from Division One. Ryan Costello was the player to net that only effort of the fixture as he put his side through 1-0.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were two cup shocks in the Trophyland Cup, both involving Division Six sides as, firstly, Valence United Reserves overcame a two division deficit to see off Chingford Athletic in Dagenham in a 5-0 scoreline. Billy Biggs scored a hat-trick with Jack Sherwin and Keenan Mitchell goals finishing things off to put their side into round three.

Over in Newbury Park, it was a similar outcome for Havering Palace who also overcame higher ranked opposition with the visit of Debden Sports A to Fords. A close game was edged by the odd goal in five with the hosts the team to take the honours, moving into the third round where they now take on Division Three high-flyers Upshire Forest.

Royal Lions B were in scintillating form in front of goal in their game against Mayfield Kings, carrying on their good form from the league by booking their place in round two with a comprehensive 15-0 win in the Hainault derby match. That win now sees them take on Ultimate Vision Reserves away in the next round.

Division Four’s promotion challengers, Warren Senior, are safely through into the last sixteen round of the competition as they came out on top of their clash against Division Five’s Titans United over in Dagenham. Anthony Cooke turned up the heat with a hat-trick, adding to goals from Lewis Gardiner and Carter Jordan in a 5-1 success.

The first of a double header of cup ties between Ainslie and Ace Athletics saw the sides meet in the Trophyland Cup, ahead of a county cup repeat next weekend, and this one went in favour of the hosts, Ainslie, as the Division Three side safely navigated their way into round three with a 3-1 win. Eric Kelly scored twice and Tommy Hayden once to render Alex Mason’s strike as just consolation.

In Hainault, United Amateurs continued their positive form from the league into the cup, ensuring they didn’t slip up in the Rec derby against Division Six’s Royal Lions C. A goal each from Tommy Barron, Chris White, Amadu Jalloh, Gabriel Mendy, Bradley Bennett and Melvyn Nketia were enough to confirm a 7-2 success.

The all-Division Four match-up from Sunday saw hosts Eastern Avenue and Byron Red Star battle their way through to a 3-3 by the end of ninety minutes with Gerald Longwe scoring twice and Daniel Nyabowa once for Avenue. And it was the hosts who held their nerve in the shootout, winning that 4-3 to put themselves through into round three.

SENIOR DIVISION

London All Stars have moved second in the table in the Senior Division, remaining unbeaten also, as they came through a tough trip to Brook Athletic with all three points in a 2-1 scoreline. Bubacar Junior and Ayub Kadiri scored for the London goals with Craig Jeakins on target with Brook’s consolation.

The league leaders, Manford Way, remain six points clear of the other sides albeit from more games as they added another point to their tally with a 2-2 draw away at Secret in Newbury Park. Jermaine Baptiste and Nickal Luzolo were the players on target for Secret but Way were able to level it up by full-time to take a share of the spoils.

It will have been a pleasing morning’s runout for FC Ballr who put their first win of the season on the board to join a cluster of clubs all sitting on four points. The Dagenham based side were 2-1 winners at home against El Valiente with Ayomikun Odujoya scoring both goals, Terrell Miller netting the visitors’ response albeit in vain.

DIVISION ONE

Gants Hill took advantage of results around them to move to within a point of the leaders on Sunday, taking all three points home with them in their clash with Critics in east London. The Flanders based side were 2-1 winners to stay unbeaten, their fifth win in eight games this season as they moved second.

That outcome was assisted by the leaders, Roose, dropping their first league points of the season as their trip to Loughton to face Total Football saw them share the honours in a 1-1 draw. Max Cummings scored the goal for the hosts with Roose also netting to move their points tally onto nineteen, one clear of the next best. Total remain comfortably in fourth place.

DIVISION TWO

The big game in Division Two saw the two league leaders meet in East Ham as Barking & Dagenham Wanderers travelled to face AC Milano, the sides having only one league defeat between them going into the game. It was Wanderers however who left the happier of the sides, Jayde Abraham and Dwayne Francis-Riley both netting to win it 2-1. Devine Osiju scored the AC consolation effort as their unbeaten start came to an end.

There was an impressive performance from Leytonstone Athletic who faced rivals Higham Hill over the weekend at Jubilee Sports Ground, starting the day a point behind their opponents. Leytonstone were 6-0 winners here however with Pat Ambrose scoring a hat-trick, George Burton, Harry Burton and Karim Kadri netting the others to round off a positive away trip.

Also finding the back of the net with some regularity were Inside Success who had a good morning’s workout, beating Barking at Oakside in a 7-0 scoreline to take all three points. That result saw the hosts move out of the relegation zone and into eighth with their second league win of the season, while Barking remain five points adrift at the bottom.

DIVISION THREE

There were some huge games in Division Three over the weekend with Upshire Forest, the leaders, moving three points clear of the rest after a 3-1 home success against Valence United at Town Mead. Leighton Hughes-Franklin scored twice for Forest and Mark Lawn once, Rowan Newland netting the United goal in reply albeit in consolation.

Over in Newbury Park, two more of the promotion chasing sides, Singh Sabha Barking and Colebrook Royals Vets, went head-to-head in a crucial battle and an expectedly close game ended up being settle by the one goal. Ryan Dubb was the man that made the difference, scoring for Singh Sabha to win the game 1-0, moving his side level on points with their opponents.

DIVISION FOUR

There were goals aplenty in Division Four where Belfry Reserves were able to move level on points at the top on eighteen apiece with two other sides following a comprehensive victory in their home match against Brymans Park. Jamie Redington scored six by himself, Nathan Casey and Ryan O’Connell both scored hat-tricks with Alex Robinson and Daniel Lawman goals completing a 14-0 win.

There were goals aplenty in the division’s other fixture also where Romford Athletic Dons eventually prevailed in their away trip across the hedge to Hainault Rec where they took on Prospect Protégé. Tommy Burke, James Field and Emmanuel Alo all netted for Prospect but Dons took the 4-3 win with goals from Max Keens, Tom Mitchell, Jack Pascoe and Jacen Worboyes.

DIVISION FIVE

Division Five’s top two sides went head-to-head on Sunday in Chigwell with hosts Colebrook Royals Reserves attempting to extend their winning record at home against visitors Mansfield Rangers, renewing their battles of last season. A close game was settled by one moment with Phorell Brooke’s goal the only one of the contest, winning it 1-0 for Colebrook to make it seven straight wins.

Ultimate Vision Reserves bounced back well from their reverse last time out to win the Dagenham derby as they came out on top against Lonsdale to make it three wins in the league this season. Vision were 3-0 winners on the day, moving fifth and taking their tally to nine points while Lonsdale remain six points further back on three.

DIVISION SIX

With their rivals in cup action, Young Royals took full advantage to open up their lead at the top to four points, coming away victorious from their trip to Epping Forest Falcons with a 3-0 win under their belts. Komsan Chuithong scored twice and Sujiven Jeyaratnam netted the other to complete the scoring for their side.

Epping Royals were another side to close the gap at the top and now sit just three points outside of the promotion places after win number five this season was secured with a 2-1 away victory against London Legacy at Oaks Park. Jayden Thompson scored for Legacy but strikes from Daniel Booker and Joseph Bothwell were the difference for Epping who went home the happier of the sides.

Sitting in fourth place, Ridgeway Rovers also took all three points on the road as they travelled to Barkingside to face Ping City Phoenixes, earning themselves a 5-3 win there. Lewis Marshall scored twice with Regan Marshall, Julian Berisha and Ben Byrne netting the others to make it four wins for the season so far.

Zone 4 Athletic remain in eighth and join two other clubs on nine points just ahead of them as they had a successful trip to Hainault to take on Warren United. Danny Andrews, Jake Wheeler, Elliott Gibbon and Sam Cottee were the scorers in a 4-2 success, overcoming Warren goals from Shanlon Thomas and Oliver Regan.

FA SUNDAY CUP

It was second round weekend in the FA Sunday Cup and holders, Baiteze Squad, started their defence with a trip to a misty Chatham Town. With visibility low, the sides were unable to net as it finished scoreless. A dramatic shootout then saw Baiteze miss two of the first three kicks but the Chats were equally profligate and the visitors went through safely in a 3-2 win and now face Burghfield.

Up at Wodson Park in Ware, Hatch Lane’s second round tie saw them in action against last year’s beaten finalists, Highgate Albion, attempting to build on an excellent showing in Norfolk last month. Hatch deservedly took the lead during the second half but a very late Albion penalty saw the game finish level at 1-1. In the shootout, it was Albion who prevailed, edging it 4-3 on the day.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Premier Cup, it was an excellent day for our clubs with only one tie not giving a Corinthian side victory. Barking Riverside secured a memorable victory with an away win against Global, running out 7-2 winners in Dagenham despite a division deficit on their opponents.

There was a similarly impressive win for East Way Athletic who took on South Titan from the Thurrock Sunday League but were too much for their opponents who succumbed to Athletic in a 7-3 scoreline, setting up a home clash against Harlow based Parsloes Athletic.

Over in Newbury Park, Flyhouse Athletic were also in action against Thurrock opposition with the visit of an unbeaten SG Construction side. Flyhouse booked their place in the third round however as they racked up a 6-2 win at home to progress on to face Priory Sports in the next round.

Oceana also overcame higher ranked opposition with the Division One side beating top flight Combination outfit Loxford Lions at Fairlop Oak. Oceana were 2-1 winners on the day to book their place at home in the next round against Railway Academicals.

The all-Corinthian clash in the round saw United Dian host Benchviews with the latter attempting to cause a shock being a division lower in ranking. But Dian have made a solid enough start this season and were comfortable 6-2 victors in the tie to progress on to a home game with CO4 Ultras in a couple of weeks.

The day’s only tie to go against the league was over at Wanstead Flats where FLY played host to an Emerson Park Under 23s side from the Brentwood Sunday League and it was the visitors who progressed into the next round with a 6-2 win to end FLY’s interest in the competition.

In the weekend’s Essex Sunday Junior Cup action, three of our clubs made it safely through with Abridge Village the biggest winners of the day, producing a 6-1 away win against Harlow Old Town to head on into the third round next month where they will face Harlow Manor.

Debden Sports Reserves also had to make a journey up the M11 with a trip to Sporting Phoenix and it was the Corinthian side who came out on top in that tie too with the visitors winning the game 4-1 to put themselves safely through, now heading to Sierra Nevada next month.

There was a five goal thriller in the day’s game at Emerson Park as Newbury Forest’s trip up the A12 proved a fruitful one as they edged the tie by the odd goal to win 3-2, confirming a home tie in the next round against Basildon based Fryerns Reserves.

The other two ties provided narrow exits for our clubs with Alpha dropping out of the competition after they suffered a home reverse against Harold Wood Athletic, just the one goal in the game going the way of the visitors.

Another game finished by the odd goal was at FC Mexico B where they had entertained Grays Athletic at Old Parkonians in their second round clash but saw their participation reach an end with a narrow 2-1 defeat.